The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1921-09-14

Thank you very much.- she said
Her eyes met his. such blue eyes
they were. fringed with dark iashes
They made Briton think OF his
mothcr--thc little. silly butterfly who
had once held him in her arms and
smoothed his hair. with soft jeweled
fingers
lie pulled off his cap with . xud
den feeling OF reverence.
Il wish l could do something more
for YOU he stammefcd
There was . little silence. the
girls white face flushed. her eyes
fell
The hunchhack made a sudden
movement. he turned on his heed and
climbed back into the big caravan.
Once again the door shut violently
beneath his hand
Young Brlson vns glad he had
gone. He realized an at once that
there were quite lot OF things he
would like TO say 20 this girl.
Does that-brute-o hit your
he asked hluutiy.
She shook her head
who IL heT- asked young Briton.
Your father7-
NO. he's the manager here He
brought mo up
Il see"
lie looked At her with compassion
ate eyes
-Poor itsis girl he said. pityingiy
With a sudden gesture abe covered
her face with her hands-she burnt
Into weary sobbing.
-oh. wish wcre dead wish
I were dead
Young Br5ton was shocked: from
the moment when she ran into the
ring he had pitied her without exaet.
ly knowing why: but now. after what
he had seen the buiiy's upliftcd fist.
tho slender bruised srm-he was
filled with horror TO think Of any
woman exposed To such treatment
All the women he had known had
been ladies' delicat.ly nurturcd.
petted--but this poor little
girl
He laid an impulsive hand on her
=,
-oh. ! say. don't cry he said in
distress. There's nothing 10 cry
for. What can I DO TO help your
I've got lots Of money"
He spoke quite unaffec'ediy. with
out the least desire TO brag. II had
upon him all nj once that
there must be great many poor VI
tie Mile. RoHalies in the world. and
that he WAS only one OF the thou
sands OF Idle rich who might make
the hard path of her life more pleas
ant--lf only he would
Pity had never knocked At his
door. he had sometimes given pen
mics to blind men--once he had
picked up a street urchin from the
mud and dried his tears with six.
pence. but. In a general way. pow
erty and distress were the sort OF
things he had only heard about. and
never come into actual contact with.
The girl lifted her tear-stained face
from her hands--her wet eyes looked
at him wonderingiy. The rouge and
powder on her cheeks were smudged
unbecomingly--and yet she was pref
ty In spite OF 1t and her hair was
soft and fair. her little nose and
mouth exquisitelyT' shaped.
There was a painfully hunted look
In her eyes. they went past young
Briton. searching into the shadows
behind him fesrfuIly.
There's nothing 10 be afraid Of
he said, gently. II fiatter myself |
can deal with any OF the brutes here.
why WINS that man hitting your"
She answered him In n GREATNESS
whisper.
He said I funked. but didn't.
tho I hate II. You don't know how
| hate 1.-THE horrible trspeze. Some
day shall fall and be killed"
There was terror In her voice
she shuddered convulsively. II tried
TO run away once. but hadn't any
money. and he-Sherncy--he found
me. and She broke off: her
eyes were fixed on the window above
the closed door OF the caravan.
DfttbH kaE' Npit'f-
ingiy; between the short red curtains
he met the malevolent eyes Of the
The girl gathered the shabby cloak
about her: she moved step away.
II must go; thcy1l guess what !
am saying 70 you. Oh. please let me
GO" for young Briton had stretched
a OBTAINING hand.
He stood back instantly.
II shall be here again tonight
Mt .. You shall not stay with these
people. You will see me at OF"
She gave some unintelligible an
swer-shc broke into run across
the sodden field. the huge gaIoshes
che wore over her cheap white shoes
at each step.
Young Briton took a cignret from
his pocket. He deliberately struck a
match on the caravan wheel and III
H. He was acutely conscious OF the
stu watching him: but he
had never known what IL was TO he
afraid--he was not going 10 begin
now He threw the burnt match
from him into the mud and walked
Iwsy slowu.