Coulee City dispatch. [volume] (Coulee City, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1935-08-15
CHAPTER II-Continued

CHAPTER II-Continued
s.
He followed Hal into the lunchroom
with the embarrassed friendliness of
a whipped hound. Relief didn't at
once come to the atmosphere with
Halls entrance. Cracks narrow look
at Halls face was uncertain, though
one hand indolently jostled the golf
ball. And Barry-Hal laughed at him
self for having forgotten that this
thing was to be used against her; and
he barely kept himself from looking at
her, showing her his sincere, forget
full anger. He smiled amiably at Mrs
Pulsipher, saying "What? not started
eating YETI" mo-" she said, as if
WEAKNESS had come to her in the
short time he'd been gone: "I-we
were wondering" Her look went in
timorous question to Miller, then back
to Hal. eve were just-just waiting
for you," she said.
II wish you hadn't" said Hal gently.
"Miller and I've just been arranging
sort of transfer: he's taking my place
and I'm taking his" He added, "Tve
got the fares"
He saw Mrs. Pulsipher believe and
recover. The nuns head was up and
her gentle eyes on Halls in something
like proud gratitude, as if he had fore
seen and spared her humiliation. Pull
sipher gave a series of quick, single
coughs, looked pleased and hopeful
again; and Crack leaned away from
the counter, his close-set eyes basking
on Halls in their own speculative lazi-
ness. Hal turned his back on Barry,
wondering why the devil he had to
start trembling now it was all over.
He prayed he would stop it before
Barry noticed it: he felt her watching
him.
Kerrigan came to his side as the
others moved back toward the tables.
"He tried it, 'ey?" His tone was judi
cial, but his brown eyes above the
tough, florid cheeks were nimble with
some special laughter.
Hal looked at him, frankly and hui
morously quizzical. eyes, the louise"
he said. "What's the joker"
II was wondering how long you'd
keep from looking at her." Kerrigan
said.
Hal gave tight, sheepish smile and
let his look answer Kerrigan's.
"Just wanted to gather myself lit
tie and make the first one right" he
said.
Kerrigan nodded brief commentator.
"You've got old Spot-landing where he
won't try this again?"
"Mm," said Hal, gathering up his
change. "Got his money and his papers
and the keys. Got an idea about
what we might do, too. Like to ask
you later"
Without any definite demonstration,
Kerrigan welcomed the 1--WE" "Good,'
he said. "Hungry?"
EYES," said Hal, remembering that
he was. "You?"
eyes"
Every one, including Miller, was
seated at one of the big, white-enamel
tables when they started back.
"Gathered yourself?' Kerrigan said
without looking at him.
"Guess so," said Hal, smiling little.
"Go, sit beside her, then" said Ker-
rigan.
Fright" said Hal.
He pulled out the empty chair be-
side Barry-in next the wall. "Dyou
mind If I sit here?" he said, as lightly
formal as he could manage.
She looked around at him without
hurry, the parting of her lips delayed
again till after the first smiling of her
blue, yellow-fecked eyes. "No," she
said in near-husky ease.
"Thank you," said Hal, still casual.
SID like to thank you," she said
quietly.
"For what?"
"What you've just DONE"
'Please don't" he said.
"Why not?" she said.
He turned to her, his look bland-to
deny understanding of whatever sig
nificance her eyes might show him.
But there was no special significance,
only deliberate interest, as If she real
ly wanted to know why not. And he
had a new idea, exciting for it's sim
plicity. He watched her an instant
longer, then let ingenious smiling dis
solve all his Formally.
"I'll tell you exactly why" he said,
leaning little forward. Because
didn't think Miller had the wit to try
what he did. Because l should have
stood there like a wooden Indian and
let him get away with it If you hadn't
looked at me the way you did. There
But / ask you please not to look at
me that way any more If you can
help 1t, because it's rotten for my tenn
per-"
Her lips partad further over bright
teeth and there was nothing of de-
Tense left in her look. And after he
had involuntarily felt the compliment
in her candid pleasure, he realized
how beautifully that leisured light be-
hind her eyes-tree et coquetry, traced