The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1899-11-24

them"
"All right" was the reply in Jacks
bass tones. "Maybe it's not the proper
thing. but we might as well risk it,"
And we heard the door close as our Wis
itors entered and took possession Of our
apartment.
1t was too ridiculous. I'd have had
to laugh if our lives had been at stake,
and in spite of the imminent danger of
discovery in this notifying plight /
stuffed all of a sofa pillow that would
go into my mouth and shook till my
sides ached.
1t vas the expression on Margery's
face that recalled me to myself at last.
CHANGING to glance up from behind a
corner of the cushion.I was trying to
swallow, | caught her listening with
strained attention to something that
was being said on the other side of the
screen. with every bit of color gone ont
of her face and a look in her eyes I'd
never seen there before.
Yes. Jack was saying, ''if they
don't hurry, I'll have to go without
saying goodby. My train leaves at Z,
and I've lots to do"
Ned lighted his pipe before he re-
piled. Dear Ned, | believe he would
smoke in heaven if Peter didn't take
the precaution to search him before he
let him in.
81 guess it'll surprise them some,"
he remarked at last. Especially when
they hear you're never coming back"
nudged Margery violently at this,
but she didn't look at me-the minx-
and then Jack went on dolefully:
"Oh, they won't care very much.
I'm afraid
"Of course they will" protested Ned,
putting away, "And / will anyway.
Must you go, old boyf"
"Well, it's this way, Ned: AS long
as / hoped that Margery might care for
me l wouldn't give in to my uncle's
proposition that l should marry his
ward, Miss Wilson, and become his
heir, but now that I'm satisfied l have
no chance with the girl I love, / might
as we'll marry the other one and please
the old man. I suppose. I'll be miser-
able anyway And Jack heaved such
a sigh that the big paper screen waved
about till it threatened to come down
upon our heads.
| gave a Mortified look at Margery,
but her hair had fallen over her face,
and | could only see one little hand
clinched fercely as if she had a pain
somewhere. reached dumbly over and
tried to take the little hand, but she
shook me off, so I fell to listening again.
"Well, it's not so bad as it might
be" Ned was saying encouragingly.
81 hear Miss Wilson is a beauty"
"She is, said Jack with enthusiasm.
"And then think of the money, my
boy! Most any fellow would envy you
81 suppose So" said Jack drearily.
but | must go. Times up. Will you
say goodby to the girls for me. Ned?
Tell Margery''-
Here Jack choked. and l was so busy
catching a large, warm tear that was
chasing toward the end of my nose that
I forgot to look at Margery, when, to
my amazement, a little figure in a gray
bathrobe, with a cloud of coppery hair
flying after it, bounded right over me,
and, as the screen toppled over with Il
crash, I heard Margery's voice cry:
ooh, no, Jack, you mustn't gol II
love you, Jackl'
l had a confused vision of Jack seiz-
ing the little figure in his arms, and
then | started to run. l don't look so
pretty with my hair wet as Margery
does. But somehow when l got to the
door | met Ned, and as l looked up
%wrathfully something I saw in his eye
made me stop short.
"Ned Tucker" l exclaimed, ''you
knew we were there all the time!'
"Well, he said, not a whit ashamed,
''if you will leave the ventilating shaft
OPEN
"You wretch!" l cried, and then
something else struck me. "And the
uncle" gasped, land the beautiful
Miss Wilson,
"Are about as real" said Master
Ned, Gas a rainbow. Edgar Temple
Field in Chicago Herald.