Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1926-06-17

bloom OF this peach was ARTIFICIAL TA'
face was petulant. fond Of pleasure
disinclined to count the cost Calss
idly fancied that the eyes held posst
bilities of storm that would be mors
than Just q rain OF tears on occs on
that the mouth conid become hard and
sullen II Its owner were crossed.
He had breakfast alone In the apart.
ment house dining room. IL was Sun
day. He thought OF visiting III Nido
but old custom precluded the idea OF .
Lords day social call He wondered
II the public library would be open.
thinking that he would like 70 read up
the water history OF Golden. OF Oak
willie and Los Angeles, and then he re
membered the card In his pocket The
club library should prove adequate.
The Altruists was a literary as well as
an artistic institution. SO he walked
down town. to find the place almost de
serted Everyone In Golden. it seemed
made the most OF holidays out-of
doors
There was no one In the library
with It's easy chairs and big tables. In
desks and deep lounge In front OF q
mammoth fireplace. The walls were
lined high with books. well arranged,
50 that 1t was little trouble to nnd
what he wanted. Soon be was deep In
the history OF Golden. with a big map
Of the Bay region close beside him.
He went to bed early. Sometime To
the night Baxter came home. Caleb
found him sleeping the next morning,
his head tucked on a forearm, hand
some but jaded. settled until noon.
Caleb waited until Cox should have
had time to answer his mail and then
presented himself at the offices OF the
Crystal Springs company. Cox's greet
ing was cordial.
"Do you mind waiting a few mo-
ments7" he asked. He pressed a desk
button and a shrewd-appearing young
chap entered whom Caleb rated as
Cox's secretary.
sSeRd me stenegFapheF, Harry,
will your" asked Cox. Il have given
you all you can handle and want to
get out some instructions on that
cement matter. The stuff is far from
standard or contract quality"
The stenographer entered, girl.
quiet, dressed In dark business suit,
deftly taking the dictation given her
by Cox in low. unhesitating voice.
Caleb. looking over an engineering
journal. hardly noticed her.
Take this letter." said Cox, then
turned to Caleb. as the girl changed q
page in her notebook. II fnd that
Hlnckley, our engineer In chief, Is not |
coming in this morning He will be at
Crystal Springs tomorrow, 50 am
going to give you a letter to him. A
car Will be here for you In the morn
ing at eight-thirty, II that suits you.
/ am sorry cannot give the time ts
go with you myself"
It was said graciousIy, with GER
tain air OF assurance that Cox would
actually have gone with Caleb II he
could have spared the day.
"Now. Miss Morgan" said Cox ITO
E. H. Hlnekley, introducing Mr.. Caleb
Warner"
The girls poised pencil wavered for
a second. while her face lifted and her
eyes gazed wide at Caleb, then Il
dipped and automatically inscribed
characters. They were
blue eyes and the face one he had seen
before. Where7 The dress was more
demure, the blond hair less fancifully
arranged. but there was no mIstakIng
the features, the general expression,
startled from business calm to personal
interest.
Miss Morgan was Baxter's peach"
The girl whose photograph now occu-
pied one Of the silver frames on Bax-
.er's bureau. Baxter was home. asleep,
he girl was on duty. There were
shadows under her eyes but there was
/ flush In her cheeks as she stared at
Caleb with an Interrogation that was
almost a challenge. before she bent to
Ter work as Cox went on with the
etter.
Caleb imagined what she was won
Iering. He had been mentioned to her
y name by Baxter She was trying TO
.uess whether Baxter had done the
anne by her, whether Caleb had seen
Ter photograph. what chance had
rought him to the private Office and
Ter into It on the same occasion7
Caleb's face showed nothing and,
vhen the letter was ended, he was !
gain reading the Journal Nor did he
ook up when the girl left at Coxs :
that is all. Miss Morgan" He did
OF wish TO embarrass the girl What
be did in her own time was. IL II did
OF prove detrimental TO her duties,
er own affair-m0st certainly not his.
She did not return. A few minutes
lter the secretary came quietly IN
18th the letter OF introduction which
OK read. signed. slid into its unsealed
nvelope and passed to Caleb.