The Holbrook news., 1922-08-11
By WILLIAM MACLEOD RAINE.


 away from the police. Oh, I've been so scared. l didn't know-I thought"
 "'S all right. $ all right, li'T girl. Don't you cry, Kitty. Me n Clay won't let 'em hurt you none. We sure won't"
 She nestled closer, and JOhnnie's heart lost a beat. He had become aware of dull pain in the shoulder and of something wet tIickling down his shoulder. But what is one little bullet in your geography when the sweetest girl in the world is in your arms?
 '1 ain't nothin' but a hammered down liP haysed of a cowpuncher," he told her, his voice trembling, "an' you're awful pretty an'-an'-" A flag of color fiuttered to her soft cheeks. The silken lashes fell shyly. Il think you're fine and dandy, the bravest man that ever was"
 Do yOu4fgure you could? IT | uou ICNhOH you SOuiu CNci He stopped, abashed. To him this creature of soft curves was of heaven sent charm. All the beauty and vital ity of her youth called to him. It seemed to Johnnie that God spoke through her. Which is another way of saying that he was in love with her.
 She made rustling little stir in his arms and lifted flushed face very tender and appealing. In the darkness her lips slowly turned to his.
 Johnnie chose that inopportune mo- ment to get sick at the stomach.
 "I-Tm gOin' to faint" he an- nounced, and did. When he returned to his love-story Johnnie's head was in Kitty's lap and mounted policeman was in the fore ground of the scene. His face was wet from the mist of fine rain falling
 Don't move. Some one went for a car," she whispered, bending over him so that flying tendrils of her hair brushed his cheek. "Are you-badly hurt?"
 He snOrted. "Pm a false alarm. NOthin' a-tall. He jeS' creased me-"
 You're so brave," she cried, ad- miringly.
 He had never been told this before. He suspected 1t was not true, but to hear her say 1t was mama to his hun gry soul.
 The cab stopped at the house of a doctor and the shoulder was dressed The doctor made one pardonable mis- take.
 Get your wife to give you this sleeping powder if you find you can't sleep" he said.
 "Y'betcha," answered Johnnie cheer fully.
 Kitty looked at him responsibility and blushed. She scolded him about it after they reached the apartment where they lived.
 Her new fiance defended himself. He's only day or two prema-chure, honey. It wasn't hardly worth while explainin'," he claimed.
 "A day or two. Oh, Johnnie!"
 "Sure. I ain't gonna wait. Wha's the matter with tomorrow"
 q haven't any clothes made" she evaded, and added by way of diver sion. q always liked that kinda gold en down on your cheeks"
 "The stores are full of 'em. An we ain't talkin' about my whiskers-not right now."
 You're a nice old thing" she whis- pered, flashing into unexpected dim- ples and she rewarded him for his niceness in way he thought alto gether desirable.
 A crisp, strong step sounded out side The door opened and Clay came into the room.
 He looked at Kitty. Thank heaven, you're safe" he said.
 Johnnie rescued me-" she cried "He got shot-h the shoulder"
 The men looked at each other.
 Bad, Johnnie?'
 Nope. A plumb li'l scratch. Wha's the matter with you?
 A gleam of humor fitted into the eyes of the cattleman. 'I ran into a door,"
 Say, Clay," Johnnie burst out, q betcha can't guess"
 His friend laughed in ambiable de- rision "Oh, you kids in the woods. l He walked up to the girl and took her hand. You got good man, Kitty. I'm wishin' you all the joy in the world"
 Her eyes flashed softly. Don't I know I've got a good man, and I'm going to be happier than I deserve"
 
 Tim Muldoon, in his shirt-sleeves, was busy over a late breakfast when his mother opened the door of the flat to let in Clay Lindsay.
 The policeman took one look at the damaged face and forgot the plate of ham and eggs that had just been put before him.
 "Yuh've been at it again!" he cried. his Irish eyes lighting up with antici- patory enjoyment.
 q had a little set-to with friend Jerry last night" the westerner ex- plained.
 Another? Whats the trouble now?" "You heard about the girl abducted in an auto from the Bronx?"
 "Uh-huhl Was Jerry in that"
 "He was. I'll tell you the whole story, Tim"
 Meet my mother first. Mother MT. Lindsay. Yuh've heard me talk av him."
 Mrs. Muldoons blue Irish eyes .inI-lnd She was a nlnmn and am