United States or Yemen ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !


Blake had made an application to department headquarters for a board of officers to appraise the value of one public horse, which he, Lieutenant Blake, desired to purchase; had written to a staff friend at Omaha a graphic description of Dandy's and Ray's "devotion to each other," and the decree of divorce which was passed by Colonel Whaling's order.

Ray's abrupt announcement was a surprise to the dense throng of listeners is putting it mildly. To say that it was received with incredulity on part of the soldiery, and concern, if not keen apprehension, by old friends of Sandy's father who were present, is but a faint description of the effect of the lad's emphatic statement.

The rain was falling in torrents, but no one cared. Everybody was out for a good time and they knew that this was the house to get it. Helen's first impulse had been to postpone the affair, held really in celebration of Ray's birthday, until Kenneth's return, but as this idea had met with decided opposition from the younger element, she had reluctantly given way.

Ken trotted out to the box, to the encouraging voices of the infield, and he even caught Reddy Ray's low, thrilling call from the far outfield. "Play!" With the ringing order, which quieted the audience, the umpire tossed a white ball to Ken. For a single instant Ken trembled ever so slightly in all his limbs, and the stands seemed a revolving black-and-white band.

He bowed stiffly to the two guests; then, with apprehensive glances at his wife, slid into a chair near the door. "Mis' Ray's Ezra told her last night," proceeded the doctor's wife, "that the night before your son died he run away unbeknown to you, an' went slidin' down hill. The doctor says mebbe that was what killed him. He said you'd ought to know."

We had to go up Sara Ray's lane with her to her very door, for she was afraid Peg Bowen would catch her if she went alone. Then the Story Girl and I walked up the hill together. Peter and Felicity lagged behind. Cecily and Dan and Felix were walking before us, hand in hand, singing a hymn. Cecily had a very sweet voice, and I listened in delight. But the Story Girl sighed.

Stephen Ray's cheek flamed with anger. An insult to his son was an insult to him. "Why did he do this? How dared he?" he demanded angrily. "Because I happened to touch him as I passed," answered Clarence. "He actually pulled you from your bicycle?" asked Stephen Ray, almost incredulous. "Yes." "I should like to meet him. I should feel justified in ordering his arrest."

Pennybet considered a remarkably fine boy, and the son of a remarkably fine woman. In this battle of wits he undoubtedly won. And it is a fact that throughout life he made a point of winning, as all shall see, who read Rupert Ray's story. He was a mischievous, tumbling scamp, I suppose; but what are we to say? All young animals gambol, and are saucy.

What change there was showed merely in the lines of his face, and particularly in the light that dwelt in the gray, straightforward eyes. "Don't finish it," he ordered simply. For an instant eyes met eyes in bitter hatred and Chan Heminway began to wonder just where he would seek cover in case matters got to a shooting stage. But Ray's gaze broke before that of his leader.

He felt morally certain that the only "confidential" communication the veteran post commander had received from any superior in a week was the stinging rap from division headquarters anent the bungle he had made in Ray's affair, and on general principles he felt that he couldn't let an opportunity slip. "Oh, come now, Mrs.