Nogales international., 1931-09-12
SEVENTH INSTALMENT

roadster as an advertising stunt. At the
last minute Little Bobby is engaged to act
! as chaperon.
few miles out Bobby becomes fearful
at being parted from her sweetheart and
J Rowena insists on taking her place in the
rumble so that she can ride with Peter and
have him to talk to about Carter. Rowena
| gets Peter to consent to divide the expense
| money each week as soon as 1t arrives,
and astonishes Peter by eating too econ
omically.
The three tourists reach Denver. after
passing through Buffalo, Chicago and st.
on the way while Carter keeps wiring Bobby
to return to New York. The morning after
they reach Denver, Peter and Rowena dis.
cover Bobby has deserted them and returned
to New York by train. They are faced with
! the impossible condition of continuing tneir
trip without chaperon.
Rowena suggests ~,te-Pcter that they make
| "comP&nfonate" marriage. They are mar
| ried and go to Cheyenne. where their actions
when they ask for rooms ON separate noors'
n arouses the suspicious of the hotelf clerk
They finally succeed in getting rooms. but
not without exciting the laughter OF the
hotel loungers.
They resume the trip the next day and
! are overwhelmed by clOudburst in an
i arroyo and are thrown out of the car. A
party of tourist campers gives them dry
Now CO ON WITH THE STORY
"Oh, that'll fix US up just fine, =
said Peter gratefully. Thanks very
much. Here you are, Rowena, la
Biltmore."
1T will do for you both, with a
little squeezing" said the farmers
wife pleasantly. "Jim and | camp
on one the same size" s.
$3.50 it will" said Rowena. Lots
of room" :.
make your bed close to the fire, y
said Farmer Jim. Turns cold tip
here nights"
"And don't get nervous if you hear
things wriggling. around" called
some one else. Sometimes the rat
tiers go crawling around nights like
this"
'Peter," whispered Rowena, "per-
haps-perhaps after all--you had bet
ter-sleep on the edge Of the mat
tress-the farthest edge. After all,
I suppose we're as good as married.
And-I shouldn't like to have you
bitten by rather"
Peter laughed at her.
When all the others had said good
night and gone away to their beds,
he spread one of the blankets on the
mattress, and rolled up his coat to
make pillow for her.
I'll just lie here on the grass be-
side you he whispered, ''and they'll
never know the difference"
Good thing it's dark|
! Are you comfortable, Rowena !?
"Oh. its perfectly wonderful
You take your coat, Peter. You will
be cold on the ground with just tina
one thin rug"
Nonsense: Why, I'm snug as
bug. Snuggcr. for that matter, Ism
this great? Isn't it just corking ?"
"B-better than last night. isn't it?'
well, rather. Better than almos
any night | ever saw"
Slowly the full night settled ovcl
the mesa and crescent moon rode
high Little night sounds echoed
loudly in the great silence. Owl.
hootcd. A coyote whined Now anc
then wolf barked in the distance
Little footed creatures scurried pas
them in the grass Suddenly Peter
felt little shiver in the blanket rol
on the mattress beside him. HI
touched it gently with his hand. Ro
wena was noiselessly sobbing in tht
darkness. He put his arm over heI
and pulled himself UP until his lip!
were close to her ear-so close tina
a little bronze perfumed curl touched
his face
Don't be afraid" he whispered
softly.
"I'm not afraid"
"Please don't cry"
/ "I'm not crying I just feel sorry.
I Because | smashed the car :"
"No. Because you are SC nice
Peter, and it is so awful to hate Z
nice person so very very much"
Peter laughed IF that's all, cheer
up. 1t should comfort you to know
that at least there's no love lost be-
tween US" He patted the blanke
kindly.
"And I really do admire you, Peter
for ever so many things. Nobody
else in the world could ever make
me half as mad as you do. Really
you're just wonderful"
One slender hand wriggled ou
from under the blanket and fel
about until it found his. which
closed over it warmly. 1t was hour!
later when she fell asleep.
Although Peter awakened very
early the next morning, almost be
fore the dawn of pale gray light, HI
found the big farmer standing neal
and looking down upon them will
a quizzical, friendly grin.
Peter got up rather shamefacedly
dropping his blanket on R6wena
mattress and the two men strollet
down for look at the river.
Don't begin wrong. youngster,
said the farmer kindly. Don
make life too easy for 'em right a
first. Let 'em have their share of tn
hard knocks. Does 'em good"
"Sh-she's not very we'll" sai'
Peter Aoundering desperately for
suitable excuse. "I-want her to b
careful"