Coulee City dispatch. [volume] (Coulee City, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1935-03-08

Here you are! Get out of those
wet things and into these"
He drew chair in front of the
fire and laid the garments over it's
back. Prudence regarded him with a
superior smile, as superior as smile
could be with chattering teeth be-
hind it.
"Just naturally helpful, aren't you?
l haven't the slightest intention of
exchanging. I'll stay here until
M-Macky gets back"
"You have another guess coming to
you. You'll change to dry clothes
while I'm in the kitchen making cup
Of hot tea. Now get this. If you
haven't when l come back, I'll peel
off those wet things myself" He paused
on the threshold. make it snappy.
1t doesn't take long to boil water"
Prudence wrinkled her nose at his
back. The act of defiance precipi-
tated bodywrenching sneeze. Let
him try to make her change. Just
let him try.
She glanced furtively at the pa
jamas and coat over the chair. They
looked blissfully warm, and she was
frozen. Why not put them on? Why
freeze for the pleasure Of defying
Rodney Gerard?
What was that sound? Was he COM
ing already? With shaking hands she
pulled off the green cardigan. OF
course, the lordly male would think
lo ho< f,;<.b
She knotted the cord Of the green and
blue house coat. He hadn't. 1t wasn't
that she was too proud to fight-was
her reaction to that thought chuckle
or a shiver-she was too c-cold to
flight. Silly not to have put these
toasty warm things on at once.
He was coming! She caught up the
wet clothing and damned it into the
wood box. Back in the wing chair
she thrust her bare toes, still white
| from cold, into sandals and sat on
| them.
When Gerard entered he glanced
| quickly at the chair in front of the
| fire. He drew forward a Chinese tea
poy and set down the tray in his
hand.
"There you are"
He poured tea strong enough to
curl the straightest lashes up tight,
and passed her the cup.
Drink it while it's hot"
She took a hasty swallow.
Its boiling! You-haven't
c-copper-lined mouth up your sleeve,
have you? You're such an efficient
p-person."
did it burn?"
ooh no, it froze and frosted all the
way down.
Don't try to be funny. Drink it.
AT least, you're not shivering now
What the dickens have you done to
this room?"
Paper and paint. wanted it fresh
started to her feet. "Dave! How
could have forgotten? He must be
wild with anxiety about me-"
"Sit down! Finish that tea!
phoned him from upstairs. Told him
that you were okay and that you
would be at High Lodges for dinner.
+" A door banged. "Who's that?
Sit still"
Before he could reach the hall, Jane
Mack appeared on the threshold.
Miss Prue! Miss Prue They've
caught the escaped prisoner! Now
perhaps you'll get your Jewels" She
| took step into the room and pulled
down her spectacles. "What's the
matter, child? What happened to
her, Mr.. Rodney?"
Prue treasured quickly:
Nothing happened, Macky, except
that l went to look at my timber and
got wet. Mr.. Gerard made some tea
and-here we are"
Jane Mack put her hand against
Prue's cheek. "You look feverish.
Sure you haven't taken cold?"
"Of course not. l never have cold.
What did you hear about the convict,
Macky? Tell us, quick"
Gerard lifted the heavy coat from
James thin shoulders-Prue wondered
If that attention ever had been shown
her beforehand drew forward chair.
''Sit here, Miss Mack. How did you
hear about the capture?"
"The news was broadcast about ten
minutes ago. The convict was brought
to the county Jail by leading citizen
didn't tell his name over the radio
who caught him in the woods dared
death from the desperado's revolver,
and captured him single-handed."
Jane Mack's theatrical dared death"
unleashed Prue's shivers.
"Single-handedv ~ she echoed.
The leading citizen was Galloway
Of course. Evidently he had forgotten
to mention Rodney Gerard's timely en-
trance at the cabin, had forgotten her
mastery stroke with the ak.
"Single-handed! she repeated, and
looked at Rodney Gerard. He shook
his head as his eyes met hers. She
turned to Jane Mack.
$50 the leading citizen caught him
single-handed. Amt human nature
grand!"