THE 8EMI-WEEKLY TRIBUNE. NORTH PLATTE, NEBRASKA.
The Ambition of Mark Traifcfc
By HENRY RUSSELL MILLER
Author of
-THE MAN HIGHER UP," "HIS RISE TO POWER," Etc
(Copyright, 1913. by Tbo Bobbo-Merrill Company)
8YNOPSI8.
Mark Trultt decide to loavo his native
town of Uethcl to seek Ills fortune Ids
mvcetheart, Unity Martin, encourages lilm
In his project. Simon Trultt tolls !! BOn
that It long has been hl dream to seo a
uteol plant nt Uethcl and asks him to
return and build It If ho ever nets rich.
Mark arrives In the city and applies to
Thoinns Henley, hond of the Qulnby Iron
works, for a Job and Is ent to tho con
struction gang. He mattes a blR micwfls
In that work and Henloy promises him a
better Job.
CHAPTER V.
Crossroads.
It had been an unusually stubborn
"hard-tap," requiring quick and heavy
slodging to break out tho hardonod
flro-clay and slag In tho tapholo. Tho
elag that had floated on tho motal was
now dripping Into tho cinder pit, Bond
ing up a shower of golden sparks.
Roman Andzrojzskl, meltor In charge
of tho furnaco, was watching tho
ncorched, haggard face of his "second
helper." That young man, leaning
with an air of exhaustion and discour
agement on his lnvortod sledge, waB
coughing violently. He had boon Just
throo months In tho hoat and toll tho
open-hearth furnacemen must onduro
and an unnerving fear was upon him:
that hie steadily waning strongth
would not hold out.
"Vat las It? Zlck?" Roman spoke
"In the alow, careful fashion that was
his habit when ho used English.
Mark shook hlB head. "Tuckered
out."
"Tuckcredt out?" Roman lookod
at him gravely. "You drink too much?"
"I don't drink at all."
"That lss goot MInoself," Roman
explained naively, "I drink too much.
Unt that lss not goot. But always I
haf been vory strong. It lss tho douplo
turn," ho added. "It Ibs vor hardt
cm the young. Later It gets not so
bardt zomotlmoH. Varo do you lit?"
"With a Frenchman In Roso alloy.
Rose alloy It stinks! It's too nenr
tho mills. I can't sloop for tho noise.
I'm tired and my head aches all .tho
time"
"For two, three days thon you must
not vork but zleop."
Mark's red eyes dartod angry sus
picion at his chief. "I suppose you
want my job for somobody olso," he
encored.
"No. You are a goot vorkor. Unt
I llko you."
"All the samo," Mark answered dog
godly, "I quit when I havo to uot be
fore." "You do not belief mo." Roman
shruggod his big shoulders. "Vat do
you eat?"
"Ob, soup and brown bread and po
tatoes mostly. That's tho troublo, I
-guess."
"Hundert t'ousandt denial Zo little
unt you vork hero I You aro Ameri
can, you must eat Vy you not llf
anothor place?"
"Tho Frcnchlcs sort o think thoy're
frlonda. They wouldn't understand."
"Zo? But hore," Roman shruggod
his shouldors again, "It lss a man must
bo for hlmseU. Vo vork "how," They
returned to their task.
Even double turns havo an end. The
night shift came on at last At tho
trough for cooling tools Mark washod
away the grimy sweat that Btroamcd
down his face. Then ho donned a dry
shirt and a heavy overcoat. Despite
thle covering his overheated body
shivered whon tho raw, 'oarly April
wind Btruck him.
"Valtl" And Roman won besldo
him. "I haf decltedt. You como llf
by my house."
"I gueos not," Mark answerod wear
ily, "I guess you don't want mo."
"I haf decltedt," Roman ropentod.
"You haf been goot frlondts to your
frlendts you vlll bo to us also. I haf
ft big house. It Ibs etlll there; you
shall sloep unt not hoar tho mills. Unt
my Matka, sho Ibb goot cook. Unt
moppy you mako friends vlt my Plotr.
Ho hnss no American frlendts."
x "You might get tired of n."
"Zo? Then vlll I toll you," said
Homun simply. "Alio, you vlll tell
ub, von you get tlrcdt of us, Unt you
vlll not bo chnrgedt too much. You
vlll como?"
Mark hesitated, then lauKhcd grim
ly. "Will I como!"
"Goot!" Roman laid a kindly hand
on Mark'e shoulder. "Nov vlll you
boltof me unt not vork till t&a coldt Ibb
veil. You vlll como tomorrow?"
And, tho matter arranged, they part
iod for the night.
Roman's house, big onlr by com
parison with throe-room tenements,
was on a quiet street on ono of tho
city's seven hills. Mark -una tucked
away In a third-story roon. Not even
his fancy, less lively than in months
ngono but etlll fcrtilo, corfd concolvo
tho cheap bed and rocker, rag carpet
and unpalnted table as tflb trappings
fit luxury. Dut It was cloan and com
.fortablo, through Us windows swept
tho clean air for which Ms country
bred lungs wero starving and tho mills
were beard only as a subefued, not un
musical rurablo. Also, Inunenuurablo
boon! thero was In that house a bath
tub; hie attendance upon It astonished
oven ICuzlu, who esteemed bathing
mora highly than did tho rest of Ito
maa'ti household. The Mntka'u cook
ing, aupplemontod by Kazla'B arts, fell
little short of Roman's proBpoctus and
tbo faro had substance.
For thrco daye, hearkening to Ro
man's counsel, ho did nothing hut
sleep nnd eat. Ills cold disappeared.
Ills flagging strength rovlved. Then
ho gavo himself anew to tho endless,
narrow grind toll, oat, sleop and toll
again.
Roman's house, It Is true, contained
more than comfortablo beds and a
bathtub, a fact to which Mark gavo at
first but Bcant attention. Thero was
Roman himself, In tho mills a precise,
patient, unllurrled workman, outslao a
good-natured, impulsive) ginnt, with a
child's ungovorned appetite. Thero
was Hanka, his wife, always callod
Matka mother a drab, shriveled lit
tle woman who after twelve years In
Amorica had learned hardly a word of
English. Plotr was a groedy, usually
sullen boy of olghtoon, Btlll In high
school, always bont over hlo trouble
some books. He had a club foot nnd
tho heavy labor of the mills was not
for htm.
"Plotr Ibb a goot boy," Roman con
fided to Mark, "but he lss ashamedt
that ho lss Hunky. I am not ashamedt.
Ho beliefs von he lss smart with his
books ho vlll bo American. Rut," tho
father elghed, "Plotr los not smart,"
Also, there was Kazla.
At first Mark gave but passing no
tice to the girl who moved so quietly
lilflillillll!llllllfllllllllillllllllllllfi
--
Also, There Was Kazla.
around tho house, waiting on tho table,
swooping nnd sewing. Having certain
standard!, of beauty, he carelessly de
cided that sho had none of It.
What hopes Roman may havo cher
ished from tho presence of a young
American in IiIb homo wero not nt
onco realized.
Even whon Mark had regained much
of his strength, tho fear of physical
collapse always hung over him. Thero
was no night or morning whon ho did
not return ready, after bathing and
eating, to seek his bed. Even with
all tho rest he could get his former
bodily freshness and eagerness never
roturned.
Ho did not mean to be selfish.
Sometimes nt the end of a meal he
caught Roman's wistful glunco and
felt uncomfortably that ho was fall
ing In an obligation. Put always he
went strnlghtway to his room and
lila precloua sleep, adhering rigidly
to his routine toll, ent, sleep and toll
again, hoarding his strength ub a mi
ser hoards his gold. Had not Roman
Bald, "A man must bo for himself?"
And always thero floatod bofore him a
picture so sweetly pathetic as almost
to Invoko tears: Unity, tho faithful
Ponelopo, trustingly awaiting her ad
venturing lord's return.
Thus tho ltto fashioned him. It was
no longer self-denial that ho might
earn gratification at another time, but
self-control lest he go down in the
moleo.
nut ono night ho discovered Kazla
tho real Kazla.
CHAPTER VI.
Meltlnn Ore.
A gentlomun, who must pass down
In history as Mr. A. led to tho dls-
covory. Mr, A, an oarsman who could
propel hlB bont Ave miles nn hour In
Btlll water, undertook to row twenty
three miles up a rlvor whoso current
ran two nnd ono-half mllos an hour,
and back. Tho problem was: In how
long did Mr, A accomplish this feat?
And upon Plotr fell tho duty of nnd
Ing tho solution. Plotr felt painfully
Incompetent.
"Na mllosc llognl" Whon Plotr
dropped back Into Polish, deep emo
tion was stirring.
It was at tho end of supper on a Sat
urday night whon tho othor shift
workod and Mnrk's rested for twonty
four hours. That day Henley, passing
tho furnaces, had spqken to him by
name, leaving a glow that had not sub
sided. What's thn mutter. Plntr?"
"1 enn't work this problem."
"Lot mo soo It." If wo could but
measuru our Impulses!
Plotr lookod up astounded. "Do you
know algebra?"
., . 11. Al- It vr 1. . 1. .
i a muu, iuurit iuuk up mo uooic
"Hvumt
What's x? Why, that's easy."
He sat down and quickly worked
out tho problem. Then ho led Plotr
slowly through tho equations thrice,
after which ho lot tho boy begin un
aided a stumbling but Anally success
ful pursuit of the elusive x.
Whllo Plotr was floundorlng, his
new mentor felt some ono behind him.
Ho glancod around and caught Kazla,
her arms full of unwashed dishes, look
ing at him. Tho wonted Indifference
had fled boforo a look of surprised
Interest. Mark stared, Incredulous;
It scorned not tho samo faco. Dut the
now look vanished Instantly. Ho had
a sonso of bafflement as If ho had
como upon a rare picture Just as a
curtain was drawn.
"Fine!" ho exclaimed, clapping Plotr
on tbo 'shoulder; he had not heard tho
last few equations. "We'll mako a
scholar out of you yet, Poto."
"Pete!" Tho boy's homely faco
lighted up. "Kazla, did you hear? Ho
called mo Pete."
"I llko Plotr better," sho said, with
a shrug that 'Imperiled her burden.
"Do you," Plotr turned again to
Mark, "do you know Latin, too?"
"Oh, a little!" Mark sought Kazla'a
face as this announcement of his eru
dition fell. Dut Kazla was looking
away.
"And will you help mo with that
sometimes?"
"Sure. Sometimes," Mark assented
recklessly.
Dut Plotr was 'insatiable. "Every
night?"
"Well, no," aald Mark, recovering
caution. "Not every night. I can't "
"Of courao not, Plotr," Kazla cut in.
"Ho can't waste timo on a stupid little
Hunky,"
"I'm not a Hunky," Plotr resented
passionately, addressing Kazla but
for Mark's benefit, "any moro'n you
arc. Wo ore wo were Poles. Dut
wo'ro Americans now. Why, I'vo
almost forgotten how to talk Polish
except to tho Matka," he added con
scientiously. "Will you help me tonight?" ho re
turned tp Mark, with less assurance.
"It's Caesar. And I am stupid," ho
slghod.
Mark, though repenting his rash
ness, could not well refuse. For an
hour thoy listened whllo Caesar unc
tuously told how he had taught tho
conquered Verclngetorix his placo.
Dut Kazla was not at any timo pres
ent during tho lesson. At last, yawn
ing mightily, Mark arose. Ho went
up to his room, bearing PIotr'B awk
ward gratltudo and followed by a
look of humble admiration it Is prob
ably well ho did not perceive.
Dut the incident had lta sequol.
Ho found a light burning dimly In
tho narrow hallway before hlB door,
and coming out of his room Kazla.
"I was fixing things," she ex
claimed, Indifferent as ever.
"Thank you, Knzla." Tho room, as
ho remembered It, had been. In perfect
order. Ho stood aside to lot her pass.
She took one step and then stopped
abruptly, looking up at him with sud
denly hostile eyes,
"What," aho demanded, "did you
como hore for?"
Ho smiled the smilo of ago for a
naughty but amusing child. "Decnuso
your father asked me, I guess."
"Dut you know Latin and algebra and
things."
"Why, what's that got to do with it.
Kazla?"
"Wo don't. We're Just mlll-workers
and Hunkles."
He was not schooled In tho reading
of voices, but he caught bitterness
thero. lie looked nt her moro Intent
ly and moro kindly.
"What," she repeated resentfully,
"did you como hero for? You don't
llko us. You won't have anything to
do with us. You cat, thon go up to
your room and stay thero. Wo thought
you woro coming to bo frlendB with
Plotr" an almost imperceptible paueo
"and me."
"I como up to sleep, Kazla. You see,
I was pretty near on my last legs
when I came hero and I need all the
rest I can get. I'm not used to work
In tho mills and I guess Fin not so
strong as I look. If I'm going to get
ahead, i'vo got to do It while I can
stand the work. Desldcs I didn't think
you cared whether I liked you or not."
"I don't," sho declared, with a little
uptlltlng of her chin; It was a beauti
fully molded feature. The movement
called his eyes to tho slender yet
strong nnd rpunded throat. Ho won
dered that theso beauties had escaped
his notice. "I don't. Dut Plotr and
Undo Roman do."
"Undo Roman?" It was tho first
timo ho had heard ,tho phrase. "I
thought ho was your father, Kazla."
"No. 1 I havo no father.
"Ot!" Ho assumed a bereavement.
On a sudden pitying lmpulso he put
out his hand and laid it on her buro
forearm; tho flesh was smooth and
firm. "That'a too bad, Kazla."
And then, most unexpectedly, the
curtain was drawn aside for him.
"I won't be pitied!" With tho cry
fell away tho Kazla he had known, as
did Cinderella's tatters. In her place
stood a girl who seemed taller, whose
head was hold In a fashion peculiar, In
hlu books, to very proud and fine
ladles. Her eyes blazed dofianco. She
snatched her arm away. "Hera they're
all ashamed. Dut I ain't ashamed. I
won't havo you pity me."
This was mystery. Dut ho did not
press her for an explanation. He was
moro interested in another phenom
enon. "Do you know you're mighty good
looking, Kazla?"
Tho angry crimson deopened.
"You'ro laughing at mo. You're "
"Dut I'm not laughing." Ho caught
her arm again, gently. "I'm only sur
prised. I didn't think you were. Dut
you arc when you'ro Interested or
mad. Only please don't bo mad, bo
cause" What waB thla unconsidered
thing ho was saying? Tho words fan
on "DecauBO I want to be friends
with you. Don't you want mo to
8tnyT"
For a silent moment sho looked at
htm strangely.
' "Yes." Sho turned abruptly and left
him, descending tho stairs without bo
much as a glanco backward.
For a full mlnuto ho Btood looking
at tho place whore she had been. Then
ho drew a long sighing breath.
"She's a queer one," ho muttered.
When ho awoke, tho late morning
sunshino filled his room. Dut the eager
expectancy pervading him, aa If some
long planned holiday had dawned, was
moro than a reflection of this outer
radiance.
He bathed and dressed carefully.
And for tho first timo he perceived
that his clothes, relic of Dethel days,
lacked something when Judged by city
stnndards. Ho frowned at tho Image
in tho cheap mirror.
"I must buy a now suit," ho mut
tered.
When he went downstairs he 'found
Kazla bending over a window box In
tho dining room, where threo scarlet
goranlums flamed. Sho heard his ap
proach and turned slowly. ... No
deceptlvo half-light, but tho full glory
of spring sunshine, was upon her. She
was Indifferent as ever. Dut tho trans
formation held.
"Oh! Hullo!" v
"Hello!" sho said quietly, and moved
away toward tho kitchen.
"Kazla"
She paused inquiringly.
"Er " ho floundered "It's a flna
morning."
"Yes," Bho aald.
His remark, ho felt, hardly Justified
her detention. Ho groped about for a
moro fertile topic. "Fine geraniums
you'vo got there, Kazla."
"Yes."
"My goodness!" ho laughed. "Is
'yes all you can say? Don't you re
member wo agreed 'to befriends?"
"I aald I wanted you to stay," she
corrected without enthusiasm. 'Til
got your breakfaBt." This time sho ac
complished her escape
Ho sat at tho tablo, loftily amused.
Probably thus ho considered her un
responsiveness tho poor thing Btlll
doubted his sincerity. And sho had
reason, beyond question; on tho wholo
ho had been selfish In his rigid seclu
sion. Ho must repair that.
Kazla, bearing his breakfast, Inter
rupted his musings. Ho surveyed ap-
mmwmmmmmm
SHI
IMm M
"Kazla," He Announced Boldy, "We'ra
G6lng Walking In the Park."
provlngly tho dishes sho set bofore
him.
"You'ro a flno cook, Knzla. Now
don't," ho protested humorously, "say
'yes.' "
Unamillngly aho Ignorod both tho
corapllmont and the Jest. "Will that
bo all?"
"Well, no."
"What else?"
"You might," ho smiled, "sit down
and bo friendly."
"I'vo got to work."
"It seems," ho complained, "you're
always working."
Sho shrugged her shoulders. "That's
what I'm for." And sho left him.
Ho frowned. It might havo been
mining on his holiday. Ho was nblo,
nevertheless, to mak-a substantial
breakfast.
Hack In his room, which she had sot
In order whllo ho ato, ho formally and
nnallv dismissed Kazla from his mind
J awa begau his weekly letter to Unity.
At tho end of an hour "My darling"
stared nt him from an otherwise
ompty page, and ho was glowering out
into tho sunlit streets and wondering
why Kazla wanted him to stay, why
her Indifference of tho morning nnd
why his disappointment.
A youth and his sweetheart atrollcd
by below him. Tho sight, tho music
of their laughter, aggravated his rest
lessness nnd gavo him an Idea.
"That's it, exactly. I will go down
and get Kazla and tako a walk In tho
park. Poor girl! I expect sho needs
company, too." ,
Ho found her In tho dining room
and nlrcady attired for holiday saun
tering. A ladies' seminary graduato
might havo been stirred to criticism
of tho cheap white dress and coarse
Btraw hat with lta single blue ribbon;
ha was not Wo may doubt that he
saw them at all, for her oyes were
dancing and her lips smiling mischiev
ously at Plotr, who sat in ono corner,
nursing his club foot and glaring
fiercely at her. Sho could bo gay,
then.
Dut tho smilo disappeared upon his
entrance. Nevertheless, "Kazla," he
announced boldly, "wo'ro going walk
ing In tho park."
"Aro we?"
"Well, aren't wo?" Ho modified hlB
sultaneaquo air a little. "I'd like you
to como,"
"No."
"Sho'e going with Jim Whiting,"
Plotr explained grumpily. "He'B her
fellow."
"Oh!" Mark blinked stupidly. Evi
dently other youths had discovered
her. It was strangely disturbing.
Ho recovered himself, grinning wry
ly. "Serves mo right. I took too
much for granted, didn't I? 1,'m sorry."
"I'll go with you," Plotr volunteered
promptly.
"Oh, all rigjjit. Como along, Plotr."
"Pete," corrected Plotr. "In a min
ute." So, though not as ho had planned,
Mark sallied forth Into the golden aft
ernoon. Plotr, anxious to impress this
wonderful boarder whoso learning
made light of the difficulties of Messrs.
A, D and C and defied tho Intricacies
of the subjunctive, talked, at first
shyly, then more freely, mostly of him
self, this being ono of the two sub
jects In which ho was deeply Inter
ested. Mark lot him ramble on and
listened to his own thoughts, which
chlolly concerned Kazla. He ruefully
wished that he had not been ao ready
to assume her assent.
Plotr's ambition, the monologue de
veloped, soared high; it Included no
table achievements as a labor leader,
although hla notions of tho historic
conflict were a littlo vague.
As they passed the mouth of a lit
tlo dell they T"ere halted by this tab
leau: Kazia losing against a treo
aud Jim Whiting at her feet tying tho
shoe-lace that had como loose. Ho was
unconscionably long about It, Mark
thought. Ho must havo aald some
thing, for sho laughed, a clear ringing
note. ine Knceung gunum uruuu,
Mark saw a man two or three years
his senior, not ill-looking desplto his
too heavy lips and loose Jaw and
"sporty" clothes. Mark disliked him
at onco. Whiting took Kazla's arm
and led her slowly along tho dell.
"Pslakmw!" muttered Plotr, In tho
Polo's deadly insult.
The homely faco was pale, con
vulsed with hate and a real suffering.
Eveii Mark, self-absorbed, could Bee
that. He patted the boy on the shoul
der. "Never mind, Poto. She can't think
much of him."
"He's not fit for her," Plotr cried.
"Right!" Mark agreed firmly.
Plotr went further. "Nobody's fit
for her."
"Kazla's a mighty nlco girl." Mark
declared, less sweeplngly.
"YeB, she's nlco. And she's smart,
too, smarter'n mo. Sho's smart as you."
Plotr looked up fiercely, as If expect
Ing contradiction.
"Sure, she is! Dut I'm afraid,"
very casually, this, "she doesn't llko
mo very well."
Plotr Jumped at tho bait. "She
thinks you'ro stuck-up and selfish," he
explained. "And she's always afraid
ovorybody, "cept Jim Whiting, '11 look
down on her because her mother"
Plotr flushed "wasn't married."
So that was tho reason for her out
burst ot the night bofore. Poor Kazla!
Mark had not needed to go out of vir
tuous Dethel to learn the lot of Hagar's
children.
"Do you look down on her?" Plotr
demanded aggressively.
"Of course not! And you needn't
be ashamed of her, either it isn't her
fault, Is it? I don't like," Mark saia
slowly, "to seo her with that Whiting.
1 wish I wish sho liked mo a littlo
better."
lie did not seo the startled ques
tioning look Plotr gave him. (
"Kazla," asserted tho boy, "never
chnnges. I'm going home."
They strolled homeward, each mood
ily silent.
Despite tho comfortable quarters
and flourishing food, now hlB strength
lagged painfully; hla scorched face be
came haggard. And each morning he
dragged himself wearily homeward,
blind to the day's beauty.
Dut ho did not forget Kazla.
Always a loceh-liko Plotr awaited
hlB return, with problems to be solyed
and paragraphs to be construed. Nor
did he wait In vain. Every morning
Mark Tintlcntly sacrificed an hour of
tbo needed sleep on tho altar of the
boy's rare stupidity. Ho did not look
to Plotr's gratltudo for his reward.
Tho direct chargo Into tho mouth of
tho enemy's cannon Is spectacular and
heroic, but the great strategists havo
relied upon tho movement In flnnk.
On Friday Mark came within sight of
tho coveted position.
"Thero'a throo problems and a whole
pago ot indirect discourse," the scholar
announced. Ho added tho complaint,
"You'ro lato."
"All right," Mark sighed. "Drlng
'em out."
Then Kazla spoko her protest
"Plotr, can't you seo ho'a tired?"
"Dut I can't do 'em." Plotr becamo
sulky at onco. "And I haven't failed
onco this week." i
"Plotr, you'ro a greedy Hunky pig.
Don't you do It," she turned to Mark.
"Sunday's tho doublo turn."
Was this tho ollvo branch? Noth
ing then could havo persuaded htm
to give up tho hour with Plotr. Dut
ho saw an opening; ho unlimbered a
big gun nnd sent ono shell screaming
toward hor camp. "You," ho said with
crushing dignity, "will be walking in
tho park and won't caro. Plotr, wo'ro
losing time."
She turned away so quickly that ho
could not Judgo his marksmanship.
The lesson began and lasted until Plotr
rushed off to school.
Tho doublo turn enmo and was duly
endured, as aro most of llfo's dreaded
trials when they actually present
themselvoa. Dut even Roman showed
the effects of the long strain. When
ho reached homo he began at once to '
drown hla fatigue in hugo potations.
Mark went to his room.
There a surpriso awaited him: clean
clothes, neatly laid out also Kazla,
who had Just completed thla kindly
aervlce.
"I thought you'd llko to dean cq-
before supper," sho explained with '
now diffidence.
"Thank you, Kazla. You alwKa
think of tho right things."
"No, not always."
Sho moved toward tho door anx
ious to avoid ulna, as usual, he thought.
Dut he had no spirit for tho siege Just
then. Ho dropped Into tho' chair, bury
ing his throbbing head in his hands.
Ho supposed that sho had gone.
Dut sho had not gone. Sho stood
uncertain In tho doorway, watching tho
tired dejected figure ho made.
"Not always," Bho repeated. Tho
ready color mounted. "Sometimes I'm
cranky when I don't want to bo."
He glanced up, bewildered by this
sudden striking of colors.
"You look awful tired," sho went on
hurriedly.
Ho nodded stupidly, trying to grasp
tho fact that for once Bhe was neither
hostile nor Indifferent. "It's the heat."
"It'll bo worso In summer. It hurts
even Uncle Roman then. You can't
stand It"
Ho roused himself. "Yes, I can stand
It because I will." Richard Courtney
would have detected a new llrmnesa
In tho lino of tho grimly shut mouth.
"Several thousand men stand It."
"I hope so," sho answered gravely.
"When you say It that way, you make
mo think you can."
"I say It to mako myself think bo,
I guess." Ho laughed shortly. Then
ho observed that sho was wearing her
white dross; the reason, of course,
was obvious.
"Was It a nice walk today?"
"I didn't go." 4
"Oh!" Ho leaned forward, very
eagerly for an exhausted man. "Kazla,
do you still think I'm stuck-up and
selfish?"
Sho shook her head slowly. "You'vo
been so nice to Plotr this week, when,
you'vo been so tired."
"Kazla " Reforo that honest gazo
he, too, had to bo honest. "Kazla.
I did It to mako you think that. Dut
it was to help him you wanted mo
to stay, wasn't it?"
"No, It wasn't."
"Then why?"
Her eyes looked unwaveringly Info
his. "I don't know," she said slowly.
"Decauso you'ro different, I guess. You
know things. You" A queer littlo
frown of puzzlement furrowed tho
pretty brow as she groped for tho
words. Sho sighed Impatiently, for
tho groping was fruitless. "You'ro Just
different I thought I could learn
something from you mobby."
"Will you go walking with me next
Sunday, Kazia?"
"Yes," she said very gravely.
"Kazla," ho pleaded whimsically,
"you even laugh for others some
times. Don't you think you might
smile for me this once, anyhow?"
A smilo quivered on her lips and
was gone. Dut for a breath she lin
gered, her questioning eyes still upon
him.
CHAPTER VII.
Soldier and Maid.
He sat a little apart from her, that
ho might see her the better. It had
been a delicious gamo, spinning non
sense to luro her forth from the grave
reticent mood upon her that Sabbath,
afternoon and thon letting her lapso
into gravity and silence once more.
Ho had found a surprising skill for
it; ho could play upon her and elicit
Just the noto he desired. It had been
so, over since sho had so unexpectedly
laid down hor hostility. Dut he waa
not quite sure which of tho two Kazlaa
ho liked the bettor her of tho clear
ringing laugh with its hint of daring;
or the subdued pensive maid whose,
eyes wistfully sought tho horizon.
Tho softer mood was upon her then.
Sho sat, chin cupped in both hands,
gazing out over the undulating acres
of close-cropped greensward.
"You llko It?" ho queried.
Sho nodded.
"Huh!" ho boasted. "You ought to
seo tho hllliup in Dethol. They don't
look like they'd Juat boen to the bar
ber's. And you can always smell flow
ers somewhere." Ho anlffod romlnis
cently. "And tho woodsl You'd Ilka
them. The trees aro real trees, big
fellows that have been thoro moro'n
a hundred years. You can get lost
there."
"You could leave that! Why?"
"To make money," he responded,
crassly.
"I wouldn't leave It for mouHy."
(TO BE CONTINUED.)
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