The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1920-01-15


had ridden straight to hounds ut many
a five-barred gate before which men
had often paled. What was she fright
ened about? A man? Why, in the
vulgar v~ernacuiar OF across the water,
men had been her ailment for years |!
Her backbone s~tiffened with a snap,
she assumed her natural erect and
square-shouldered carriage, and, lean
ing forward from the hips, laid her
hand on the mans arm. Gentle action
failing to command his attention, she
tugged at him. then shook him. He
showed no sign and Andrea's lips
gradually set In a thin straight line.
Doubling up her fists she started to
pummel him into submission.
The onslaught was sudden. and 1t
was reasonable to suppose that the
man would half jump out Of his skin
to their mutual peril. She was pre-
pared for that but not for what really
t~ransplred. The man merely raised
his shoulders at the first blow and paid
no heed whatever to the ones that fol-
lowed in rapid diminuendo, ceasing
suddenly when Andrea painfully real
lied that such fists as hers were never
intended for stone crushers. She sat
back filled with wonder and a vague
admiration for the construction Of the
male frame.
In the meantime the airplane con
tinued to mount steadily into the
chilly morning blue. She looked about
her and down. The world was very
far away and very small. 1t looked
like something that one might forget
and leave behind entirely. She tried
in vain to pick out the tiny roof that
was sheltering Aunty Gwen through
her morning nap. Tears once more
came into her eyes and then receded
as a new idea came to the assistance
Of her hard-pressed determination.
She stopped over. took or n dainty
satin slipper. and after a foolish
| glance upward to assure herself that
the man couldn't possibly look, undid
certain fasteners with fingers that
could e in the dark, and subsequent
ly removed one Of her best party,
heavy silk champagne-colored stock
ings. This done, she sat back with the
stocking In her lap and stared long
and pensively at the a sitting be-
fore her intent on the business Of go
Ing somewhere at the rate Of a hum
dred miles an hour. That thought cleo
trified her. A hundred miles an hour
meant fifty for every half hour. and
thirty minutes had certainly passed
since she had delivered her person into
the trap OF q kindly smile that was not.
She took a long breath, leaned for
ward, slipped the stocking deftly
around the mans neck. tied II In a
single slipping knot and pulled.
I The results were immediate. The
man headed the ~airplane up for a last
grab az altitude, started 1t on a long,
straight downward glide and cut off
his engine. The blessed stiffness that
followed was SO ineffabiy sweet that
Andrea had to give rent to n great
sigh before she spoke, and while she
was doing that the man calmly drew
a hunting knife from his belt and
severed the restraining strands Of a
stocking that only a moment before
had been almost worthy of the ankle
it had clothed and adorned.
"Ohr" gasped Andrea.
"Is that all you had to sayY' asked
the man. Into the vast and rushing
stiffness his calm voice dropped words
as cool and hard as pellets OF ice.
Andrea choked with rage. She had
to swallow a lump In her throat before
she could gasp. II want to go back
ar once"
"You asked me to take you with
me-" said the man in the same calm
voice. "and I don't happen to be going
back"
mot going back" suffered Andrea.
trying valiantly to appear collected.
Il did ask to Come, but It's ev.
cry woman's privilege to ch-change
her mind.
when I FIRST looked at you / saw
a smile that was kindly and chival-
rous. How could / know that your
smile is nothing but camouflage made
up of lines Of dissipation. and your
hideous goggles nothing but a mask
for hard eyes7 I thought You were
a man, but you're nothing but a beast,
willing to torment n girl who has fool.
ishly put herself in your power"
my dear girl" said the man. "you
asked me to bring you with me. and
like a fool I did. Now. like a woman,
you are crying because l didn't bring
you and leave you at the same time.
Same old story. Women are forever
wanting to a their cake and have II
still.r
IT am not crying" said Andrea, "and
my name isn't my dear girl but the
Honorable Andrea Pellor." She paused
on that weighty announcement.
"ReallyT said the man, unmoved.
brother In the Flying Corps. Nice,
humdrum noble family. as I remember
Ii. Wellr'
"Don't" cried Andrea. Don't start
that horrible noise again. 1 want to
talk to you. I want to--oh. what are
you going to do with me7"
There was a pathetic threat OF tears
In the question that should have melt
ed the rocklest heart. but IL failed. II