PI
shown by Otloff's father. He, who is
nothing but a burden, constantly
shows his teeth and passes sarcasms.
Let him only show a proper grati
tude, and I will not complain. He is a
trial not easily borne."
Orloff and. Openta knew there was
much truth in what their benefactor
said. Old man Openta hated Odes
kalki and showed his teeth at him
whenever there was opportunity.
"I am sorry that you have noticed,"
said Openta. "But I will speak to him
myself. He does not realize, perhaps,
that he is living at your expense. Fur
thermore, father is old. It is better
to laugh at his sarcasms. But after
this everything will be better."
Consternation seized even Odes
kalkl when at this point it was no
ticed the old man had opened his
eyes. He scowled malignantly at
Odeskalki, and said shrilly:
"Id bill dod be pedder. I was dod
sleebig."
He rose, took his overcoat from
he peg and put it on.
"I bill dot gum bag," he said. "I ab
dot wanted."
Olenka tried to hold him, but he
shook her off" and made for the door.
She threw her arms about him, but
he struck her in the face and the
bosom. Odeskalki hurled the old man
aside.
"Let him go," he cried. "He will
come back son enough. It is cold
and he will soon be hankering for the
stove."
"I bill dot gum bag," shouted the
old man.
Odeskalki closed the door.
"Go into the other room," he said
to Olenka, "and put cold water on
your face " He turned" to Openta.
"I will just go and see if she Is hurt,"
he said.
Olenka poured water into the
basin, but for the moment she was
using it only as a receptacle for her
tears.
"Don't cry," said Qdskalki gently.
He took her by the shoulders and
turned her so she faced him. "Your
cheek is bruised," he said, "but that
is a tnfl Did he hurt you when he
hit you?" She did not answer. And
Odeskalki began to draw her to him,
but there must have been some good
in the man, for he suddenly drew
back,
Olenka's tears ceased.
"I was frightened only," she said.
"If it had not been an old man,"
said Odeskalki, "I would have struck
him deadT" You do not feel any-pain?"
"No, but everything is going
rpund."
Odeskalki caught her as she fell
and carried her to a -chair. He kissed
her unresisting mouth. Then he
brought cold water and began to
bathe her temples.
Meanwhile Openta had turned his
head so he could Bee the door leading
into the other room.
"He ought not to have closed the
door," he said querulously. "He
ought to come back and tell me if
she is hurt."
In a few moments anxiety for
Olenka began to torment him.
"Maybe father really hurt her," he
said.
Then he began to call for Odes
kalki loudly.
Suddenly the door opened and
Odeskalki, looking like a man on fire
with anger, appeared in the frame.
"Don't scream so," he shouted an
grily. "Mrs. Openta has fainted. I
am doing what I can."
He disappeared, slamming the
door.
Half an hour passed. Orloff Openta
began to cry. Another half-hour
passed. He got out of bed and crept
to the door, for he could not stand.
He reached the knob, turned it and
pushed. The door did not open.
Strength came to him. He stopd'and
beat upon the door with-hfff fists and
hurled his light body against it again
and again. In his frenzy it did not
occur to him that in order to open
the door he should have pulled and
not pushed.
He desisted after a while and lean-
Ajfo&ftMsi.mgffii ! jttttSikttAmnmm
ti .
MHMIMHMI