The Washington times., 1935-01-19

coppery sparks thaC flaShed IN
Again for fleeting second
the memory Of O'Kearn bend
ing over her with that solicit
Gus, poSSesSive air pierced Dick,
and suddenly it came to him
with sense Of something he
had always known that what
ever life now held for him,
nothing could ever greatly mat
ter except this calm-eyed, low.
voiced girl at his side.
An impulse within was driv-
ing him to speak, to end the
1ntolerable doubts, and at all
cost to break down the barrier
that had risen between them
like a formless cloud. Rest
1essly he walked with quick,
silent tread up and down the
rocky floor until slowly sanity
returned, bringing the dreary
knowledge that he was still a
fugitive from the worlds JUS
tice, a pariah repudiated by his
father, without a home, with
out the right to love or even
to speak Of love.
Dicks Awakening
Cracking, the fire blazed
higher, lighting the far-off cor.
ners, filling the granite cave
with a welcome. glow, and little
by little that bitter mood
passed from him. At least they
were together now, sharing
priceless moments made more
precious by the knowledge that
they might never come again,
that tomorrow he would be
alone, hunted, his hand against
the world.
Moments passed. The fire
burned more quickly, died
lower.
Musingly he looked down at
her. "I'll remember this night
always" he murmured at last.
We've been closer than for"
he heSitated, "for many days"
Her eyes, a little troubled,
looked up at him.
He took a half step forward.
Haven't we? Haven't you
felt it, too?"
She nodded.
For long moment their
eyes searched each other, kin
ding a madness within the
mans brain, holding him ir-
resolute and powerless before
her.
Lower still the fire sank,
until now only its red heart
glowed in slow, regular pulsa-
tions, and the shadows creep
ing nearer folded them about,
dimming all but the vague out.
line Of her and the brilliance
of her half-closed eyes. Abso-
lute hush had fallen, as If in
this high granite world these
two alone existed.
Time for little girls to turn
1n," he said huSkily, and kneel-
ing, drew off the girls riding
boots, then lifting her in his
arms, laid her upon those fra
grant boughs Of pine. Voice
less, tremulous, she looked up
at him, lips half parted as if
about to speak, but no word
came, only the faint sound Of
her quickened breathing.
Broken Spell
He tried to go, but in that
second something within the
man snapped. It was as if
that very yearning had burned
away all resolve, and with a
low cry he kneeled and folded
her in his arms. Closely he
held her, motionlesS and unre-
sisting, head thrown back, pow
erlesS in that tight embrace.
And now, without willing, with
out even knowing, her own
arms rose and clung about him
and quiet tears started from
her eyes. His lips lowered to
her lips and touched in a mo-
ment Of mingled ecstasy and
OcSpdlI.
Sharply from the dying fire
Q coal cracked, and the spell
was shattered. With all her
strength the girl thrust him
from her, and for a heartbeat
her eyes blazed into his, then
very deliberately she struck
him full across the face with
her open palm.
Turning, she threw herself
face downward, and to the
mans ears came the sound Of
Q muffled sob.
Silently Dick rose and went
out into the night.
4
Nora awoke with a feeling Of
Strangeness and vague appre-
henSion.
Her eyes opening saw only