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Iswuv â€"vâ€" _â€" “ effectively. She crossed proudly to the reading table to give him a fair view of her splendor and was in the mid- dle of the room before she looked up. Taken aback. she uttered a little stranâ€" gle-d cry and made a quick movement of retreat, only to check herself and stand with her chin high in the air. while wave after wave of color swept over her face. c , “Gmt lovely goxelj’ ejaculated Bur- . refiéntly,Ԥtaring at her. .M'« '5‘”- a.~ v. N “.I.;- tion, as compared with others, was; most conservative. Even so she shrank sunburn. for she was ringed about like a blue winged teal, .the demarcation being more pronounced because of the natural whiteness of her skin. She sat down, dress and all. in the thick mffnpgs of a great brown beat-skin “0h. Iâ€"I thought you were roneon. iHe”-â€" In spite of herself she glanced "toward her room as it to flee. She 'wrlthed at the utter abguu'llty' of her ,; appearance and knew the lieutenant 'must be laughing at her. But flight would only make it worse. Burrell. :howeverkwas not laughing. “I was looking for your father,” he 'zsaid, wondering if this glorious ,thirfi would be the quaint ‘palt breed girl of .yesterday. There was nothing of the 'native about her now, for her lithe young figure was drawn up to its .height. and her head. upon which the softness of .a great brown .oearsguu and thought it over. . I ‘ How odd it was. now that she con-’ sidered ih‘that she needed no aid with these alien garments; that she knew- instinctively their every feature; that- there was no intricacy to cause her more than. an instant’s trouble, She was interrupted in her reverie by the passing of a shadow across her window and the stamp of a man’s feet on the planks at the door. or course it was Poleon, who had comeback to see her. So she rose hastily, gave one quick glance at the mirror above her washstand, choosing the side that dis- torted her image the-least. and. hear- ing him still stamping, perfunctorily hlong black braids were coiled, was ‘rtipped back in a haughty poise. She lmad flung her hands out to graSp the table edge behind her. forgetful of her .3132le which dr00ped traitorously and showed such rounded lines as her or- dinary dress scarce hinted at. This was no Indian maid, the soldier vowed. No blood but the purest could pulse in such veins; no spirit save the highest could flash in such eyes as these. A LL- the Frenchman’s eyes. “Can’t‘yon sbgfv vourself to me as “K wen as ‘lo Poze'ca r' ne sum: “Certainly not!" she declared. “He bought this dress for me. and I put it on to please him. After he sees it I will take it oft. and”- - “Don’tâ€"don’t take it oftâ€"ever.” said- Burrell. “I thought you were beau‘tiv in] before because of your quaintness and simplicity, but now”â€"his .chest swelled-r‘fwhy. this is a breath from home. You’re like my sister and the girls back in Kentucky, only more wonderful.” ‘ n “Am ['2‘ she cried eagerly. "Am I like other girls? Do I really look as it I’d always worn clothes like these?” “Born to them,” said he. . Her warmth and unaffected frank- ne'ss summed him as she stobd out. turning to show the beauties of he: gown, her brown hands. fluttering tremulous' y as she talked. , . “It’s my first party dress. you Inmw, and I’m as proud of ltas Molly is of her rubber boots. It’s too big_ in hgre'v L ‘ A!_I Aime for me, doesn't it? And the shoesâ€"aren’t they the dearest things? “v- nâ€".â€"-. v, and too small right there. That’girl must have had a bad chat. But at!» erwiseitfitsmeasiflithaébeen See!" She held her skirts back show- ing her two feet side by side. he: dainty ankles slim and shapely in their “They don't wear as well 9.5 mocca- sins." Both laughed delightedly tin he broke in impulsively: “Oh. girl. don't you know how beau‘ tiful you are?" . “Of course I do.” she cried. imitating his change of voice. then added naive- ly. "That's why I hate to take it 01!." "Where did you learn to wear things like that?” he questioned. “Where did you get thinâ€"well, that air?” ‘I‘A_ "wv , _"It seems to me I’ve always known. There’s nothing strange abqut it. The l (Continued from last week) , -r _ _AA L_M ranc'or irked him him at the intended for Poleon. “01 course. ButIdaraI’ttakeitofl. I haven’t had it on gyugeck since I - A-.. L.â€" buttons and the hooks and the eyes are all where they belong; It’nfins'tin‘ct.‘ I suppose. from father’srsldo.~ herargnment. . “I’ve always had visions of women! firmed inthis. kind of, clothing. white ‘ women; never natives.‘ notdressed: like this exactly. but in dainty. soft thinga not at all like'the ones I wear. I seem to have a memory. although it’s hardly that either; it’s more like a dream, as if I were somebody else. Father says it is from reading too much” - -“A memory of what?” . “It’s too vague and tantalizing to tell what it is. except that I should be called Merridy.” , “Merridy? Why that?” - “X’ll show you. See." She slipped her hand inside the shawl and drew trom her breast a thin gold chain on Which he had not met before, a non. descrlpt whose overalls were blue and faded and patched. particularly on the front of the legs above the knees. where a shovel handle wears herdest; whose coat was of yellow mackhnw. the sleeves worn thin below the el- 7 ,_l_.-L gndmother’s: Tim?- white I got the fancy tor the name of. Maddy. I up- shat “It ain’t nothin’ to git excited over. but it's wuth tonerin’. It I wasn’t so cussed unlucky I’d know there was a pay streak som’em close by.” 5 “Your luck is bound to change. Lee," said the trader. who helped him to roll up a pack of provisions. _ ' tuc mvvvw .. -â€" bows, where they had rubbed against his legs in his work.~ As the soldier entered the man turned on him a small. shrewd, weather . beaten thee with one eye while he went on talking a Exi'r'ivho had stopped. at the .mm door with Poleon .to examine sgme‘yelv 10w grams m a folded paper.“ .» “He’s the boss soldier." Lee chuckled, _ _ _ ,1 The one eyed .man snortgq d'eflsivéâ€" ly. “It ain’t wuth considerin’!” ; ‘ “Why not?” insisted Gale guardedly. “Maybe I’ve got a record. You don’t know.” A .‘ , “It you have, don’t tell me nothin’ aboutlit.” hastily observed Lee. “rm a' God fearln' citizen myself, leanin' ever toward peace and quietndés. but wlhatfs past is dead and gone. and I’d t'halte to. ~seea lispin’ child like that. blue and yeller party try to reennreck it.” V , , “He’s got .the American :army to ‘ back him up. at least five of them." “Five agin a hundred. He films to “overawe us. don't he?” snickered the nnregenerate Lee. but his w‘rinklee changed and deepened as he leaned across the counter confidentially. uvnvw.’ .â€"v v- ._ ‘- “You say the word, John. and I’ll take some teller along to help meannd we’ll transfer‘this military post.” ‘ “Pshaw! I’m just supposing," said the trader. “All right. It‘s up to you. How- ever, if I happen to leap down; on this pay streak before it sees me comin’ I’m goin’ 'to put my friends in first and foremost and shut out these dras- makers complete. So long!" Having given Necia's message to P0- leon, the lieutenant took up his busi- ness with the trader. It concerned the purchase of certain supplies that had been omitted from the military outfit. a‘ufi whén this was. concluded he re- ferred to the encounter of that morn- “I don't want you to think?! bangle everything in that manner,” he said. “for 1 don’t, 1 want ' to won; with lav. gâ€"oâ€"v- :“0h. 1-! Wm m Palm He'â€" iduty. and I’ll have to do it." continued .‘tbe young man. .. . : “l reckon you simply aim? to keep peace. eh? You ain‘t looking for no- *body in particular?” _ .- -4 ‘-_‘_I_ .. '“Y’m willing.” said Gale. “Nobody (“flutes pluying policeman momthanldo. butlt'supartotmy rwâ€"vâ€" , "w; c ' “01 course notâ€"outside of certain notorious criminals who have escaped justice and worked north.” hen there are a few that you want, “Yes. certain old timers. The offi- ‘cers at every post have descriptions of a few such. and it they show up we will take them in and hold them an roux-ts are established.” "Thank you. I'll bring up t be 118:- ~1 "after he had. reachal, his quarters nu jrbund nmself repeating: ~ 2 “The other was bad enough. Poor ,llttle girl! Poor little girl!" 1. : . Gale likewise left the store and went into his house, the odd look still strong in his eyes, to find_ blecm‘ posing in her I 7â€"-‘A. style,’ and neither one oi: no nu thought much about it sinée.” '“Oh, I see," ,exciaimed Burrell. hur- riedly. “I’ll bring that list with me the first tune I think about it.” And. nod~ ding amiably. he sanntgi'efl "out. But friew regalia tor Poleon's benefit. At .sight of her he fell into a strange and finexpected humor and to their amaze- ment commanded her roughly to take the things off. Els'voice and manner ._, ere harsh and at utter variance with any mood he had ever displayed be- fore. . , CHAPTER Iv. THE SOLDIER FINDS AN mm VAL. lnna. but this also largely vanished wéhen he found that the girl was en- tirely oblivious to its significance. He had tried her in many subtle ways and found that she regarded the matter in- necently, as customary. and therefore :11' the light of an accepted convention. nor did she seem to see anything in her blood or station to render her infe- ripr to other women. She questioned him tirelessly about his sister. and he was glad of this; for it placed no-con- straint between them. As for her, each day. brought a keen. er delight. She unfolded before the Kentuckian like some beautiful wood- land flower and through innumerable. unnoticed familiarities took him into her innermost confidence. . . A month of this went by, and tn Runnlon returned. He came on an upâ€" going steamer. The manner of his coming was hold, for he stood may upontheship'sdechnndhlssmile was evil now. uithad been before. EADE BURBELL' had experi- enced a profound sense at pity for Neda nDOn learning her father's relation to A}. renew his matters Allan; it wasn't the to be trlepds with VII nun.“ 0" â€"v-" -_ pm; 51. none in: keen'and hawk- ‘fllkc, his walk and movement: than“ [the madam W“- and " be M ‘ by Barrel] observed that his eyes was wan: mm was a M!- at rest Bunion “C “I“ ['11: ha aMMWM I'd like to set you” "I'm m we W etch Oth‘ back of A‘- __‘ an M” ”wa‘v- bunkedmedes- m inthehms PW thathomustoeoo derrootwhohad- paradoco not only 8"9 mm W w. Wmmwwhohtndlflhbw emantndflmwwm , #1.... A..- _-"_._- his companion and cow-ed the store in time, to see tho lattenmet “No ‘Cfie‘li" Lee; 136 prospector, who had come into town for more food. Both men spoke with quiet restraint. “ 'lne yu’n since I 31" you. Start." said thevmlner. “Where you hound?" they say it is.” {This here'n 1 good place for you.” Stark langhed nobdeuly nnd with- out mmh. “Fine! There must be n hundred people um hero.” UU' VII sans ‘â€"-_ w doing." file one sharp eye detected the lieutenant close by. so he drew his friend aside and bent; talking to him cement: and m such ement etect as to slur Stark's plans on the mo- ment. for when Rnnnlon entered the store shortly Stark spoke to him quick- ly. following which they both hurried back to the steamer and saw to the unloading. of much additional freight and baggage. From the volume and variety of this merchandise it was evi- dent that Mr. Stark would in nowlse be a burden to the community. . Barrel! waavnot “fluently versed in the ways of mining camps to know exactly what this abrupt change of policy meant. but that there was some- thlng 1n the au- he knew from the mysterious manner of “No Creek” Lee Efiemcamww ‘ .1;th You needn'tzrln- M" ““1 ter man tun 5'0“ We“ 1“" ai 3‘ M it ed. and he's got notch“ on It looks like a cubbarhudchl edit. nymmll ram man 70“"! my _ mt they g I P E a? E mheout othaflnzmsufl‘ “u: “Humph! They’ 1'0 ‘1‘ 31M" “Who?" ‘5‘!an men.” " man on. ain't." Leo (Iceland. file's “All of th tloned Stark. --â€" vvv ammu- Aiia‘t fine. lieutenant? miuthn'm understands.” "youyuhedtormgartocook the. bad“ with." III! replied- “Tm tr: another tune you might gay :mmlmyonspeak ltthe ttel’. Heathekindwhoeees much and” little. Address me in Slwash or. In English antes: we are global ‘ know, he was dark" ‘ “mm mm is dark.” 4mmgpmcmmthuocg ‘llnvetoldyounemtonse fivflhWHM‘, - “The bullet ain’t beep M's many 8 bet' “Managua“: % In.“ five m!” unmade. «rum Wink “Werflloeodh’echbnt mwtlfldifiml plied. with decision. “1!. come here to live, so it "14 good to send her “manta whnt is to he will be. But!!! mummmtmm mm. at least not with: abont this Stark. It mum ence whether this onebthl not. He will mmgandllll P'gleon. and we are gob: . hlxn ~tonight. but you mutfl‘ is or it will start a W“; -f‘0ther men will came-381‘I at them ‘3" interrogatedxuu‘ l}: ignoring utterly the I4 I Tm Flambeau W ',"" mm if this find ts whit"? nits. I stayed away M“: “Emu-y because ‘ “e" M‘ "(had come from the 3”“ fad-ed that he might be“: but it's no use “a”: m Lee has got a “1 next to it. for we on‘ the ground. flint won't matter baprovided for. ‘ ham: one at a ‘ ‘But why insisted the 51%; she must my If" rusted the worn” "m 'd I! on the steamw‘d’ - in: why did this in” m I!