Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1904-11-08
The AVenger.

were open, and through them
- came the grateful GOODNESS OF
the salt breeze and the less welcome
clatter of the streets below.
In one corner, at table, under the
great stays head, Thomas Weldon lis
tened with a smile more or less cyni-
cal to the eager voice Of young Fenton
Tisdale on the other side of the Ia
BILE.
Presently Tisdale's almost pleading
tones ceased. Weldon coolly lighted
cigar and took several whiffs before
he essayed a reply.
"Fenton," he said, looking at the
other sharply, ARE you sure this is not
purely personal enmity|
TisGale regarded his interlocutor
steadily
I'm admit, Tommy" he said, Il
was one of the first to succumb, ana
may as we'll confess 1 was pretty hard
hit: but the enOrmity of the thing
didn't strike me until Jonesy started
for the Lord knows where in South
America; and Ted Brine remembered
-rather suddenly-some relatives OF
his in Alaska, where he might ma
haven of oblivion.
"The worst, though, was when
,snow-good old George Snow-got his
.coup-de-grace. He sat around for two
DAYS Then all at once he went-no
one knows where.
..Thiuk of what she's done to the
stag-corner coterie,' Tommy. Think
~ dinner this winter and no Ted to
tell A story; with no Jonesy to find
fauIt. with no George Snow to mix a
salad. She's scattered them like chaf
before the wind, there's only you and
left"
AS Weldon listened the smile broad
ened.
"And you suggest" he said slowly
between puffs, that so up there and
oyenge your wrongs-encounter this
Circe and sail away with a laugh, as
A. were? Fenton, have you stopped to
think the laugh might be with her in
stead of at her? It's 100 to 1 shot
that fail"
mo. Tommy" Tisdale said, I've
weighed the chances. and l think you
are hound to win. In the first place,
Tho woman isn't born who could make
Won look at her twice. That is draw
inc card in your favor, especially with
such women as she Is; then there's
vour money. az |. finally, that devil
may-care way of yours, which you can
inf ON and off like cloak.
..Wbat with these and your good
,oolxs-no. I'm not flattering you. I'm
ouite frank-you should make an easy
conquest of ii"
Weldon shook his head.
ut all sounds very plausible. but it's
not honorable ii seems to me-" he OBJ
served.
"Honorabler' Tisdale burst out hot
lv. WAS 1t honorable of her to send
the others OF our clique packing from
Alaska TO South America? Was it
honorable to encourage poor, ineoffen-
sive old George and then send him TO
the woods. and leave use saladless all
winter? l tell you. Tommy. its your
bounden duty TO so. There's no way
out of it for you"
when Thomas Weldon reached the
hotel on the shores of the lake late
that August eevplng he was tired and
discounted by hard days travel.
The object of his coming seemed to
him at that moment fantiStic and alb
surd in the extreme. For moment he
was tempted to take the stage back
10 the station and and catch the night
train to town.
Then he remembered George snow 5
face. and squared his shoulders. About
the others he cared not Il whit. JoneSy
and Ted Brine wore their hearts on
their sleeves. while Feliton TiSdale had
n new tale of love and sorrow as often
as the seasons changed
C;eorre snow was a different propo-
sition. III he had offered a woman the
best there was in him and shs had
laughed at the offer. she deserved to
be punished-yes, even brutaly. by
low intrigue.
The next day Weldon met her and
the gc.me began in earnest Thereaf'
ter. TO all appearances. he was her
slave.
The gossips. who congregated every
afternoon on the hotel veranda to maze
doilies and regulate the affairs or the
place. began TO wag their heads sage
" whenever Weldon and Helen Law.
ton appeared together. which was fire.
Quently-
And before two weeks had passed