The Elk Mountain pilot., 1924-07-10

'iti she WAS tnlnkll0
about some particular. man, Henry"
Nonsense" Archman spoke vigor-
ously, but his eyes were troubled. ats
only girls talk. You women are al
ways seeing things"
Mrs. Archman shook her head
doubtfully. I'm not so sure. she
said. I've been thinking. She's been
going to your ship good deal. Is
there any one there who"
Nonsense !" Archman reiterated
the word, but his tones were more un-
easy than before. 'Wellr he said.
1T doesn't matter, after all. She'll
have time to forget before we get
back. Is Nellie ready?"
TIL see." Mrs. Archman went to
the door, then hesitated, and came
back. "Did-did you see Mr.. Van
kullf' she asked timidly.
Archman's face drew dark. Yes,
saw him." He choked. "He-he-You
were right, Martha. He snubbed me.
Good Lord If l wasn't going awayi
But I've got to go! I'll be back,
though, and then if don't make things
icl .hi. an NULL L II eat tle
toughest bull in the yards, and that's
saying lot. Is Nellie ready?"
''Tll see."
Meanwhile Nellie, aided by Bess,
was dressing and packing madly.
Suddenly she threw up her hands and
dropped into a chair. "Ohw she
walled. "How can l go and leave him
this way?"
Leave who?" Bess stared blankly.
Leave Jim. Oh! I've got to tell
you Bess. You've got to help me.
There's young man"
"Oh, Nelliel"
Yes" The girl spoke desperately.
Hes in charge of some of the repairs
on fathers ship. I've seen him nearly
every day. He's poor, of course, and
you know mother wants me to marry
a duke or something, and of course
Jim isn't a duke and-and- He
hasn't said anything definite, but l
thought-thought-"
"Oh, Nellie! You darlingl" Bess
threw her arms about the other "Of
course he meant it. Nobody could
help meaning it where you were con-
cerned. What is he like?"
Nellie's face lit up. Hes the most
splendid man l ever saw" she
breathed. Hes magnificent. But it's
his eyes that l love. They're deep
brown and soft, and yet they look as
if-as if-Ohl l don't know how they
look-like those of young god go
ing into battle, l suppose. OF course,
you'll think I'm silly, but"
81 don't! I don'tl It's wonderful.
Go on"
But Nellie was off on another track.
"And then tonight he came into Miss
Grants cottage. Yes! He did, 1t
seemed that she had tefephoned for
him. He turned quite white when he
saw me. Then he said-said some
dreadful things If he meant them as
they sounded. l won't let myself be-
lieve that he did mean them that way,
and yet-Oh, Bess! I'll die If he did
mean them that way. Then he begged
me to be sure to come to the ship to-
morrow so that he could explain
something. OF course, haven't any
right to ask explanations, and
couldn't go there to see him after
what happened tonight But"
Nellie" Mrs. Archman's voice was
calling outside the door.
Nellie snatched at her sister. Go
to the ship tomorrow, Bess," she
begged. "See him and tell him I had
to go away. And find out what he
wanted to tell me. If it's got anything
to do with Miss Grant, I'll die! You
will go, Bess, won't you?"
"Of course, 1 will. You poor thing.
What's his name?"
James Carr! You'll find him on the
Ell Rio."
The door opened and Mrs. Archman
appeared. "Come, Nellie" she said.
"Your father is ready"
Ten minutes later good-bys had been
said and Archman and Nellie and Akin
were in the car, rolling down the road
to New York Fifteen minutes later
the engine stopped and refused to go
again.
Swearing mad, Archman jumped out
and began to investigate. He discov-
cred that the gasoline tank was empty.
"Humph ~ he grunted "They want me
to miss the train, do they? This is the
first gun of the fight. Well, there1l be
plenty more. Here, Akin, you go back
toward the house and hunt for gaso-
line, while scout ahead of u.s."
Half an hour later Akin got back.
But he found an empty car. Archman
and Nellie had vanished. The morning
mail, however brought note of ex-
planation to Mrs. Archman.
Tell Akin that Nellie and couldn't
walt for him. Fire James for not fill
ing the gas tank. guess he got his
pay for not doing 1t. Anyway, fire
him. I'm off.
"HENRY."
ITO be Continued)
Blood Money