The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1929-05-24
CHAPTER VII-Continued

one, did you?"
II swear l did. What ] said, II ]
said anything-which I don't admit
shall keep to myself"
moment later Celia left on Bills
arm.
"Quarreling?" he asked.
IL see too much of him." she said.
81 think shall fall In love with you
again. Shall II"
"My duties don't permit" he
laughed. "You look tired. Why not
go to bed early?"
''How quickly you tire Of mel" she
Knocked. II looked for something
subtler from you. Les couldn't have
done worse"
Bill Pelham smiled. Evidently she
was fonder of Les than she had ad-
mitted. She looked ut him dancing
with her mother, but Les would not
even smile.
"She's hurt him." said Bill to him.
self
"IlI take your advice" Celia said.
yawning. "Night-o. Bill!"
She had hurt Leslie more than she
guessed, and much more than she
would have done If she had known
how miserable he was.
at has been lovely to be here all
this time." Les said presently.
LES, that doesn't mean that you
are leaving us?"
"I'm afraid I'll have to-"
ais IT something Celia has said?"
Leslie lied as calmly as he could.
"Not thing! I've promised to run
down to the Water Gap for a few
days"
You'll be back soon?"
Dina was distressed. She liked the
boy, and hoped that Celia would
marry him. Junior liked him. They
all liked him. and yet Celia teased
him almost to madness OF, times.
In his room Leslie composed let
ter to Celia filled with that note of
minor melancholy which drips from
the pens of lovers with such exquisite
ease. He told her he would be. gone
before she was up He ended by say.
ing. very darsly. that he had taken
taflsice- and .jnmned off the road. !.
Leslie smiled bitterly as he sreread
ii. II sounded like q yeiied threat OF
suicide.
All the others had gone to he'd when
ne finished. He put the letter In his
pocket. and went out TO see II any
wild faun was prowling about the
Gray house grounds. Celia's en-
counter might have been fact or fancy.
One could never be sure Of Celia.
lie gained the hall quietly. unbolt.
ed the door, and walked silently to-
ward the abandoned swimming pool
by the tennis courts.
"T'll be d-dI" said Leslie.
By the pool stood a very tall man
physically more splendid than
young Barron. as Leslie himself
would not have denied. The intruder
heard no football on the grass. He
was aware of another's presence only
when Leslie tapped him on the arm.
He seemed far more embarrassed
than Leslie.
-What's the idea?" he snarled. try.
ing to shake off the others grip.
Leslie was instantly relieved. As
suredly Celia had not heard the god
like stranger speak. for his speech
was of the East side unrefned.
81 don't want you to disappear in
your cloud of star dust until I've had
a little talk with you. What are you
doing here?"
Leslie snapped the question out In
a threatening tone.
81 lost my way" replied the wild
faun.
"Don't lie!" said Leslie.
The wild faun frowned a little. The
white moonlight showed his heavy
face to be capable of readily ex-
pressed emotion. Leslie saw. too.
that for some reason he wished to
make his story good.
81 was trying to find short cut"
said the intruder.
NYou must make habit OF it. Peo-
ple don't lose their way two nights
In succession when the moon Is full.
You we're here last night Why?"
It'll! Sdlu TIE VIII Iuuu Is
this buckingham palace or the White
House? | didn't see no sentries at
the gate. II you don't like It. I'd bet.
ter be on my way"
He turned away, as If to walk to-
ward the drive.
"Not yeti" cried the younger man.
There's little explaining to be done
first"
PereeiyEs himself to be at a loss
verbally, the stranger revised his tac-
tic. This exasperating young man
In evening dress must be taught a
lesson.
"Bo," said the wild faun coldly, 81
don't like your faceW
With that he brought his powerful
right arm across with the idea-a
wholly diverting one-of altering the
sneer on his opponents features to an
expression of fear and agony. He
was not quick enough. A left jab
caught him on the nose.
"All right !" he said. If you want
IT. yOu can have i'll"