Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-08-12
CHAPTER III
The Overall Girl

CHAPTER III
The. Overall Girl
|THEf stood for a long moment re.
garding each other. both in curiosity
Peter because Of the contrariety of tn,
girls face and garments, the gir
because OF Peters bow, which was tb,
most extraordinary thing that had evcl
happened In Ddi ..ngton County. Ate,
a pause, smile which seemed TO hav.
been lowering uncertainty around tn,
corners of her lips broke into franl
grin, disclosing dimples and a row o
gether.
Gould you tell me-" asked Pete
very politely as he found his voice. IL
this road leads to Black Rock?"
She was still scrutinizing him, hei
head. birdlike. upon one side.
That depends on which way you RI
walkin'," she said.
She dropped her "g" with careles,
ease, but then Peter had noticed that
many Americans and English people
some very nice ones, did that.
Peter glanced at the girl and then
down the road in both directions.
"Oh, yes. Of course" he said. not
sure whether she was smiling at or with
him. ~ came from station called
PickerelRiver and I wish to go to Black
| Rock"
You're sure you want to go there?''
''Oh. yes"
81 guess that's because you've never
been to Black Rock. Mister"
mo, I haven't"
The girl picked shrub and nibbled
at it daintily.
You'd better turn and go right
back Her sentence finished in a
What's the matter with Black
Rock?' he asked curiously.
Its just the little end of nothin'.
That's ALL" she finished decisively.
The quaint expression interested him.
Il must get there, nevertheless, he
said ''is 1t far from here?"
Depends on what you call far. Mile
Or SO. Didn't the Lizzie meet the
six thirty?'
Peter stared at her vacuously, for
this was Greek.
The Lizzie'Y'
1.-The tin 'Lizzie'-Jim Hagerman' 8
bus-carries the mail and papers. Some
times he gives me lift about here"
mo. There was no conveyance of
any sort and really expected one. I
wish to get to Mr.. Jonathan X. Nc
Cures"
"Oh!"
The girl had been examining Peter
turtively, as though trying vainly to
place him definitely in her mental COL
lection of human blpeds. Now she
stared at him with interest.
'Oh, you're goin' to McGuire's!"
Peter nodded. IF I can ever find
the way"
You're one of the new detectives?"
Detective Peter laughed. mo.
Not that I'm aware. I'm the new su-
pcrintendent and forester"
"Oh!"
The girl was visibly impressed, but a
tiny frown puckered her brow.
whats a forester?" she asked.
"A fellow who looks after the for
ests'
The forests don't need any lookin'
after out here in the barrens. They
just grow"
I'm. going to teach them to grow
better
The girl looked at him for long mo-
ment of suspicion. She had taken off
her hat and the ruddy sunlight behind
her made a golden halo all about her
head. Her hands, he had noted, were
small. the fingers slender. Her nose
was well shaped, her nostrils wide, the
angle Of her jaw firmly modelled and
her slender figure beneath the absurd
garments revealed both strength and
grace. But he did not dare to stare ut
her too hard or to question her as 70
her garments. For all that Peter knew
It might be the custom of Burlington
County for women to wear blue denim
trousers.
And her next question took him off
his guard:
"You city folks don't think much Of
yourselves, do you?"
Il don't exactly understand what
you mean," said Peter politely, mark
ing the satirical note.
To think you can make these trees
grow better" she shifted.
"Oh, I'm just going TO help them 70
heln themselves.
That's Gods job, Mister"
Peter smiled She wouldp' have un.
derstood, he thought, so what was the
use of explaining. There must hnys
been superior quality in Peters smile, |
for the girl put on her hat and camo
down into the road.
m goin' to Black Rock" she said |
Stiftly, follow me-" And she went Oh |
with quick stride down the rond.
Peter Nichols took up his bag and |
started, with difficulty getting to a
place beside her
If you don't mind" he said, "I'd
much rather walk with you than be-
hind YOU"
She shrugged shoulder at him.
Suit yourself" she said.
In this position Peter made the dis-
oVery that her profile was quite as in
erestlng as her full face, but she no
onger smiled. Her reference to the
'eity entirely eliminated Peter and the
,rofession of forestry from the pale of
|seful things. He was sorry that she
10 longer smiled because he had de-
ided to make friends at Black Rock
nd he didn't want to make a bad be-
inning.
II hope you don't mind" said Peter
It last, 'if tell you that you have
ne of the loveliest voices that l have
yer heard"
He marked with pleasure the sudden
lush of color that ran up under her
freckled tan. Her lips parted
nd she turned to him hesitating.
''You-you heard me -
II did. 1t was like the voice of an
ngel in Heaven"
"Angel! Oh! I'm sorry. IL
idn t know any one was there. Just
ing on my way home from work. -
You've been working today?"
She nodded. "Yes-farmerettin'."
"Farmer-T'
"Workin' In the vineyard at Gas.
ills"
"Oh. l see. Do you like it?"
/