Show HILLTOPS r EA IC 4 du emilie lib rafig 4 y SYNOPSIS prudenco schuyler comes coma from new york to prosperity kami form in fit maine inherited from her uncle to make a new life for herself anil and her brother david whose health has haa beon broken liy by tra tragedy Kedy the tha second day on her farm prue falls from the barn loft into the arms of rod nod ney horard dor aril rich young man who lives at nigh ledges lealao there is at once ft A mutual attraction between the two but prudence decides decide to maintain ft cool attitude toward him she men since her sisters bit and ran away with her brothers brother wife CHAPTER 11 II continued 3 prudence joined the woman tit nt tho the door im llo gry wily ini m low in my mind anchy mother flutter say that affo II 11 fo could b bo 0 aw awful fill dark and dreary on nn an empty toMi cli linked hor her arm in that tant of the woman ashes A dear to bring lia its things lings ti anil and a won darful cool cook bitne mack sti sniffed llred the she may bo be a wonderful cooki cook but ashes a ter er kniker stio she said to me what makes miss ikuo so bitter about menn men n pretty child like tier her did tier her city beau turn lier her town down because she lost her money prudence bit her lips to steady them blinked liard fiord since tile warning tap on tier lier brothers shoulder little hot sally springs seemed in constant commotion behind tier her eyes mra Pur puffers fers question about the city beau returned to mind its as several hours later inter she huncl unclasped asbed tho the string of pearls before tile mer on tile the chintz dressing tattle table she looked fit it tho the lovely gleaming things which dipped front from her pink palm ifer her sisters pearls lovely julles who hail had married the son of a multi millionaire adoring him believing in him when after two years of marriage she elio had discovered hla his unfaithfulness the treachery of her brothers wife she had crumpled her life had gone out like a 0 candle and with it tho the life of tier her baby the tragedy had seemed to run back into the very roots of heart it if ones heart had roots or the spring ot of tier her heart which threatened so BO often to bubblo bubble up in tears it imd had killed tho the lovely shining belief sho she had had tit in people taken the sunshine out of living time had find eased the achet ache but it and not restored her falth chobad she had i had men cn fri friends eAls but site had find steeled herself against their protestations thero there were plenty of safe sane ln in teresta without staking hor her happiness on a non man men the eyes of the girl in tho the glass narrowed n trino trifle she had met two today sirs puffer had declared theres one or two smart alecks in the village do you it if they get the chance prudence laid the pearls in their satin beds and snapped tile case shut chut she tapped the velvet lightly witha with a finger na as she reflected aloud one or two smart alecks I 1 won der I 1 wonder if mrs puffer was warning me ma against ono one or both of my new acquaintances CHAPTER III nibbled n straw as she thoughtfully regarded sl put for fer who scented on n R milking stool opposite gazed back at tier her with fatuous admiration what sort of a man Is tan lea at lowny loway mr ir sl ile iio has called on one pretext or another every day since I 1 took possession of tills property you dont have to tell me that lie he la Is a compelling person and good looking I 1 know that ills ilia eyes are too dark and flashing too near set hla his chin a bit too assertive his hair la Is gettine perilously thin on top it Is he the whoop puffer said that he was horn born in the I 1 roil red brick house ilas ho he always lived in fit tills this town putter puffer rubbed an unshaven check grew up here fiere went west bout boat two years ngo ago after hed mot met wl with th a disappointment in love then hla his rather father died and ho he came back bursting with know how and began contracting tr to cut timber ho he been saying to ile he wants to buy the trees on tile the upper wood lot lat the one ona uncle austin bought of his bis father ile ho make a definite offer ile iio asked me to sign a contract giving him the right to cut nil all trees over ten on inches and all wood necessary to get it out of course I 1 dont know Rny anything thIng about the business but when lie he added that last clause tho the IMP who he regulates traffic in my mind on a red light puffer chortled you suro sure have your own wity way or of saying things miss prue I 1 guess gress that jeci in y on ills hla job mind I 1 dont say lon would set bet out to cheat you but lie ho in business for ills his health alone and if you crossell crossed cros sec him film welt well dont have nothing to do with him then youre sure ir if you ilke him film huts your business all ill say any la Is handsome la Is na As handsome liand somo does doca lieros heres nodi wonder if lie he wants to buy timber ile ho waved his hand to rodney gerard who with a spectacular flourish and fanfare of french horn stopped tits his car in front of the barn Orect ings prue ot of prosperity mimi mi mi morning horning come for a ride will you its a whale of a day ills eyes were on the girl terrible sorry I 1 cant go roddy but ive got to work on them the poultry houses my fy boss la Is all ailred fussy puffer chuckled and vanished round if a corner prudence took possession of tho the stool her nian of all work had vacated stio she shook tier hend na As she ansi answered vered tho quest question lon in Gler ards L yes eyes if that limitation invitation was meant for me icart I 1 cant go im busy tile the hens are approaching tile tho season of diminishing returns to put it conservatively yields and largo large pr olits must bo be rny my battle cry ever heard of on an economic graph mr sl and I 1 have been tracing one you seam to forget that I 1 am a woman of at fairs I 1 cant waste time playing with lillo idle little boys boya like you all right im an lille idle little b boy oy wily why should I 1 work I 1 dont need money I 1 put tile the best ive got into any sport I 1 make a stab at I 1 like a good time and there you are happened to your fimbel tion arrested development don dont you care to accomplish things all alia asked gravely sonia some things do you adore it I 1 love trying to do what I 1 have to do 40 superlatively well I 1 made good no aa a craftsman 19 what sort fiort of craftsman silver and gold when people began to sneak cautiously from their financial crash proof dugouts diiRO dug Uta outs began to un unheard linard I 1 earned a fairly good income making jewelry and silver boxes then tho the back to the land tit go caught us as turned me 1110 into a farmer and here I 1 am 11 living giving up your craft not if I 1 can possibly squeeze in tinie time for it I 1 adore it from now on I 1 shall be nn an extremely busy person mother puffer la Is about to instruct me in the thrifty art of can ning you doubtless will soon return to that guy gay circle of society in which you must be a bright and shining light she known that blue eyes could bo be black nor that a fair satu could turn so BO darkly red youve got that wrong pat im an extremely busy person too youl you I 1 busy about what jakini taking Ta kini a medical correspondence course Wh alint atkind kind of medicine dont look so skeptical perhaps it medical perhaps its surgical trying to learn the remedy X 1 I cint cant waste time playing with I 1 idle die little boys like you for hardening of the hie heart eart ll there was ivas a hint of seriousness underlying the light words lie ile regarded tier her steadily may bo be able to arrest tho the ossifying ying of yours Is tt it true ns as urs mrs puffer buffer intimates that theres a whito white haired boy in your new york stuff stag chos yearning to smash tills fabrij obsession and carry you back to tile the city surprise hobbled voice W what you know what I 1 said dont sidestep indignation IndIs nation claril clarified led her mind and loosened her tongue elde step I 1 why should 17 I 1 chete Is in thero was a roan man for whom I 1 might have cared butyok have brought this on yourself by your question lio ho iq of your typo type wealth Is nn an net nold test few of tile the men I 1 have known could stand so im it i perfectly safo safe person so BO far na as you are concerned mr sl told me ino that you were in terror for fear some girl would iti tirry you for your mony mon y I 1 marry a rich playboy it if I 1 loved him film to distraction I 1 had to stand by liel pless while my sister broke tier her heart over ono one of them rodney gerard caught her ter hands and adf pulled her to her ber feet 81 talks too much I 1 in terror about anything ills joke your heart woul diet break for a man would it prudence twisted free vot not un lin less it split from fury beca useI had find been so dumb as to believe in him film taits Tl iata one in tile eyo eye for me ill take lt kt hoy boy but youre bitter ill make you take back what you said about my being of that hint type ill make you it wilt will be a no battle set let nio me she clasped her hands bonds behind her back leaned toward bilm sn smiling illIng Su lashing climax this la where a movie director who knew ills bustness business would shout cutill ills ilia eyes held field her mocking eyes with steady itei uly inflexibility sl puffer ruffer says that lint you aro are smart no na a steel imp 0 you may bo be but apparently not smart enough to distinguish between tile tho real and melodrama I 1 rany may bo be a lazy devil wasting opportunity but I 1 still bellove believe in character believe that there are levels below which well in the century in which you yon belong they called it noblesse blesso no oblige ills face was colorless as aa he turned away to his car conscience smarted had site sho been unjust site sho help liking him sho was beside him as he stepped into tile roadster she smiled apology dont go away angry you asked a question I 1 answered it just because wo we live on different planets of ideals and ideas la Is no reason for our quarreling Is it I 1 would love to motor with you really I 1 would but david Is coming coining on tho the afternoon train and I 1 have aavo beads to do before then you dont know how y you oil tempt me thero there was a reckless light ligi it in gerards eyes quote fly pleasure and it will follow you 11 then I 1 wont ly fly will you to take a me to the puffers Puff era no ito swung tho the roadster door wide grinned engagingly taxi lady As the car shot forward lie inquired who will bring your brother from the station sir st sl I 1 have been too busy about the place to try out the car uncle austin left mal roe tho the road Is still torn up ne ile would be jolted to pulp in that old machine of putters puffers it if you think a rich playboy may bo be trusted I 1 will meet him 1 I will accept your kindness only if promise to come in and linao tea when you bring david home there was a small boy radiance in tits his face and voice which contracted throat threat mean it then of bf course ill conic come ril drive tills car as if it were a bubble with a grain of radium for passenger those are the most breakable and precious commodities modi ties I 1 know low how tire are you calloway the dark eyed lark dark skinned man passing brought brou glit ills hla red car to a sudden stop and swept off ills broad brimmed hat nood good morning miss schuyler ive just been to your place berned they told me I 1 was likely to find you somewhere round here there was wag nothing in the words which mild could be challenged A it was the implication rodney berard reddened come to high ledges tonight calloway Cal lowny and ill let you know what I 1 have decided about the ti timber niber 10 cant you tell me now vo no I 1 cant perhaps miss schuyler will say whether slie she has haa decided to lot let me have hers or do you decide for youre mighty impertinent oer aril ard flared and shot the car forward oh dearl have you made nn an enemy because of me ills 1113 tough laugh was curt the enmity between len calloway and yours truly Is nothing now new lie ile always gets my roat goal do you intend to sell your timber to hlin him mr air sl advises against it give roe me the lie contract to handle it will you you even I 1 L dont let surprise that I 1 nm am interested in something lie fildes sports sheck you into insensibility I 1 have about a thousand acres of timber which havo bay been on my mind for somo some time ive decided to cut it tills this winter and tile the more I 1 havo have to cut tho tit better and more profitable job I 1 can make of it ll 11 hut have to live herol herel all right ill have t to 0 live hero here what a profound observation a b s e I 1 coming from a woman of affairs like yourself its a smash sho she stole a glance at ills his grave face tier her thoughts raced no na swiftly as tho the leccy fleecy clouds against the glaring blue sky shy had lie he had alila ti 1 IF in mind while she had been accusing abc acc aiming iming him of indolence arid and indifference wildlife rence contrition warmed tier her voice 01 1 I should love to harto bay you yoo wt cut our timber but I 1 warn you yon im likely to bo be a pest peat I 1 shall ahall ask to so ronny many questions vitro away what say to forming a partnership sounds grand but that would capital it why not sign a contract to the effect that tho the interest on your investment Is to be paid before tile profit Is divided hooey cy I 1 I 1 P unless thatis done im oft off the partnership sir rodney gerard oh nil right im a lawyer though I 1 lone done much nt at it ill draw a contract which will put aldas under your fortuno fortune it if you bronk break it hero wo we are arc at the altif fers fars come on a little way we have so BO much to decide we lye are in business now remember well that economic graph youre so keen about prudence swung open the alio door of the car dont wheedle ril ill expect wf by sheer beer force of arms arma and ened rushed him outside you for ten tea this afternoon more ing partner she turned to wave her hand bt bit fore she entered tho the path to mhd th back bach door opened it in response to a soft cushiony come tall lal tile the kitchen was gay with blue and white checked gingham curtains at tile the plant filled windows a 0 blue and white linoleum lino loura on the floor door blue pots and pans arranged on the shelves spotless town it if berei there thera was waa one glad clad youve come miss prue I 1 cut that bokay for you that rod hod ger ockard ard with you I 1 wonder keeping him in tills part of the tha country so late in tho the season ile iia Is looking after his timber loesl I 1 hope he and galloway calloway wont got get into trouble again lens leaa been jealous of rodney since they wore were boys boya when little mally gooch the circus folks kid was always turning down walt and len for him len thought because rods folks were rich and a one alne family but what did the child care for that sho she just about worshiped roddy then there was bad feeling between tile the two before lon went west ire ho gets terrible ugly it hos hes crossed im afraid hell get the best of rod nod chos easygoing easy going wily why not warn mr air gerard lie could escape before anything rough happens to him its good flying weather now hiss prue dont you mal maka a fun of rod pin im not making fun of him on an the contrary I 1 am thinking of engaging him its as my legal adviser then rhen youve got another think coming to you Prud prudence once wheeled ifer her eyes widened as they met the dark near set eyes of galloway calloway leaning calling against tile tho door frame understand alsa schuyler that if I 1 cut your timber I 1 deal with you with you and no one else gerard will keep out of my business or ill know thy reason why lie ile stepped between me iao and a girl once before and its 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