The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1927-04-08

disarray Of her hair. Things were In
such awful shape this morning." she
said, with her fingers running around
like mice among the hairpins and
with her eyes fixed in dire apology
on Selwood's eyes. 81 know I'm a
sight y she exclaimed. "But you'll
never know what this poor store
looked like!"
IF it looked anything like you." he
yentured, II shouldn't have touched
it,"
Could Christie have blushed more
deeply she probably would; but, un-
able to do so, she did something
worse, as far as Selwood's composure
was concerned. She laughed. And 1t
was the happiest care-free laugh In
the world--no fret. no worry, neither
regret nor apprehension--just the
young, happy laugh of a young, hap
py moment. Selwood felt himself
rudely shaken with every vibration
Of her throat. but he chung to the
lifeline. "How's your father?"
"Oh"-Christie heaved big sigh
of relief-"ever so much better. Oh,
know shall never be able to say
all I want to to thank you-how am
l ever going to do it,"
She looked at him with eyes so
wide open and so appealingly per-
picked that SelwOod mOmentarily
wilted. His eyes fell. The man who
could look at any sort of hand at
poker calmly, or into the muzzle of
gun without visible hysteria, faltered
before Christie's eyes. He kept his
wits just enough to answer her ap-
peal. you've done it," he managed
to say-and continued: 81 hope you'll
have no more trouble. Bob Scott
will be sneaking around here for a
while at night; Bob doesn't sleep
much"
"He just saved my life. helping this
morning. And"-she hesitated and
twisted her fingers a little as she
stood behind the counter. Then she
sumnDned courage and went on--in
truth she had much the more courage
of the two. "And-he, when I spoke
of you. he told me you were not here
at all last night! And 1 just knew
that wasn't so. And he said that Mr..
Pardaloe had gone out Of town early
this morning"
"He took wagon train out" ex-
planned SelwoOd. He did not add that,
knowing there was but one way to
keep the mule boss quiet, he had
sent him out.
"Where were you last night?" de.
handed Christie, growing in pretty
boldness-pretty because it was moth.
ing but gratitude and fast-kindling
confidence-with just the merest dash
of receptive feminine curiosity. ooh,
you needn't tell me if you don't want
to-" she added hastily, II know ]
ought not to ask"
Her, head hung down-about far
enough down to reprOach herself for
hardihood-and her eyes looked up
just far enough to reach his; and just
innocently enough to shatter his good
resolutions of every sort.
"You've full permission to ask nue.
any kind of a question in the world"
he said. "Just remember that. I was
here a little while last night. But
Pardaloe and Scott did the hard
work."
somebody certainly did 1t. How
can men be so mean as those men
were to really steal everything we
hadY Christie sighed at the thought
But 1t was not the sigh that shook
Selwood; it was the appealing conf.
dence of her question to the one man
she felt sure she could trust; and it
was so satisfying to him to be even
for few moments in that position.
He stumbled at some effort to an
swer or explain her difficulty, but
Christie rode right on. II suppose"
she said impulsively, 81 might as we'll
ask: How can men be as good as you
and your friends were to risk their
lives to get back what was taken
away from us-when they couldn't
have the slightest personal interest
in helping father and me?"
Selwood demurred..,"I wouldn't say
just exactly that. Men like Pardaloe
and Scott and myself don't see o
nice young lady like you often"
Nonsense! exclaimed Christie,
flushing anew at her success as 8
nice young lady.
(TO BE CONTINUED.)