Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-05-08

| NV i- thei wan htlu Drought out n ltttle
tin Of cakes, such as one could buy II
any city of the world.
All this was absorbing 10 the girl II
the big chair, who watched with grave
eyes. And kenset kept up q. running
stream OF gay talk all the. time He
wanted TO make her at ease. TO cove,
the thought Of the strain between them
and how much he wanted to drive from
his own mind the knowledge that thl,
sweet and wholesome creature was d
potential murderer, ho did not know
From a can he measured chocolate
From pan somewhere outdoors IN
brought milk. Sugar he added care
fully as q woman, and presently hs
spread between them on tho table Q
small .repast that was strange to thls
girl OF the wilderness.
He watched her with appraising eye,
and saw that there was In her no con-
seriousness OF the unusual She might
have sat at meat in the big room OF
the Holding for all the futter there wat
In her.
lie told hor somewhat of himself. OF
his life in the East, but he was careful
not to ask about Lost Valley, to make
! mention. OF the circumstances that had
brought her TO his door. And so III
tello. The afternoon was waning when
| Tharon rose swiftly and abruptly ter.
minated this first visit inside his home
Of any Lost Valley denizen.
Bring out your picture" she said
declsiyely "Tll help you hang 1t, an
then | must go home"
SO kenset dlved once more into tn.
mysterious recesses OF the trunk an,
this time brought out a thing Of rare
beauty and value, a large tapestry
some four by six feet In size, a won.
derfnl thing Of soft and deafness hues
and leaning trees OF sea-iino so fain,
as to be almost lost In the misty skies
| ."oh J" said Tharon Last with an in.
take OF her breath, 'Oh, where do the,
make such things?" ~
Far on the other side of the world, ;
said Kenset gently. pleased with the
wonder in her, wide eyes, the evident
and quick realization Of beauty.
,She whirled from It and glanced
quickly at the two spaces on the rugged
| walls
There" she said. poirting to the
broad expanse, between the northern
windows, hang 1t there
Done" said Kenset, and went
promptly for a hammer.
When the huge thick mat was securely
stretched In place. Tharon helping tc
hold It while he pounded In the broad.
topped tacks, kenset stepped back and
wondered how he had ever for mo.
ment considered hanging II In any other
spot The tempered light from the door
came In upon 1t, bringing out each en-
| chanted charm, each tender vista.
wonderful. he said to himself. 81
never knew how lovely i was amid con
| Fentional surroundings.
"Huh?" asked Tharon.
The man laughed In spite Of himself
and turned his eyes to hers, to lose his
quick amusement in the earnest blue
depths that seemed TO question him at
every angle.
II mean that II looks better here In
my eabim than It ever did on city walls, "
we'll don't know. Contrast, per-
haps."
Tharon stood moment thinking.
| Perhaps" she answered slowly. yes
perhaps. / guess that's why you seem
80 diffrent TO me. Jim Last Ysed to
soft like an lovely, contrasted by tn
| Rockfsce." -
DO / seem different to your asked
kenset quickly. How.
soft, like q woman--some women-an'
I'm afraid" '.-
She stopped suddenly, abruptly halted
| In Der naive speech, as IL she had come
face to face. with something she had not
"Afraid7" probed. the man gravely,
&c. on You are afraid--of what?'
| ,,"No," said pharon, ~ won't say IT,"
j~""Please do. l want to know
Thin" answered the girl straishtly,
| OF all her dealings, "lm afraid you are
are too soft. You don't pack a gun.
I'm afraid you wouldn't use It IL you
There was certain flnality about the
short speech, as II she had put the last
word OF condemnation TO his estate.
Kensst looked down at his hands,
| spread them out a bit,
K You're right" he said shortly,
though his voice was still gentle; .I II
"An what would that be7" she
asked.
smiling Ssrs and rsns Icas has
be--the last extremity. know.
'The hands of all my forebears have
been clean, so far as know. ] have
a deep horror of that imaginary stain
which human blood seems TO leave on
the hands Of the killer. Blood guilt"
"You call it that? Ny daddy had his
,klllin's, but they were all In fatr>an'-
open. I called him a man."
There was a ringing quality in her
voice, a depth and resonance that spoke
Of war, and heroes. The fire that all
eyes, flashing and flaming Kensst
caught it, and a thrill shot through
nun,
"Granted," he said quickly, But is
there only one type of MANI"
For me-" said Tharon. yes"
I'm sorry" said he, and for the life
Of him he did not know why
som T." said Tharon honestly.
They looked at each other for. a
pregnant moment, while silence fell
on the cabin and they could hear the
singing water running down the slopes,
Then the girl stopped and rearranged
the cushion In the big chair, laid book
more neatly on top Of another ut the
9TH time is up" she said. IT must
she Strengthened her shoulders and
II thank you for tn meal" she said,
IAN some day I'll return it-jn some
manner, don't know yet just what
you're here for, nor IL you're Court
rey's man or not"
Good Lord" calculated Kensst, but
she wen. on.
1T won't shake hands with you, 70,
whilst amt done no killin' yet, I'm
sworn--an' Jim Lasts hands was red
they would be TO such as you-an' down
to tn last drop o. blood, tn last beat o.
my heart, I'm Jim Lasts girl--th' best
gunman In Lost Valley. II do say
so."
And she swung quickly to the door.
Kenset followed her, lie longed for
words but found none. -E,
There was q sudden tragic seeming In
the very air, change from the
pleasant commonplace TO the tense and
unexpected, II was always so In these
strange meetings with the people Of
Lost Valley, 4 seemed, as u he was
sane and quiet course that he must
travel