The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1934-11-02

the city most three weeks trying to get
some firms to sign up for the timber
you and him are goin' to cut. Since
he come back he's been terrible busy
cruising the woods. Rod isn't used to
havin' difficulty gettin' what he wants;
things have always come easy for him.
This lumber business pears to be get
tin on his nerves. Jim was tellin' me
this morning that Rod snapped at
every one who come near him yester-
day. Perhaps it's that newspaper pic
ture of him and Milly Gooch holdin'
hands in front Of her tent at the
circus that come out in the local paper
the day after the show was here that
got him mad. Well, IL here he isn't
now! What you gum-shoelng round
like that for. Roddy"
Prudence was furious at her own
start of surprise. Had Rodney Gerard
seen 1t? He did look troubled. There
were lines between his nose and mouth
she never had seen before; he had lost
some of his bronze. His eyes seemed
deeper and darker and bluer In con-
trast
"Well, will l pass? Perhaps you
weren't sizing me up, perhaps you
were just wondering how 1t happened
that had caught you, Prue Of Pros
perity farm"
Don't bite, Rod" 81 Puffer flung
himself into the breach. snow that
you've got company, Miss Prue, I'll go
an chop some wood"
He moved away with surprising
quickness.
"Mr. Sill" Prudence started after
him, but Gerard caught her arm and
held it.
you're not going until you tell me
why you have been lodging me.''
II lodging! How absurd"
SIS it? Drop that hammer. 1t
makes you look bloodthirsty." AS she
still clutched the tool, he loosened her
fingers until it dropped to the ground.
That's better. I want to talk to you
before Armstrong and Jean get here.
Have you seen that Internal picture?"
"Picture?" Prue echoed the word
with breezy Indifference.
Don't bluff. You know perfectly
we'll that I'm referring to that fool
snapshot of Milly Gooch and me at the
circus"
"Oh, that! Really, Pm not inter
ested."
"Look here, you've got to be inter-
ested. I'm willing to bet my roadster
that Galloway had hand in that. 1t
would be like his methods"
Don't abuse Len Galloway. It
would be disloyal for me to listen be-
cause"-Prudence hoped that her eyes
and voice were as maddeningly pro-
vocative as she intended them to be-
because, you see, I've decided to have
him cut my timber"
"What!"
Never had she seen eyes blaze as
Rodney Gerard's blazed in his white
face. She remembered what 81 had
said about his mood the last week.
She shouldn't have tried to torment
him-but-hadn't that hateful picture
hurt her, too? He caught her by the
shoulders.
"You didn't mean that, Prue, about
letting Galloway cut for you."
"Of course meant it. The more I
think of it the more go bullish on the
idea. I'm beginning to like Len very
much. He's so forceful, So"
"Forceful! !" For a pulsing instant
Rodney Gerard hesitated, then he
caught her in his arms. 'Forceful!''
He crushed his mouth, hard, ardent,
upon hers. 'If that's what you like
Gorgeous" He kissed her again.
Prudence wrenched herself free.
Every pulse in her body was throbbing
unbearably. How had he dared! Was
that the way he kissed the circus
rider? She dragged her voice back.
Don't ever speak to me again!
Ever! Do you think I'll let you cut
my timber now? Suppose Len Gallo
way does cheat me in money, at least
I shall be safe with him."
"Prue! You can't do it! You knew
what you were doing when you looked
at me like that. You're no child. Be
sport. You deliberately smashed my
control, and now you make me pay
for letting myself go. Well, I'll take
my medicine. will keep away until
you want me, I'll never kiss you again
until you ask me to, If"
IT ask you? That's the funniest thing
/ ever heard"
"An right, it's the funniest thing
you ever heard. But the promise
stands. T."
"Hii Rodl"
The hail came from the garden.
Prudence dashed toward the gate and
collided with a big, specialized man
with heart warming eyes. He smiled.
miss Schuyler, isn't it? I would
recognize you anywhere from jeans
description. I'm Jim Armstrong, and
/ am happy toereport that you have a
nice little bunch of money in your
wood lot"
Prudence extended an eager hand.
"Have / reallyi I'm SO glad you've
come. Now 1 can learn a lot about
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