Omaha daily bee., 1921-09-04

twisted q derby hat in his gloved hands he
fastened on the girls face pair OF brown eyes
that held an odd excited. almost dancing light
She had risen At his entrance. Now. when
he did not speak. she took step toward him,
in q brisk, professional manner As she did
so he smiled. and the sudden exhibition Of strong
white teeth. added to the light In his eyes. SO
illum!ned the ONCE that unconsciously poro-
thea's professional mask gave place to look
of human interest Whoever he was. there was
something Immediately and astonishngly lik.
able about this handsome, outstanding caller.
For q few instants, which seemed long. they
looked in each others eyes. Then the caller
spoke.
Don't you know me. Dolly?"
His voice. she decided, was a. mice" as his
eyes and his entire personality. She realized
now what that expressed excitement, that ex-
pectant. dancing light in the brown eyes had
meant Here was some one who knew her, who
knew her we'll, and who had expected to be re.
membered. ;5'al
'I don't I'm sorry to say" she said gently.
She added with smile: II know ought to-"
He nodded, then crossed the once to her
desk with a step surprisingly quick and light
for SO large man.
"Cioing to let me sit down while you think
1t over?" he cheerfully suggested. pausing at
what the girls called "the anxious seat big
chair beside her desk.
please do"
He took tho chair and as she resumed her
own. which left her face in shadow while the
light from her desk lamp fell full on him, she
took him in In a brief but intent scrutiny to
which he had the air Of eagerly lending himself.
His hair was curly and dark brown. Indeed,
his eyes and complexion and hair seemed much
~LoI~ ,w1n.n at~,
past her out Of the window. had the 'long dis
tance" look in the eyes Of sailors and plains
men. His clothes. she observed, were very well
made, but obviously new, and he wore them
with a certain self-conscousness. He had un-
buttoned his heavy overcoat, and once or twice
the fingers Of his right hand caught and pulled
away from his throat the stiff linen collar with
its correct points at exactly the right angle over
his soft -colored and handsome tie. Though his
clothes were SO admirably made. he was not yet
at home in them. subconsciously but clearly
she visualized him In cowboy outfit. IN his proper
environment in the far west, and wondered what
had brought him so far from his proper setting.
Slowly and smilingly she shook her head.
IT don't remember" she confessed, and some
what to her own surprise, she heard herself
adding, though feel more and more strongly
that ought to-
His eager eyes had returned to her face as
soon as she began to speak.
PlS0odIlt
you ought to. But guess 20 years have made
lot Of changes. I'm Dick" he added simply.
At the name she started, leaned forward, and
looked at him again Then, as II a spring in her
had been touched. two great tears flled her
eyes and rolled down her cheeks. She could not
speak, but both her hands went out to him. He
caught them and held them firmly, resting his
own hands on the small sliding shelf pulled out
from the side Of her desk
"Why Dick-Cousin Dick" she stammered
at last. II can't believe it. We all thought you
were dead"
"Your stepfather didn't He knew where
was UP to the time Of his death eight years
ago. He staked me twice. you know" His shin
ing eyes were on her face.
mo, didn't know. Father-of course
always think Of him as my own father-never
spoke of you. But know he never stopped re-
GREETING that you-that YOU
THAT ran away"
Dick filled in the pause with brisk assurance.
well thought had to- he went on, more
slowly, "and guess I was right. He'd have
done everything In the world for me, but''-he
hesitated-''your mother never liked me, you
know. 1 was only IA, but caught on to that
all right Before had been there two months
saw that she didn't like having me around,
and that she was taking 1t out on your father,
and that It was worrying him. You don't mind
my being so blunt about it. hope. for that's
the truth. Sol cleared out"
'T-I know" Their clasped hands parted,
and they settled back in their chairs. regarding
each other smilingly. A moments silence fell
between them as each recalled the tragic year
in the past when William Hutton's dead
brothers cnly son had come to them, a. penni-
less orphan. to be welcomed by his uncle and
his unce's stepdaug1eer, Dorothea, and-there
was no question about ito have his presence
fercely resented by his aunt.
Dorothea's mother had not intended to be
deliberately unkind to the lonely lad, but she
had passionately disliked him. For one reason,
she felt fierce. uncomfortable jealousy Of her
husbands interest in the boy She knew the
mans thought. Here was the son Of his dead
brother, his only brother; here was the next
best thing to the son he himself had never had.
She herself had never given him child, though
he had been more than a father to the helpless
baby Dorothea had been when her mother re-
married Beyond doubt, William Hutton would
have legally adopted his nephew. Beyond doubt.
he would eventually have loved and depended
upon him. But she had prevented all that
How is Aunt Caroline ?" Dick asked at last
'Not well. She's an old woman now Dick
she's almost 20. You know, she married father
late in life. You have no hard feelings toward
her, have you?" she added wistfully.
You bet haven't! 1 never had--really. I
always understood. somehow. There aren't many
women who would want an unframed cub
thrust into their lives as I was thrust into hers
And you've never forgotten you for one
day." he added slowly. "You were only S-but
YOU were mighty fond of your Dickie, weren't
your"
.I adored you. I cried myself sick when you
left. And how I ordered you around and made