The Kenna record. (Kenna, Roosevelt County, N.M.) 190?-1924, 1921-01-07
cHAPrER x

Dolores had been gone an hour be-
fore Webster reused from his bitter
lntrospection sufficiently to glance at
his watch. "Hum-m-mI" he grunted
dlsapprovingly.
"Oh, I've been here fully half an
hour" Dolores voice assured him.
He turned guiltlly and found her lean
ing against the jamb in a doorway he
hind him and farther down the YER
anda. She was gazing at him with
that calm, impersonal yet vitality I'm
terested glance that had so captivated
him the first time he saw her. "Are
you quite finished talking to yourself
and fighting imaginary enemles7 If
so, you might talk to me for a change;
I'll even disagree with you on any
subject, II opposition will make you
any happier"
He rose and indicated the chair.
"Please sit down, Miss Ruey. You are
altogether disconcerting-toO con-
foundedly smart. 1 fear I'm going to
be afraid Of you until know you bet
ter"
She shrugged adorably and took the
proffered chair. "That's the Latin in
her-that shrug." Webster thought. II
wonder what other mixtures go to
make up that perfect whole"
Aloud he said: $50 you wanted to
study me In repose7 Why waste your
time? 1 am never in repose."
Feminine curiosity, Mr.. Webster.
Billy has talked so much of you
that wanted to see If you measured
up to the specifications. Just let me
have your hand, and I'll tell you all
about yourself"
els there any charger"
eyes, a nominal one. However,
guarantee truthful reading; If, when
I am through. you are not wholly sat
isfled, you do not have to pay the
price. Is that a satisfactory arrange
mentT
Fright as fox" he declared, and
held out his great calloused hand. He
thrilled as she took 1t In both of hers,
so soft and beautiful and flattened 1t
out, palm upward, on her knee. "a
fine, large, useful hand" she comment
ed muslngly. "The eallouses indicate
recent hard manual toll with a pick
and shovel; despite your recent efforts
with soap and brush and pumice-stone,
there still remain evidence of some
foreign. matter ingrained in those cal
lous spots. This line indicates that
you are very brave, gentle, and cour-
teous. You are quick and firm In your
decisions, but not always right, be-
cause your actions are governed by
your heart instead of your head.
Once you have made decision, you
are reckless of the consequences. Your
lifeline tells me you are close to fifty
three years of age"
"Seeress, you're shooting high and
to the right" he interrupted, for he
did not relish that jab about his age.
''Pll have you know was forty years
old last month, and that can still do
hundred yards in twelve seconds fiat
in my working clothes"
"Well, don't feel peeved about 1t,
Mr.. Webster. am not infallible; the
best you can hope for from me Is a
high percentage of hits, even If did
shoot high and to the right that time.
In point of worldly experience you're.
a hundred and six years old but 1
Topped OFF fifty per cent. to be on the
safe side. To continue, You are OF
an extremely chlvalrous nature
particularly toward young ladies
travelling without chaperons; you are
kind, affectionate, generous to fault,
something of a spendthrift. One may
safely depend upon you to do the I'M
| vs1V nI In q
unbroken, proving you have never
married, although right here the line is
somewhat dim and frayed." She
looked up at him suddenly. "You
haven't been in love, have your she
queried with childlike insouciance.
"In lOve-and disappOintedr
He nodded, for he could not trust
himself to speak
"How sadr she cooed sympatheti-
caIly. did she marry another, or did
she diet"
"she-she-yes. she died"
"CaullAOwer tongue, in all prob
ability, carried her of, poor thing I
However, to your fortune: You are
naturally truthful and would not make
a deliberate misstatement Of fact un-
less you had a very potent reason for
It, You have a strong sense Of
sportsmanship. and when fairly de-
feated, whether in a battle Of fists
or battle of wits, you never hold a
grudge, which is one Of the very MIC
est characteristics a man can have"
"Or a woman" he suggested feebly.