The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1927-04-15
CHAPTER VIII
Bad News for Christie.

getting well, Christie acted as man.
ager. Haynes, having partly acquitted
himself of evil intent, started his auc-
on. But one day Haynes called on
Selwood to say his own stock of
goods would not last over week
longer. and begged ,Selwood to rein
state him at the hall. And, on prom
Use of good behavior, Selwood toll
him when his goods were sold he
would give him another chance.
Christie, meantime, walked on air.
To herself she scarcely concealed
her interest in Selwood. Indeed, she
found herself sensitive after a few
days because Selwood did not call
oftener. Yet some remembrance of
their last talk was pleasant in her
heart-soIne thought of confidence
in her worth expressed by the. only
man in her new and strange sur
roundings whom she felt sure she
might trust.
Starbuck came In one day especial
ly to tell her that he had learned all
the circumstances Of the row between
her father and his partners, and
thought IL her father would figure
out his damages, when, he was well
enough to do so, he, Starbuck. would
see that Atkins paid. "And, Christie"
he added, in earnest of his intentions,
"tell your father not to be modest
about fixing the amount. Atkins is
bad egg-that's the truth Of 1t. I
get along with him. have to keep
the peace here and get along with
everybody. But your father ought
never to have had anything to do with
a man like that"
He made no reference whatever to
the unpleasant alternative he had Of
fered before and seemed to wish 1t
lost sight Of; for he showed now only
an interest in seeing what appeared
clearly wrong properly righted
Fyler accepted the olive branch.
Christie received Starbuck's overtures
coldly. A man may be fooled more
than once; but woman, provided
her affections are not involved, is not
easily deceived the second time by a
man she has once dlstrusted. Christie
was just enough afraid of the man
to treat him civilly; but she threw
into her talk with him little carping
bits that kept Starbuck irritated
though they did not cool his ardor.
Indeed, they rather infiamed 1t with
a resentful resolve to bring the girl,
in some wise, to time.
There's a hussy that's got 'em all
beat" declared Doctor Carpy to Sell
wood. "Shy as an antelope and as
trim on her feet. We never had no
women like that down In my country
She asked me this morning what had
become Of YOU"
Less than that much of a firebrand
would have sent Selwood's good reso-
lutions to keep away from Christie
Fyler up in smoke What he ought
to do, and what he wanted to do,
were as far apart as the North pole
and the Southland in the clash of
opinions the South pole won.
Leaving Carpy, Selwood walked up
to the hall on the Hill. The only sign
of life about the place was Bull Page,
who was filling and shining up the
lamps. Selwood spoke kindly to him
Bull was devotee. Walking to the
back of the hall, Selwood went be-
hind his desk. He lifted the glass
clock dome, doubled the shoe up, and
put it into one of his capacious pock-
cts. He had resolved mentally to ask
Christie today whether this was her
shoe; if she claimed it, he meant to
make her prove her claim by trying
1t on for him.
1t was useless to pretend he could
visit her without careful preparation
The least vain man would have tried
to look his best for call ON the only
pretty girl in Sleepy Cat-Bill Parda-
loe claimed" she was the only pref
ty girl ON the Mountain divide.
And Selwood was vain. He prob
ably did not think so, but his careful
dress among careless men condemned
him. This afternoon that he went to
call ON Christie he was in that dam
gerous state of preparedness that had
given him his unwelcome nickname
Fyler sat in chair near the door,
summing himself, At the whip rack
Big Haynes was helping man pick
out wagon whip. In the darker rear
end of the store Selwood, pausing
at the door to shake hands with
Fyler and ask after his health. caught
a glimpse of Christie talking to some
man whose back was so turned that
SelwOOd could not see who 1t was.
The quiet gambler, with his left hand
resting easily on the toe of the shoe
in his side coat pocket, chatted for
a moment with the father of the girl
who claimed so much of his thoughts
talked with him about the news
from the East, the increase in travel,
the growing disorders in the town.
and at length, getting away from him,
walked into the store.
Big Haynes stopped him. "John."
he said, II understand Wentworth
will be here tomorrow"