Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-26


Say, some dogl Some dog! I thought sure
for minute he was going to get you, john
"Dog!" says1. DOG! don't mean the dog.
I mean-didnt you see the face? In the
lightning9 The face of that-that-that dead
woman?" .-.
LIE look at me for minute. and it seems to
l. L me he was kind of embarrassed. He put
his arm around my shoulders and started walk
ing toward tn Zig ted door.
mo" says he in queer, sober voice Il
never seen 1t this tine, John. And what's the
funniest part wasn't once scared OF being
being Just going to see it. either. been think
ing You know. John, old boy, almost believe
talking the way you did, and acting like you
did-In be darned if believe you didn't cure
me-"
I couldn't help it; he seem like stranger.
And as dumb. all the while. as dumb.
"No." says he, somehow or other seem TO
get ahold of myself after what you said-and
even more the way you says It,
do you know what was thinking of all
through the tempest, John? Well, was hg-
uring to myself the chance, If there was
thousand men out in thousand different
thunder squalls-what chance in a million
would there be of any one at all of 'em seeing
a dead woman by stroke Of lightning? And
here was I, just one single man, out In one
single tempest. What chance in million?
In hundred million? Well twasnt hardly
it, to be very badly scared about. Wasn't that
right, John?"
He give me a look, kind of sidewise, kind Of
sheepish, and more color in his cheeksn I'd
ever seen there before.
"Say!" says he then. He looked at me fairer.
seeing didn't answer. Say what's wrong
with you? What makes you look that way.
John? You hungry?"
"I-yes," says I, IL guess so. Hungry"
That minute we got to the doorstep, and out
To- ff,a fy, fI1p liot1t
She's q good-lcoking, red-cheeked, youngish
woman with straight black hair and good
natured eyes.
"Sakes," says she to Lester, I'm glad you
warned me, or else I'd think was beginning to
see double in my old age" She put her hands
on her hips, throw her head back, and give a
little laugh. Then says she to me, "You empty.
too? Soaked on the outside and empty on the
In. EN-? Well, well, both them things is durable
diseases"
Her voice die off and seen her eyeS'd shifted
beyond U.S.
There they come now" she says.
1 look around and seen a crowd of lanterns
coming up the road. and hear whining OF
dogs
'Land!" hear her saying, as if to herself.
"Just as good I got the coffee early. They
telephoned they'd be here like about 10.'
You could see she was uneasy, or not so much
uneasy as embarrassed. Her eyes shift back to
us. and it was at Lester she looked. not me.
'Well?" says she.
"well?" says Lester, almost like he was mock
ing her.
I don't know what he'd told her, or who she
thought we was, but anyway she was i'll at her
ease.
"Wen," says she, flushing redder and redder
and still looking at my brother, II tell you, why
don't you boys just clear out and wait a spello
Right there to the left in the brush youn find
o path leading up the spring. It's quiet there
and out of the way. tell you. frankly. these
folks is all right: still. they never been crazy
about strangers hereabouts Specially so as
they're all het up just now with this word that
Warty Edmond's gang. that held up the mail
Tuesday. is working this way over the noun
tain. If you boys come through town today, it's
q wonder to me they didn't round you up and
give you the third degree. They're that het up.
Mercy! Here they come. That's right That's
best You just wait above the spring a spell till
I call you. I'll give 'em some coffee, and 'twont
be long. That's the boys"
she followed us. though and come a few
steps into the dark. And still it was Lester
she looked at, and Lester she spoke to.
you'll be back. thought"
sure. we'll be back" says he. and give her
q long look.
"Remember?" says She
II mistrusted her, somehow. When we come
TO the spring was all for playing 1t safe and
going on while we could. told Lester didn't
like the look of it. 1t had too much the look
Of trap for me- It was funny: was the
timid one that time and Lester was the bold.
mo" says he, shaking his head hard. "Shes
all right"
"Au right, al wrong, I wouldn't take a
chance" says I.
II would" says he. He give me kind OF
laugh and dig in the ribs Don't you worry"
says he. And for all my arguing he wouldn't
bulge from that When the woman called in
the dark, stayed where was. but Lester went.
AL L.. ~a.iak