ps stood out upon his brow.

"Dear old--redhead!" she whispered, brokenly, with a smile of agony and
joy. He would know her when she spoke that way--called him the name she
had tormented him with--the name no one else would have dared to use.

Then she saw he believed in her reality. His face began to work. She
threw her arms about him--she gave up to a frenzy of long-deferred
happiness. Where Larry was there would Neale be.

"Allie--it ain't--you?" he asked, hoarsely, as he hugged her close.

"Oh, Larry--yes--yes--and I'll die of joy!" she whispered.

"Then you shore ain't--daid?" he went on, incredulously.

How sweet to Allie was the old familiar Southern drawl!

"Dead? Never....Why, I've kissed you!... and you haven't kissed me
back."

She felt his breast heave as he lifted her off her feet to kiss her
awkwardly, boyishly.

"Shore--the world's comin' to an end!... But mebbe I'm only drunk!"

He held her close, towering over her, while he gazed around him and down
at her, shaking his head, muttering again in bewilderment.

"Reddy dear--where, oh, where is Neale?" she breathed, all her heart in
her voice.

As he released her Allie felt a difference. His whole body seemed to
gather, to harden, then vibrate, as if he had been stung.

"My Gawd!" he whispered in hoarse accents of amaze and horror. "Is it
you--Allie--here?"

"Of course it's I," replied Allie, blankly.

His face turned white to the lips.

"Reddy, what in the world is wrong?" she gasped, beginning to wring her
hands.

Suddenly he leaped at her. With rude, iron grasp he forced her back,
under the light, and fixed piercing eyes upon hers. He bent closer.
Allie was frightened, yet fascinated. His gaze hurt with its intensity,
its strange, penetrating power. Allie could not bear it.

"Allie, look at me," he said, low and hard. "For I reckon you mayn't hev
very long to live!"

Allie struggled weakly. He looked so gray, grim, and terrible. But she
could resist neither his strength nor his spirit. She lay quiet and
met the clear, strange fire of his eyes. In a few swift moments he had
changed utterly.

"Larry--aren't--you--drunk?" she faltered.

"I was, but now I'm sober.... Girl, kiss me again!"

In wonder and fear Allie complied, now flushing scarlet.

"I--I was never so happy," she whispered. "But Larry--you--you frighten
me.... I--"

"Happy!" ejaculated Larry. Then he let her go and stood up, breathing
hard. "There's a hell of a li