Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1894-11-23

! then get tired or nef ana ueSerb Hei
when her twin babies are only a
month old, so she can't follow you.
Oh, yes. Will Lorrimer-"
Mr.. Lorrimer gave a hoarse shrek
and fell back on his folding bed sc
heavily that it nearly closed up with
him. Chris having heard the wild
cry banged the door shut in the furl-
Gus woman's face and came in, look"
ing scared
My, Mr. Lorrimer. but she's got
| 'em bad! Wouldn't blame any man
for leaving her. Golly, but she's
mad!''
'Oh, Christ returned the gentle
man, family. IL swear don't re-
member any woman out west. There
was girl, but l didn't look at her
much. But she-she seems to know
my name and the time | went out
there and came back. Oh! don't know
what does she mean-what does she
| look like? Quick, tell me; she's kick
ing the door in. The people down
stairs will be up in a minute. What
shall do?'
Perspira ton was on his forehead.
She amt bad looking said Chris
she's kind of short and thick. She's
| got yellow hair cut short and curly
and seems like she touched up her
cheeks with paint Looks kind o
tough"
Lorrimer groaned
| She's yelling again. Go there,
| Chris go and save the door Hear
her She says she's got the twins
down stairs. Oh, what will l do il
the squalling brats come up here.
| She's telling the names of the fellows
| was with-see that-Crosb y-Ruttan
-. Oh, she knows something. What
if did it when / was drunk-married
that slangy horrid thing? She had
yellow hair that curled-she might
have cut it-what if ! did this dread
full thing-and had twins and deserted
them-oh, but that couldn't be.
wasn't drunk for year, though
might have been for a night Chris,
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES her.
Say I'm sick and ask her all about it.
Tell her l never did any thing SC
wicked all the circums tances
have slipped my memory. Get the
particulars"
Chris flew out and shut the door be-
hind him At that instant the street
| bell began to ring again. Lorrimer
buried his face in tine pillow and
| stopped his ears with the bath-robe.
1t was the twins perhaps. He forgot
that two yoars old is young to reach
| ell-button.
The next he knew Chris had re-
| turned, letting himself and another in
| with the latch key. Lorrimer felt a
| hand on his shoulder and heard the
voice of former college chum and in.
| innate friend.
..Hazard! ne gasped. us that you?''
'.What's the row?" asked his friend.
oh Hazard, that woman-you saw
her; what shall do? What will PEG
pie think?"
''Well'' said his friend, judicially,
"y GU know it might seem queer to see
a young blonde female at the door OF
a straight laced fellow like yourself
at this time of day. It's quite toe
early, my boy, or else it's quite toe
late. You ought to manage better. .
81 think you might leave out your
| Joke and help me little" said Lori.
mer, scrambling to his feet in fit OF
desperation. Won't yon. for heavens
sake, go out and send her away? It's
easy to say I'm sicll--say I've got
smallpox or whooping cough or any.
thing horrible, / beg of you. Offer
her any thing to go away. Tell her
don't remember the least thing about
| it."
'I'll do my best old man. said
Hazard, bravely. and hurried out.
Lorrimer held his breath and crept
near the door. Hazard was succeed
| ing it seemed He had reduced the
conversation to whispers, broken now
and then by something like a sob.
! After many moments Hazard came
/ to report.
i've fixed it. old fellow. She's
agreed to compromise. I've promised
her lot of things-had to-"
"What did you promise?" Lorrimer
wrapped his bath robe closer and
looked resolute
well, first she says as to-day's
Thanksgiving she requires a good
dinner. She doesn't insist on Del.
monico's--in fact, there are other
places she might prefer-more select
and expensive. A party of six would
suit her including herself and
you"
"Whatr' roared Lorrimer. ''She
thinks I'll appear in public with
| her"
"Hushl Go slow, old man. The
twins won't be in evidence. She'll
look better in evening dress. Then
as to the wine. There must be at
least dozen of champagne and box
of cigars for each of the six.
Drive her awayT' cried Lorrimer,
"Shell ruin mel Drive her away"
Hush, hush! There-she heard
you; she's kicking the door again.
Oh, well, you've spoiled it all; there's
no use trying to help some people.
"rll agree-I'll agree" gasped Lcr.
rimer exhaustedly, "Pll agree"