Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1903-09-23


tory. The Southern Land and Timber
company. and Wilson in particular, had
disappointed Miller and Alan by their
reticence In regard to the progress Of
the railroad scheme. AT every meeting
with Wilson they found him either
really or pretendedly Indifferent about
the matter. Ills concern, he told them.
was busy In other quarters, and he
really did not know what they would
finally do about IT.
HE can't pull the wool over my
eyes, Miller told his friend after one
of these interviews. HE simply thinks
he can freeze you out by holding of
till you have to raise money!
Il" He may have inquired into my
fathers financial condition. suggested
Alan, with a long face.
Most likely" replied the lawyer.
"And discovered exactly where we
stand.
Perhaps. but we must not believe
that till we know it. I'm going to try
to checkmate him. don't know how,
but I'll think of something He feels
that he has the upper hand now, but
I'll interest him some of these days"
Alan's love affair had also been drag
cling. He had had numerous assur-
ances of Dolly's constancy, but her
eyes had been opened to the serious
ness of offending Colonel Barclay. She
now knew that her marriage against
his will would cause her immediate
disinheritance, and she WINS too sensi-
BILE a girl to want to go to Alan with
out dollar and with the doors of her
believed in Alan's future She some
how had more faith In the railroad
than any other interested person. She
knew, too, that she was now more
closely watched than formerly. She
had, with firm finality, refused Frank
Hfllhouse's offer of marriage, and that
had not helped her case In the eyes of
her exasperated parent. Her mother
occupied neutral ground. She had a
vague liking for Alan Bishop and, If
the whole truth must be told, was
rather enjoying the situation.
On Christmas eve Adele was expect
ed home from Atlanta, and Alan had
come in town to meet her. AS 1t hap
pened, an accident delayed her train
SO that it would-not reach barley un-
til 10 o'clock at night instead of 6 in
the evening, SO there was nothing for
her brother to do but arrange for their
staying that night at the Johnston
House. Somewhat to Alan's surprise,
who had never discovered the close
friendship and constant correspond
ence existing between Miller and his
sister, the former announced that he
was going to spend the night at the
hotel and drive out to the farm with
them the next morning. OF course it
was agreeable, Alan reflected, but 1t
was a strange thing for Miller to pro-
pose,
From the long veranda Of the hotel
after supper that evening the two
friends witnessed the crude display Of
holiday fireworks in the street below.
Half a dozen big bonfires made Of dry
goods boxes, kerosene and tar barrels
and refuse of all kinds were blazing
along the main street Directly oppo-
site the hotel the only confectionery
and toy store In the place was crowded
to oyerfowing by eager customers,
and in front of 1t the purchasers of
fireworks We're letting them OFF for the
benefit of the bystanders. Firecrack-
EerE were exploded by the package. and
every now and then clerk in some
store would come to the front door and
fire off gun or revolver,
All this noise and illumination was
at Its height when Adele's train drew
up in the chr she'd The bonfires near
ut hand made It as light as day, and
she had no trouble recognizing the two
friends
.'Oh. what an awful racket" she ex-
claimed as she released herself from
Alan's embrace and gave her hand to
Miller.
Its In your honor" Miller laughed
as, to Aims vast establishment, he held
on to her hand longer than seemed
right. I'VE ought to have had the
brass band out"
"Oh, I'm so glad to get home" said
Adele, laying her hand on Miller's ex-
tended arm. Then she released 1t to
give Aim her trunk checks. Get them,
bpotheg.. she said. "Mr. Miller will
take care OF me. ! suppose you are not
going to drive homo tonight"
Not IL you are tired" said Miller in
tone Alan had never heard his friend
use to any woman, nor had he ever
seen such an expression on Miller's
face as lay there while the lawyers
eyes were feasting themselves on the
girls beauty.
Alan hurried away after the trunks
and a porter. He was almost blind
with a rage that was new to him. Was
Miller deliberately beginning a fiirta-
ton with Adele at a moments notice?
And had she been so spoiled by the
fast set of Atlanta during her stay
there that she would allow it-even IL
Miller was friend of the family? He
found negro porter near the heap Of
luggage that had been hurled from the
baggage car and ordered his sisters
trunks taken to the hotel. Then he fol-
lowed the couple moodily up to the no
tel paslor. lie was destined to undergo
another shock, for on entering that
room he surprised Miller and Adele on
sofa behind the big squase piano
with their heads susDiciously near to
i ! 4 ~ a. q - = K