The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1939-02-02

.sIItt's Tt s a dance, isn't it,"
"You didn't bring a womani"
AS he searched for reply, Breck
was conscious of the small, dark
haired girl moving slowly past him,
and of her eyes intent his way. rs
it against the rules to come alone?"
he countered.
Tillson hooked his thumbs into his
belt. His voice came slow and much
too even. Are you sure you aren't
making more than one mistake to-
night? Isn't it maybe mistake for
you to be in here at all?"
NO" Breck assured him. mot
the slightest"
He said no more. Tillson turned
on his heel and walked away. Breck
was still aware that from the dane
ing throng two brown eyes sought
his face. He met them. The music
ended, then at once began a new
number. Impulsively he stepped out
to the girl. May I have this?
Don't say its taken!"
"It is TAKEN" she declared, look
ing up at him with quick smile.
"But you may have it,
A tall figure moved toward them
from some distance down the room.
The girl clutched Breck's arm.
Lets dancel'' He swept her into
the crowd. and looked back only aft
er they had taken several steps.
The man was standing where they
had been. He was one of the Till
sons, Art, the youngest
Neither Breck nor the girl spoke
while they danced halfway around
the room. He studied the soft little
head. Why had she left that fell
low? He wanted to ask, but waited,
feeling he would learn in time.
Presently, in the slow movement
of waltz, she looked up, smiling
quizzically. "Well, are the rubes as
funny as you thought they'd be? l
hope we haven't disappointed you'll"
Little shadows of amusement fit
ted around the corners of her mouth.
Her eyes were bright with laughter,
yet there was something else in
them; something that perhaps
had drawn him to her from the first
She did not look happy. 1t made
him wonder. Where did she come
from? Did she belong here? But
then he thought certainly she did.
'Rubes?" he puzzled. ''What do
you mean? And why should l be
disappointed"
Didn't you expect a cowboy
dance to be screamingly crude? Of
course this is your first experience"
"Well, all right" he admitted.
''This is my first cowboy dance and
I came out of curiosity"
She looked up. Her eyes were not
brown as they had seemed from a
distance. They held warm tinge,
almost gold.
"At least you're honest about it,"
she said. "And really was curious
about you too. Are we as good a
show as you hoped? Goodness, won't
you have a story to tell when you
get back to Los Angeles, or San
Francisco or wherever you come
from!"
"But I'm here to stay" Breck
laughed, making this decision sud-
denly. "As for the dance, it is about
what I expected; except for one
thing"
"What?"
The Tightening of his arm was
not altogether voluntary. The girl
had taunted him and he knew it;
he was little angered, yet he had
the sudden desire to hug her.
Though his arm drew her to him
only the slightest bit, the result was
volcanic.
She halted in the middle of a
dance step, flung down his hand and
faced him with eyes flashing. Don't
you try that on me, you city mani"
Until that instant Breck had not
thought anyone on the floor was pay
ing attention to himself and the girl.
Now all at once he was confronted