Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-11-20
West Wind Drift
BY GEORGE BARR McCUTCHEON
avou are most reassuring." she had
Copyright. 1870. bp oeoros Barr Mcoptcheor

HvOU are most reassuring." she had
said The duslsy light of the moon fell
full upon her upturned face her shad-
owy. llmpid eyes we're locking straight
into his: enchantment charged the air
with It's soft and dangerous breath -
and yet he looked away
After a moment he spoke His voice
was steady and--to' her--airnost sar-
donic. ..
The day OF tho cave-man Is past.
Likewise the cannibaL think I can
promise that you will neither be beaten
nor eaten--but you do run a little risk
In being abroad, on such a night as this
land alone" .
She stiffened. 'T don't think there 's
Che slightest danger. Mr.. Pcrciva."
II wasn't thinking Of danger" he sail
There is lot of difference between
danger and consequences. You see, you
might have been mistaken in your man.
I might have turned out to be Manuel
Crust"
I'LL was sure Il was you,'' she
stammered. and wished she had not
said Il. II was n confession that she
knew his figure SO well that she could
recognize It in the gloom Of the night
and at a distance that should have rem
defed him almost invisible.
"EvSn so, I am Manuels brother un-
der the skin" I've said. Like Judy
O'Grady and the Coloners lady, you
know. However, ail's well that ends
we'll. so what's the use Of magnifying
the peril that stalks through the land !"
you were brought up on the good
old-fashioned novels, I see. That's ths
language Of heroes--and heroes live only
in novels, where they are perfectly safe
from harm. thanks to the benevolent au-
thor"
You're right was brought up
among the old-fashioned heroes: I lived
through every adventure they had.
longed for every girl they loved, en-
We'd everything they did, and dream d
the most beautiful dreams about PROV
ess and virtue and love. / rather fancy
I'm a better man for having been n
wash:buckling boy acquired the gem
heroine I read about. and in my thoughts
I performed even more prodigious deeds
OF valor In her behalf than the hero TO
whom she inevitably plighted her troth
in the final chanter.
'In real life. however, I've never been
in a position to do anything more heroic
than give up my seat in trolley cars to
ladies Of all Ages BY the way,
have you never loneed desperately to be
a heroine?"
"Of course. have" she cried, smiling
Ing again, FOR the danger was past
And I have. loved a hundred heroes
madly." She hesltated and then went on
Impulslvely: We haven't been very
friendly, Mr. Perclval. Perhaps I am
very generous and forbearlng. That is
more than I have been. never thought
I could bring myself 10 the point Of
saying this to you. Can't we be friends
AGAIN."
He was silent for moment.
do you mean to so back to where
ciSshedr'
.Ye!if "Yes-!f you viii put / that way"
stood still Miss Clinton, but have
progressed"
Il don't know what you mean"
'You will after you reflect a while"
She, drew back. in u sudden panic.
She spoke hurriedly. her composure
wrecked.
"I--at least. Mr.. Percival. I have
friends, IL have nothing more TO say.
We nu7t 20 on Just as we were-and !
am sorry. I have done my part"
Il do not want to distress you" he
bald nuSRlly. IL were 10 tell you why
It is best for US to go on as we are,
you would lose what little faith you may
still have In me. have not always
been able to conceal my feelings. You
do not care rs I do--and I have been
pretty much of a rotter in showing you
ordinary bounder, and God knows I hate
the word-so there's nothing more I
can say without distressing and eff nd
ing you. want you to feel perfectly
for a I Cnn,nrnpt We
are out hero alone In the night! II l
we're 10 let 20 OF myself now and say
what / want TO say to you-well you
you'd be frlghteneG. and and, hurt fU al and d..
world. l hope you understand, MISS
"vSs-I understand" she sa'd hut no.
without strange wonder filling her
He was fair-and vet he was baf-
fling She had not expected this rar'
trait IN him Men she had known were
not like this The men Tho loved her
uous and insstcnt, demanding much ar"
Offering verything-vatnglorio war
riors who counted confidently on easy
conquest She had come In contact wit
but one class OF men, the spoiled. cock
sure sons OF the rich who love In haste
and have Il over with while there is yet
time to love again. She caught hers
guiltily wondering how many men OF
her acquaintance would have allowed
this engaging opportunity to pass Win, Win,
should this man be different from the
others7 She experienced q sharp feennF
Of irr'ta.'on ara out % w. """H""
willful desire to hurt him because he was
different SO she lifted n'r en- y ".,.
looking straight into his eyes, said: ~
understand perfectly. You prefer that
should not put you in the class wltN
Maruel Crust" :,
sT,- kAnN
way OF handling women isn't tho pes'
afto- nll" ha sold mns'n"'"
''Rlde over 'em rough-shoG trampl'
them under foot, kick them TO one s'de
md then ask them whether they love
you or not. II they. say they don't. all
you have to do Is TO behave like gentle
She ''iE laughed. "But suppose they were
10 say they did love you-what them
That understand, IL what they gen
gentleman"
Are you never in earnest. Mr.. Per-
clvnl?"
ment ago. You knew how much in
earnest was or you wouldn't nave saia
that mast" thIrc ABOUT MHnuel "rus'
II am sorry said IT," she cried 1T
was unrpl,rd for.--and was delih.
Crat"lv trying TO he mean"
81 know IT," ne said quietly. 'T don't
think any the worse of you for It.. A
woman Plays fair until you get her into
{! corner-and then she plays fairerr
than ever TO make up for what che did
VII cnrnered Am I not right"
She did not reply. She was staring
past him, down the line Of huts. The
door of Olga Obosky's cabin had opened
and closed projecting for an instant an
ohlong block o" light into the darkness,
The figure of a woman, emerging into
the full light Of the moon, had caught
kuth,s attention. Percival turned quick
i%' Tog Their thew watched the figure
move swiftly across the green toward
them. suddenly II stopped, and then.