The Elk Mountain pilot., 1924-01-17

she inquired. looking from one to Tie
other keenly.
The girl spoke quickly, before her
companion could reply. 1--WE have had
Il most agreeable chat. Eliza Arc
are. would you mind coming into The
bedroom with me? | want you to see
the other dress on me. Good night"
she said to Gwynne. mo doubr we
shall meet again"
He was dumbfounded. Am MOI
to see you in the new dress?" he
cried. visibly disappointed. "Surely
you are not going to deny me the joy
of beholding you in"
She interrupted him almost cava
lierly. pray save up some of youi
compliments against the day when
you behold me in my somber black
for l shall need them then. Again
good night"
Good night" he returned. bowling
stifiiy and In high dudgeon.
Eliza. In hurrying past. had snatched
one of the candlesticks from the man
tel, and now stood holding the bed
room door open for the queenly young
parsonage. A moment later the door
closed behind them.
Gwynne was still scowling al the
inOffensive door when Striker came
clustering into the room.
Where are the women?' he de
inanded, stopping short.
A jerk of the thumb was his an
swer.
Gone to bed?'
Il believe So" replied Gwynne care.
lessly, as he sat down In the despised
rocker and stretched his long legs
out to the fire. II fancy we are safe
to smoke now. Striker. We have the
parlor all to ourselves. The ladies
have deserted u.s."
Striker took the tobacco pouch
from the peg on the mantel and hand.
ed It to his guest.
Fiji up" he said shortly, and then
walked over to the bedroom door. He
raped timorously on one of the thick
boards. want me fer anything? he
inquired softly. as his wife opened
the door an inch or two
"No. Go to bed when you're ready
an don't ferget to smother that fire."
Good night. Phineas." called out
another voice merrily.
Good night" responded Striker.
with dubious shake of his head He
returned to the fireplace
Women are funny things. said he.
dragging up another chair. Then he
sci forth his views al great length
Throughout the dissertation Gwynne
sad sal with his moody gaze fixed
upon the naring logs. which Striker
had kicked into renewed life with the
heel of one of his ponderous boots,
disdaining the stout charred poker
that leaned against the chimney wall.
He was pulling dreamily at the corn
cob pipe. His thoughts were of the
perplexing girl who eagerly gave him
her confidence in one moment and
shrank into the iciest reticeDce the
next. Her unreseryed revelations con-
cerning her own father. uttered with
all the frankness of an intimate, and
the childish righteousness with which
she accounted for her raiment, fol
lowed so closely. so abruptly by the
most insolent display of bad manners
he had ever known, gave him ample
excuse for reflection. He was debat.
ing within himself the advisability of
asking his host a few direct and point
ed questions. fine regard for Strik-
er's position deferred him.
This is admirable tobacco" he
said. do you cure 1t yourself or
does 1t come up the river from Ken
tuckyT
Comes from Kentucky. We don't
have much luck tryin' to raise ter
baccer In these parts"
WhereupOn Mr.. Striker went into
long and intelligent lecture upon
the products of the soil In that Sec
ton Of Indiana
whenever you feel like goin' to
bed. jist say So" he said at last.
II have been doing a little surmis-
Ing. Mr. Striker" said the other. Il
am wondering where you and Afe to
dispose ourselves"
Il reckon I'll have to make up a
bed here In front Of the fireplace fer
myself. an let you 60 up to the at
tic. We got a."
81 was afraid of this. Mr.. Striker
You are putting yourselves out ter
ribly on my account. I can't allow II.
sir. 1t Is too much to ask
"Now, don't you worry about US.
You amt putin US out at all. There's
q spare tick up in the attic what we
use fer strangers when they happen
along. an Zachariah has put your
blankets right here by the door-an
your pistols. too. see-sO whenever
you're ready. I'll lead the way up the
ladder an show you where you're to
roost.
They stepped outside the cabin, In
to the fresh. brisk gale that was blow
Ing Striker pointed of into the night
"Lafayettes of In van direction
There's a big stretch Of open prairie