Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1902-11-28


DR.. Waters frowned.
Joe courted Florrie with such q rush
that in week they were engaged. Then
lie went right In to old Glib and had
1t out with him-told him all about
himself and his business, in and out,
up and down-but the substance Of it
was he wanted Florrie for his wife,
and would do whatever old Glib said
if only he could get her. And then the
old crocodile pretended to cry; said
Florrie was all he had to live for; he
hoped Joe wouldn't press him for an
answer then, nor, indeed, talk Of an
engagement until he was either dead
or himself again. You know how soft
hearted old Joe is, and how he hangs
on to his word once he passes It, OF
course he promised, never mistrusting
the old wretch was playing him. So
there you are! Florrie's worrying and
losing color because Joe only speaks
when they pass by, but don't come to
the house. Joes about desperate, and
old Glib is fattening and getting ten
years younger-on spite and crutches.
What the end is to be nobody can
guess"
"Can old Glib be shamming?" Merton
asked. DR.. Waters shook his head. II
thought so at first" he said. But If
he is it beats anything in the books.
There's certainly nothing wrong with
his legs, except that they're bit fab
by. It's equally as certain he can't
walk on them. l think sometimes he
has hypnotized himself. If 1t was just
deceit and what l call cussedness,
would have been able before this to
take him off his guard"
"Well l can at least go over and con-
dole with joe" Merton said, stepping
across the street. "And maybe sym
pathy will be worth an order" he
called back over his shoulder as he
struck the store steps.
Although it was late March, 1t was
still nipping cold. A red fire roared in
the base burner inside old GIBBS store
Old Glib himself sat close beside it, his
eye ranging all the miscellaneous mer-
chandise which crowded shelves and
floor. His three clerks had been on
the jump all morning, but toward noon
there came a lull. He was about to
send two of them off to dinner when
the door opened wide, and Merton
came through, with Joe Beenam in his
wake and DR.. Waters and Lew Bayne
marching solemnly behind. Jbes face
was white, his eyes brilliant, his figure
tense in every line. Indeed he looked
desperate, and his voice rang hard as
he said, stopping short three feet
away:
'Mr. Ezell, have come to ask you,
here in the presence of these witnesses,
to release me from my promise. You
know well how it was given-with
total misapprehension of the truth"
"You mean you want to take my
daughter, as well as my trade, and
leave me, cripple, to starve!' old Glib
roared.
Joe set his teeth. 'I mean nothing of
the sortv' he said. "Give me your
daughter. and our home shall be yours.
l will serve and care for you as would
for my own father
"You won't get the chance" old Glib
sneered. Joe half turned to his friends
and whispered sepulchrally: go away!
Quickw
"Going to murder me, hey" old Glib
shifted.
Joe stood very straight. The others
had skunk toward the door, with the
awed clerks huddling after. They
heard Joe shout:
"It is not murder shall give my
life to free Florrie from your intolera-
BILE tyranny"
Then they saw him fling wide the
stove door and dash into 1t what
seemed like several pounds Of gun
powder.
Old Glib saw it too. With one wild,
whooping yell he leaped from his chair,
regardless of crutches, of everything
but fight, rushed madly for the door,
darted through 1t and did not pause
until he came painting and trembling
to his own gate. AS he clung there the
others overlook him, as breathless as
himself betwixt running and laughing.
III. w ulclo INV po". IL
had thought three pounds of black sand
would be so effectual, l would have
had you well long ago." he said.
Merton dragged Joe forward. "If
you want to kick anybody, kick me-"
he said to old Glib. 81 put this lad"
patting Joe's shoulder, "up to playing
you that trick"
1. 1.,Sk IL
brains for it himself" old Glib snorted
But, though he had found his legs, he
was none the less old Glib. The fact
was proved by his letting Joe and
Florrie marry almost out Of hand and
presenting them with both his store
and his blessing.