Mountain Home Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1915-1946, 1922-09-29

suit anu luc IiSNlldDle accompanying
beaver, had stopped to talk TO some
one at the door. She stood alone, look
ing about the hall. laughing and nod
ding-and then she looked at him
Fairchild did not wait.
From the platform at the end of the
big room the fiddles had begun to
squeak, and the caller was shouting
his announcements. Couples began to
line up on the floor. The callers voice
grew louder:
zone more couple-then the dance
starts. One more couple, lady an a
gentll One more"
please u Robert Fairchild had
reached her and was holding forth his
hand. She looked up In half surprise,
then demurred.
"But I don't know these old dances"
Neither do Tor any other, for that
matter" he confessed with sudden
holiness. "But does that make any
difference7 Pleasew
She glanced quickly toward the
door. Maurice Rodaine was still talk
ing, and Falrehild saw a little CLEAN
come into her eyes-the CLEAN that
shows when woman decides to make
some one pay for rudeness.
Fairchild's hand was still extended.
Again Anita Richmond glanced toward
the door, chuckled to herself while
Fairchild watched the dimples that the
merrIment caused, and then-Fairchild
forgot the fact that he was wearing
hobnailed shoes and that his clothes
were worn and old. He was going
forward to take his place on the dance
floor, and she was beside him!
Some way, as through haze, he
saw her. Some way he realized that
now and then his hand touched hers,
and that once, as they whirled about
the room, in obedience to the monarch
on the fiddler's rostrum, his arm was
about her waist, and her head touching
his shoulder. 1t made little difference
whether the dance calls were obeyed
after that. Fairchild was making up
for all the years he had plodded, all
the years in which he had known moth
ing but a slow, grubbing life, living
them all again and rightly, In the few
swift moments of a dance.
The music ended, and laughing they
returned to the side of the hall. Out
of the haze he heard words, and knew
indistinctly that they were his own:
"Will-will you dance with me again
tonightT"
Selfish p she chided.
"But viii your"
For just a moment her eyes grew
serious.
did you ever realize that we've
never been introducedT
Fairchild was finding more converse
ton than he ever had believed pos
sible.
"No-but realize that don't care
If you'll forgive it. I-believe that
I'm a gentleman"
$50 do Tor wouldn't have danced
with you"
'Then please"
pardon me-" She had laid a hand |
on his arm for just a moment, then |
hurried away. Fairchild saw that she |
was approaching young Rodaine,
in the background. That per-
son shot an angry remark at her as |
she approached and followed it with |
sentences. Fairchild knew
the reason. Jealousy Couples, re-
turning from the dance floor, jostled
against him, but he did not move. He
was waiting-waiting for the outcome
Of the quarrel-and in a moment 1t
came. Anita Richmond turned swiftly,
her dark eyes ablaze, her pretty lips
set and firm. She looked anxiously
about her, sighted Falrchild, and then
started toward him, while he advanced
to meet her.
Eyes," was her brief announcement.
IN dance the next one with YOU"
"And the next after that?"
Again: "Selfshr'
But Fairchild did not appear to
hear.
A third dance and a fourth, while
n the intervals Fairchild's eyes sought
,ut the sulky, sullen form of Maurice
2odaine, fiattened against the wall,
Eyes evil, mouth a straight line, and
he blackness of hate dlscoloring his
ace. It was as so much wine to Fair
hid; he felt himself really young for
he first time in his life. And as the
music started again, he once more
urned to his companion.
Only, however, to halt and whirl
nd stare in surprise. There had come
shout from the doorway, booming,
"'Ands up, everybody And quick
bout I'll"
Some one laughed and Jabbed his
ands into the air. Another, quickly
ensing staged surprise, followed the
xample. 1t was just the finishing
ouch necessary-the old-time hold-up
f the old-time dance. The bandit"
trode forward
"Out from behind that bari Drop
hat gun 70 he commanded of the white
proned attendant. "Out from that
oulette wheel. Everybody line up!
there amt no time for
1olin'."
Chattering and laughing. they
beyed, the sheriff, his star cleaning,
landing out in front of them all, shiv-