Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-09-11

others would be returning from the
Indian dances in time for dinner.
Brick and Craig took the horses
down to the improvised corral and
were unsaddling them when he said
suddenly, Don't ask me again,
Brick, to do what you did today"
For a moment she was too sur
prised to answer and then her
words fired back at him, IT hope
1t wasn't that boring to you. After
all you could have refused to 60
with me, you know"
He left his horse and came
around to stand close to her. You
must consider me a terrible sap
If you think I don't know why you
wanted to get away from the main
party today. You were no more in
terested in seeing those ruins than
I was. I know you quarreled with
Carl and you did this to put him
in his place so to speak, but if you
think I'm going to be the goat
every time that happens you have
another guess coming" He came
still closer. "I warned you the
other night that was on the verge
OF falling in love with you. I'm not
on the verge of that any longer
1 am in love with you. I love you
bad enough to be tempted to take
you under almost any circum-
stances, but thank goodness I've
still got brains enough not to take
you when you are in a At of anger.
know you well enough to realize
that what you do then you usually
regret later. I told you the other
night that ], didn't have a thing in
the world to offer you. That's still
true. So if you will take my ad-
vice, which most likely you won't.
you will kiss your big, blond Carl
and make quick decision to marry
him before you find yourself in
more trouble than you already are"
Brick Is Confused.
Brick stood rooted, thoughts tear
ing in and out of her mind so swift
ly-wild, impulsive thoughts-that
she could not seize any of them
long enough to make reason out of
them. But strangely none OF them
were touched by anger. Craig had
said he loved her. Could he mean
it or was it cruel joke to hurt her?
Why could he never make sense?
Why could he never come down to
earth and stop torturing her this
way? What was it all about any
way?
She turned swiftly with only the
thought of flight in her head. She
had to get away from him before
tears blinded her. But as she turned
his arms went around her roughly,
hurting her, crushing her head
against his chest until she could
hear the hard hammering of his
heart. Then another voice cut in
cisively into this struggle.
you've been asking for this.
BradStreet." Carls clinched fist
dashed out at Craig's chin, but Craig
was too quick for him, releasing
Brick, moving out of range, as 1.-the
ly and easily as cat And in that
moment Brick saw all the
contempt and dislike he possessed
for Carl surge up in his expression
as he said. You are asking for
something, too, Jamison. In fact. I
ought to smear you right here and
now but I'm thinking that perhaps
Brick would like you better in one
piece"
Carl's lips curled. This isn't the
end of this" His face was the color
Of wet putty.
you bet it isn't" Craig replied.
He turned to Brick. I'm sorry this
had to happen" Briefly his direct
eyes searched her face before he
stalked off through the trees, his
anger striding with him.
Carl said, Now I hope you know
what I meant when I said"
I'D rather not discuss it now,
Carl. I'm going up to my tent"
Pleads Headache.
Brick hid behind the slim excuse
of a headache and did not 90
down to supper. 1t was after dark
when Bill brought up tray with
tea and toast which Liz had pre-
pared. Did you hide my gun,
Brick?" he asked first thing.
No. Of course not"
wen, you needn't bite my head
on. I just merely asked. The
ranger wanted to know if we had
one and told him Sure but when
I went to get it I couldn't find it
any place. Boy, was I in a spot,
but he was plenty good natured
about 1t when Nom assured him
we'd dig it up in the morning so he
could seal it while we are on the
reservation"
Brick said, Maybe that will
teach you to pick up your things
and not scatter them around so
Gosh, you must have a terrible
headache all right" Bill started to
go and then he remembered one
other thing, Say, Craig was sad
ding his horse when I was down at
the corral few minutes ago-get-
ting ready to head back toward the
ranch. That guy can't stay put any
place half a shake" If Bill expected
that to draw an answer he was dis
because Brick merely
stared down at the tray, tense and
silent.
Then sound broke the blank
stiffness of the night and Brick was
instantly on her feet with the ex-
clamation, Bill, what was that?"
although she knew very well that it
was a shot. Why in this moment
should she remember so clearly
CarPs remark that afternoon, This
isn't the end of this, Bradstreet."
Copyright, 1910, Chicago Daily News. Inc
Tomorrow: The explanation of
the shot is more mysterious than
the shot itself.
Gold Star Mothers
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