Part 18 (2/2)

The delight of it rushed to Carder's head. He, too, had to put a strong restraint upon himself to let well enough alone. All was going so nicely. He must not make a false move.

”Well,” he responded with a sort of gasping sigh, the blood in his face, ”as I've always said, suit yourself and you'll suit me. Wind me right around your finger as you always have done and always will do.”

He walked completely down the incline with her to-day.

She wondered if he had any sense of humor when she heard the clicking of Pete's lawn-mower behind them and knew that he was following. Carder did not seem to notice it; but he said: ”I've a great mind to stay down here with you to-day and find out what the charm is.”

”I suppose it is just peace,” she answered, and she was so frightened lest he carry out this threat that she felt herself grow pale to the lips. ”I've pa.s.sed through a great deal of excitement,” she added unsteadily. ”The silence seems healing to me.”

”Oh, well, little one,” he replied good-humoredly, ”if it's doing you good, that's the main thing. You have had it pretty hard, I know that.

I'm goin' to make it up to you, Gerrie, I'm goin' to make it up to you.

Don't you be afraid. You're safe to be the most envied girl in this county. You'll make some splash, let me tell you, when my plans are carried out.” He patted her cringing shoulder, and with one more longing look turned and left her.

Her knees were still trembling and she sank down on her rock and watched Carder's round shoulders and ill-fitting clothes as he ascended the incline to the office.

Pete was using a sickle on the stubbly gra.s.s, too stiff and interspersed with stones for the mower.

The cows' big soft eyes were regarding Geraldine, as they always did for a time after her arrival.

She turned her tired, listless look back to them and wondered what they did here for comfort in the heat of summer. There was no shade, and no creek to walk into.

When Rufus Carder arrived at his office he found the telephone ringing.

The message he received necessitated sending some word to a man out in the field.

He went to the window and looked down at the white spot which was Geraldine. He saw her rise and walk about. Perhaps she was picking flowers. The distance was too great for him to be certain.

”I shall be right here,” he muttered. Then he went to the corner of the office and picked up a megaphone. Going outside the door he called to Pete. ”Come up here!” he shouted. The boy dropped his sickle and began to amble up the hill as fast as his bow-legs would permit.

Geraldine heard the shout, and turning saw the dwarf obeying the summons.

”n.o.body but you to guard me now,” she said to the prettiest of the cows with whom she had made friends.

She watched Pete reach the summit of the incline and vanish into the yellow office.

Presently he came out again and started off in the direction of the fields.

”I think there is some one beside you to guard me now,” went on Geraldine to the cow, who gave her an undivided attention mindful of the bunches of gra.s.s which the girl had often gathered for her. ”I think the ogre has come out to the edge of his cave and is scarcely winking as he watches us down here. Oh, Bossy, I'm the most miserable girl in the whole world.” Her breath caught in her throat, and winking back despairing tears she stooped to gather the expected thick handful of gra.s.s when a humming sound came faintly across the stillness of the field. She paused with listless curiosity and listened. The buzzing seemed suddenly to fill all the air. It increased, and her upturned face beheld an approaching aeroplane. Before she had time to connect its presence with herself it began diving toward the earth. On and on it came. It skimmed the ground, it ran along the meadow, the cows stampeded. She clasped her hands, and with dilated eyes saw the aviator jump out, pull something out of the c.o.c.kpit and run toward her. She ran toward him. It was--it couldn't be--it was--he pushed back his helmet--it was her knight! Her excited eyes met his. ”I've come for you,” he called gayly, and her face glorified with amazed joy.

”He'll kill you!” she gasped in sudden terror. ”Hurry!”

Ben was already taking off the crepe shawl and putting her arms into the sleeves of a leather coat. A shout came from the top of the hill. Rufus Carder appeared, yelling and running. His gun was in his hand. The men from the fields, who had heard and seen the aeroplane, and Pete, who had not yet had time to reach them, all came running in excitement to see the great bird which had alighted in such an unlikely spot.

”He'll kill you!” gasped Geraldine again. A shot rang out on the air.

Ben laughed as he pushed a helmet down over her head.

”It can't be done,” he cried, as excited as she. He threw the shawl into the c.o.c.kpit, lifted the girl in after it, buckled the safety belt across her, jumped in himself, and the great bird began to flit along the ground and quickly to rise.

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