The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1921-08-11
..Meaning. j SUPPOSE. that you would

Meaning. / suppose. that you would
much prefer to blame me- choked.
There's logic, no doubt. In striking
at the root of the trouble" he admit
ted with an air of calm detachment
"Then strike" / said furiously;
strike, Why's don't you. and not beat
about the bush sor' Because then he
would be quite hopelessly in tbs
wrong, and | could adopt any of sev
eral roles-the coldly naughty, the
wounded but forgiving. etc., with
great enjoyment.
But without a change ia his glacial
manner he quite casually remarked
st would seem h;ld struck
home"
/ walked away.
Fortunately nobody undertook to ex-
ercise any guardianship over Crusoe,
and the little white dog bore me faith
full company in my rambles. Mostly
these were confined 10 the neighbor
hood of the cove / never ventured
beyond Lookout ridge, but there / went
often with Crusoe, and we would sit
upon rock and talk to each other
about our first encounter there, and
the fright he had given me. Every
body else had gone, gazed and adj
mired But the only constant pilgrim.
besides myself. was, of all people.
Captain Magnus. The capfain'ss unex
pected ardor for scenery carried him
thither whenever he had half an hour
to spare from the work in the cave.
Needless to say, Crusoe and | timed
our visits so as not to conflict with
his.
One day. as Crusoe and came down
from the ridge, we met Captain Mag
nus ascending. | had in my hand a
small metal-backed mirror, which
had found. Surprisingly, lying in a
messy cleft between the rocks. 1t
was a thing such as man might car
ry In his pocket, though on the island
II seemed unlikely that anyone would
do So l at once attributed the mir
ror TO Captain Magnus, for knew that
no one else had been on the ridge for
days / was wondering as / walked
along whether by some sublime law
of compensation the captain really
thought himself beautiful, and sought
this retired spot TO admire not the
view but his own physiognomy.
When the captain saw me he stopped
full in the path. There was growth
Of fern on either side. / approached
slowly, and, as he did not move,
paused. and held out the mirror.
Il think you must have dropped this,
Captain Magnus. / found it on the
rocks
For an instant his face changed.
His evasive eyes were turned TO me
searchingly and sharply. He took
the glass from my hand and slipped it
into his pocket / made movement
to pass on. then stopped, with a faint
dawning of discomfort. For the heavy
figure of the captain still blocked the
path.
A dark flush had come into the mans
face. His yellow teeth showed be
tween his parted lips. His eyes had a
swimming brightness,
whats your hurry he remarked,
with certain insinuating emphasis.
began to tremble.
II am on my way back to camp,
Captain Magnus. Please Iet me pass.
1T won't do You no harm if you're
little late. There amt no one there
keepin' tab. Amt you always a
strayin' of with the Honorable? ]
amt so pretty. but"
You are impertinent Let me pass.
"Oh, I'm impertinent am /? That
means fresh. maybe. I'm plain man
and don't use frilIs on my langwidge.
Well. when meets a little skirt that
takes my eyes there ain't- no harm in