The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1923-12-21

|
ed her chauffeur "Come to Aston
street for me, jeffrey" she said. But
you'd better get new spare tire first"
Joe showed no sign of noting that this
order OF hers substantially protracted
the time she'd have to wait 1t really
meant nothing to him. OF course, be-
cause she hadn't the least idea of ask
ing him to wait with her.
He kept her wondering about him all
the way home. He drove fast hut with
unexpected care. And he made no
effort 10 talk to her. As they turned
into Chicago avenue he nodded toward
a plain brick building and told her II
was another laboratory. Hugh Cor
belts. There's one Of your bunch
I'D like to really know" he said; and
when she asked. with a laugh. 1.-The
only one?" he let the question go with
no more answer than an unsnd-ing
look.
She had to direct him to her house.
and something about his smile, when
she commented on the oddly of his
not Knowing where she lived, decided
her to invite him In. There was
dash of mischief about Ii. too, for she
saw he didn't know how much or how
little she meant by it. ''Oh, come in,'
she insisted. you deserve a chance
to get cool after resculng me like that
and it's only for few minutes" But
not even the drink she provided put
him at ease
Experimentally, with the rewarded
purpose OF surprising him, she spoke
Of his daughter, whom he, apparently,
had no intention Of mentioning. Mar
garet's been telling me how nice she
is Why have you kept her dark
But the surprise proved boomerang.
After his first start he took time to
frame deliberate answer which left
her gasping.
1T wasn't because l was ashamed
Of her. 1t was because l don't know
where you and | stand. l don't care
what you take me for pirate or
cannibal-anything You like" There
was nothing humorous about this; his
tone was almost menaciDg. But she's
no-cannibal princess And II l can
help 1t, she isn't going to be taken
that way"
He began with a disarming apology
for having startled her. He'd spoken
out more plainly than she was used TO.
but he hadn't done 1t wantonly. There
was something he wanted her to I'M
derstand.
1--WE always been a law unto my
SELF" he said. That's the only kind
of person | could be. If you're like
that, you've got to make up your mind
not to care a d-n what anyone else
thinks of you or of the things you do.
It's the only possible line to take. If
you stop to think. But that doesn't
mean that I've been satisfied with
everything I've done. I've done some
things that were pretty lowdown. I've
treated some, people that way. One of
them was my wife. | deserted her
before Beatrice was born. Before ]
knew she was goin., to be born. She
was almost a year old before | knew
| had daughter Well. can't make
anything up to my wife. She hates
me; always did. I'm the last sort Of
man in the world for her to have
married You must have seen things
happen like that yourself. But | can
make 1t up to the girl. and I'm going
to do it. She hasn't had much of a
life up to now, but now it's going to
begin. The best there is-of every
thing. 1t may not be all smooth sail
ing at first. thought I'd put her in
the same school your daughter goes 10,
but they've written TO say they're full"
His skeptical manner gave her a
clue I'm sure that's true" she said.
1--WE had to enter Dorothy at Thorny |
croft years before she was ready to |
go. Everybody does / suppose
that's why you thought you didn't |
know where you-stood; as you said, |
with me.
1.-The trouble with you is" she went
On after silence, that you think
you're still In the Jungle"
"And are you telling me I'm not?"
he asked. "Shall | begin trusting ev-
erybody7"
She laughed "1'rust your friends.
anyhow" she said, adding, after an
other pause, "And don't let Margaret
Craven monopolize that nice daughter
If yours. Bring her up to see us Sun
lay morning. Everybody comes, more
Or less. to swim and play tennis, and
20 on, and stays to lunch" she added
final touch. "Ill see that Margaret's
therefor you" she said.
He made, in words, no reply to this,
tut his look took hold of her again and
or a good long moment held her tight,
10 that, once more, she felt the blood
urn in her face. She'd been kissed
With a good deal less intimacy than
hat came to. He didn't offer even the
ormal contact of handshake; mere
Y nodded at her and went away. wear
ng his most brilliant grin.
The only thing to be watchful of
vas the possibility Of her having a bad
influence on Dorothy. violet had con-
ulslve moments of taking the respon-
"a |