Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1936-02-21
CHAPTER Nv

slung revolvers, made striking fig
ground of squalid, varicolored Move
dad.
1t was just the noon hour when the
frontiersman halted before the two
story board shanty which was the
main office of the A. X. & N. Stoop-
ing, he peered into the inner gloom
through the flawed glass of window.
Good, someone was still there. Quiet
ly, he pushed open the door and step
ped inside, his blue-black shadow leap
ing in ahead of him.
The office was all but deserted, and
everywhere stood desks abandoned in
mid-routine. The sole occupant was
a girl seated at the far end Of the
room and simultaneously occupied in
reading book and eating her lunch.
The instant Ken's eye fell upon a
small, well-shaped head crowned with
glistening blue-black hair, an unfamil-
lar uneasiness gripped him and he
half turned. Too late. Lucia NOVEL;
was looking at him over her shoulder,
red lips forming a delightful o of
surprise.
With the yellow cash slip held de-
fensively in front of him, Kenneth adj
vanced, Logging fringes swishing soft
ly and battered hat gripped in his
hand. He gathered himself for a
blast when she stood up and deftly
brushed crumb or two from her neat,
white blouse.
He halted half way to the little
wooden rail that fenced off the desks.
"What is it you want?" she inquired
in brisk, businesslike tones.
"Why-why-" For the first time
in his life, Ken Chester was stammer-
ing and he felt the Rebel saber scar
growing red and hot. "I-I-"
ooh, l see," she smiled and her eyes
met and fingered on his half hooking,
half amused, you've come for your
money!"
"Y-yes, ma'am, reckon I have.
But you're eatin' yore lunch-I1l-I-
can come back LATER
Half turning, he paused, quite at
loss to understand her manner.
Strange. She, who had ridden off
threatening revenge, actually seemed
glad to see him as she held out her
hand for the slip, vivid lips parted in
half smile.
"Oh, it's no bother. Give it to me-"
Gravely her we'll formed white fin
gers took the slip from between his
long, sunburned ones. Holding it to
the light she inspected the voucher
with ridiculous care.
1.-TWO hundred and fifty dollars.
That's quite lot of money"
eyes, ma'am." Ken was feasting
his eyes upon this amazing girl. How
firm, rounded and slender was her
body in that neat white flannel shirt
and long dark gray skirt.
She was looking at him again, the
half mockery of her eyes and lips
wholly disturbing.
Il suppose you'll be burning up the
town tonight? Well, l don't blame
you, after a week in the hills"
The frontiersman shook his head,
aware that his red hair was unbecom-
ingly long.
mo, | don't reckon I'll paint the
town-not this time, anyhow"
"You don't drink" Lucia Novel;,
glancing up, seemed genuinely inter-
osted as she pulled out red bound
gray ledger and, with neat script,
made series of entries.
"Oh, down bit O. nose paint when
there's call for it," he admitted un-
easily, "same's as | like a round of
faro now and then-but / don't nowise
get locoed over such amoosements."
"Then maybe you've got sweet
heart ?" There was in her low and mel
low voice a note of mockery that drew
red tinge along the line of Ken's
cheek bones.
''No," he snapped.
That's queer" Lucia Novel; lean
ed even further over the ledger and
drew each figure of her entry with an
extraordinary care. Someone said
you planned to get married before
long. And to get married sweet
heart is rather essential-at least so
I've heard"
Silently and bitterly, Ken cursed
FELTON,, the two others and that queer
unintentional outburst of his.
The saber scar blazed fiery red as
he replied. ooh, 1 reckon we all say
foolish things" he mumbled and the