Kickin Author:D. Torbett Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: CHAPTER III THE GREAT TEMPTATION The next evening but one was the one on which Chick always had supper with the Hallorans. As he came into the house he met D... more »aisy in the hall. He tried not to dislike Daisy, but it was impossible to like her. She seemed to lack any of her mother's good qualities. "Don't forget we're expecting you downstairs to-night. Mother has a particular surprise for you." "A surprise?" "Yes; but you mustn't ask me what it is, for I've promised not to tell," said Daisy, pursing up her lips in a knowing fashion. "I won't," said Chick briefly. He rather enjoyed her evident disappointment. The surprise turned out to be a genuine one. Chick found the table set for four in place of three. He had only been down a short time when there came a knock at the door, which Daisy threw open with her most important air. On the threshold stood Miss Gary. Chick decided that he was becoming feebleminded. It was only lately that he had contracted the idiotic habit of blushing. He certainly blushed to the roots of his hair when Daisy, in her capacity of Mistress of Ceremonies, formally presented them to each other. If Miss Gary noticed his embarrassment, she was good enough to give no sign of it, for which Chick was duly grateful. At that moment Mrs. Halloran called her daughter into the kitchen, and they were left alone together. "Mr. Hewes," said the girl, holding out her hand and looking into his eyes with an air at once dignified and frank, '' I want to thank you for—for what you did for my brother the other night. We are both grateful—I, particularly." "Why, it wasn't anything at all," stammered Chick. "I think it was a very great thing for a stranger to do,'' she corrected smilingly. '' You see," she went on, "Charley is not very well, and whe...« less