All-Story Weekly, March 1, 1919 — page 159: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

= Pe >, Seto = — = GROUCH. “ Did she—” ‘She did,” declared Higgins, without an instant’s hesitation. Tilley gasped and fell back a pace. ‘“‘T don’t believe it,” he groaned. “That’s nothing to me. I'll do the be- lieving.”’ po The naturalist, even paler than common, stood irresolute for several seconds. ‘Then he jammed the photograph recklessly into _ his pocket. “Tl find out soon enough, he said. ““T’m going to ask her!”’ He turned and walked rapidly away from the shack. Higgins stood grinning at him for a few seconds. Then the grin faded abruptly. A startled look came into his eyes. Tilley would ask her, beyond doubt, and then— He started after the naturalist on a run and overtook him. The path was not wide enough for two and Higgins rudely jostled Tilley aside and took the lead. He was moving at a dog trot. When Tilley recovered his balance he set out in grim pursuit. Higgins ran faster and the naturalist increased his stride. For a while Tilley managed to maintain his position, owing to the superior length of his legs. And then the fisherman began to draw steadily away, for his lungs were better than . those of his rival and they presently tri- umphed over mere legs. Higgins, still running, burst upon the surprised vision of Miss Dean as she was standing at the edge of the creek, tossing | sticks into it and watching them go swirling down the tiny rapids. He did not slacken his pace until he arrived in front of her, on the opposite side of the creek. “Has anything happened? she asked. Higgins, breathing heavily, made a her- culean attempt to control his lungs and managed a short sentence. ._ ‘“You’ve got to marry me!” he shouted. She studied him with an air of surprise. J’ Why?” she asked. _“ Because—I told Tilley—you were go- ing to!” Miss Dean threw the last stick into the water and watched it race down-stream. ‘““Isn’t that a peculiar reason, Mr. Hig- gins?” she asked. “ You must marry me!” he cried, ear- nestly. that Miss Dean thought it fortunate that the creek lay between them. ‘“ Must?”’ she repeated. you told somebody that I would?” Higgins shook his head in despair. “You don’t, understand,” he. blurted. ‘“* Honestly, you don’t. any time to explain.” He looked fearfully behind him. ‘““T can’t say it the way I want to. There isn’t time; I’ve got to make it short. = love you! ‘I’m honest. I’ve got a good business. Pll take good care of you. I’m health never sick a day. And—and don’t you re you've got to marry me!” ‘““T’m afraid I don’t see,” answered Miss Dean. “ And—be careful: You'll fall into the creek.” Higgins, perched perilously near the brink, ignored the warning. ‘“I—I haven’t got time to go round by the bridge,and do it right,” he said. “ He'll be here any minute.” “Mr. Tilley?” “Yes. And, you see, I told him—and you’ve got to help me make good.” ‘““ Just because And there’s hardly. His attitude was one of such desperation __ Miss Dean smiled in a kindly way, but was not ready to commit herself. “But why did you tell him such a thing?” she asked, curiously. Higgins glanced back across the meadow. “There he is now!” he-~ exclaimed. ‘* Please—please don’t throw me down!” Miss Dean also looked across the meadow. - | “ He’s stopped,” she said. ‘ He’s talk- ing to somebody. It looks like Mr. March.” The fisherman whirled about and con- firmedeher observation. “Yes, and he’s showing it to him!” he declared, in an agonized voice. Indeed, Tilley appeared to be showing ~ something to the Grouch, and while the latter bent closer to study it the naturalist pointed with his long arm in the direction of the pair who stood on either side of the = - creek. = ‘What is it he is showing?” inquired Miss Dean. nick boo ks.com