Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1926-08-19

from her that made his pulses quicken.
She put hand on his arm, soft and
clinging. Caleb could feel the warmth
OF her palm penetrating the light cloth
OF his sleeve.
Now l can thank you for saving
me-" she said. You should be re-
warded. toreador. What do you want
You can have-anything."
She spoke so softly that he stopped
to listen. Her breath was on his face.
her eyes held little flames. her lips
were parted. Her whole face was a
challenge to desire
Caleb was human. Yet he could
not tell himself later who had given
the kiss-or taken II. Her fragrance
surrounded him. for a second her arm
was about his neck, her body supple
to his own. with their lips together.
The passion OF her clinging mouth
burned, soft. yet fiery. They were one,
welded with something more than
merely physical contact
Then she stepped back with little
laugh. Strengthening the flower In her
hair. Caleb saw that her eyes we're
looking beyond him. And she laughed
again. an odd little murmur of con-
tent.
He wheeled. Standing on the thres-
hold OF the conservatory was Betty
Clinton. at the head Of the steps. Be
hind her was Baxter Caleb stood as
II suddenly frozen. while she passed as
II she did not see him.
st is a perfectly glorious night"
she said to Baxter as she moved on.
Carmen had vanished Baxter gave
him a malicious smile as he followed
Betty to the end Of the conservatory
Caleb stood irresOlute and then went
slowly down the steps into the big
room,
The evening was utterly spoiled for
him. Carmen rejoined him but he
would not reaccept her challenge. He !
wanted to leave but he stuck 1t out, |
conscious that he had deliberately Of /
Tended Carmen. hardly daring to |
imagine how Betty had construed the
scene she had happened upon with /
Baxter as her partner. How had Bax-
evenings? Caleb remembered that he
had said he was friend Of the We'd
ders but he fancIed that. II he had
been actually invited, Vedder would
have said something about IT, Yet
Vedder did not necessarily know that
Caleb Warner and Fred Baxter were
intimates. And 1t was not a formal
affair. Baxter might merely have ex-
ercised his right Of dropping In.
He found the jade eyes Of Mrs. Car
quinez regarding him with a sldelOng
glance of humor. Of understanding. not
lacking in sympathy. He became sud
denly conscious that he had stopped
to her, or talking to her,
whichever 1t might have been, and
that he was watching intently the
group OF which Betty was the hub.
Even as he flushed under the scrutiny
Of his vis-a-vls. Betty nodded to him.
pleasantly, as she might to an &C
Iuaintance. Not-Caleb decided-as
she would have acted II the incident
The had chosen TO ignore had never (
occurred. I
lou nave met MISS OilHlont hHhCQ
he artists wife "She is a charming {
slrl. She is difrerent-and Indifferent I
so say the men. She and are close
rfends. J
"Yes?" Caleb could muster nothing {
,etter than the Inane syllable.
He was grateful to Mrs Carquinez. I
Did she mean him to be, he wondered. {"
lad she seen what the rest had
missed with those obhque green eyes
I hers7 And had she tried to help :
I'm? :
The rest OF the AFFAIR went on to a
'aleb as II he looked at IT through {,
Green. Champagne was opened and h
e saw Baxter lift his brimming glass q
nd rise in a clever speech to his host 7
nd hostess. Caleb recOllected the r
octor's mention Of champagne and its p
ction on Baxter. He wondered II the :,
liter would make an ass Of himself.
As soon as the first couple gave an II
reuse Caleb found the japanese and A
sked for his hat and coat. His Y
Dstess came up. 90
You're not goingf We're going to
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.