Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1904-12-21


hanging it in a prominent place, too"
agreed Mr.. Murray, who could not un-
derstand his own extraordinary liking
for a 50-cent picture by an unknown.
Whereupon without more adieu they
| put it up.
During the course of the next few
| days Mr.. Theodore E. Butler became
known to their circle of friends. In
| deed he was introduced that very
| evening to Mr.. and Mrs. ingalls,, and
| proceeded to take up his skeleton-in-
! the-closet career.
Very good thing" was Mr.. Ingalls,
verdict, after studying the shady
nynphs. who is it by? Butler, you
| say? Oh, he is a Californian, isn't
| he?"
Mr.. Murray looked startled.
Il believe"-he began, hesitating-
~, for, being by nature and habit a
| truthful man, he was at his wits end
for nimble reasons. But Mrs. Murray
came to his rescue in true wifely
fashion.
No she said, "he is not a Cali
fOrnian, but he has spent some time
on the coast. Indeed, he is out there
now, he sent this On to US from Los
Angeles"
1T wasn't as carefully packed as it
might have been, commented Mr.. In
gals, putting a finger on a dent in
one corner of the frame
PITY about that" replied Mr.. Muir
ray, who had recovered his self-pos-
session. but l think we can touch it
up Bit
Their next friend and critic ex-
claimed joyfully,
"Theo Butler? I didn't know you
knew him! But you know so many
clever people, and never let on about
it. l met him myself in Paris last
spring. Impressionist? Oh, yes, his
things always are; but he gets more
beauty into his tones than most of that
school,"
By this time Mr.. and Mrs. Murray
began to feel vitality interested in the
personality of Theodore E. Butler.
One Sunday not long after a couple of
artists dropped in to dinner, for though
Mr. Murray was not of the fraternity
he was popular with many of the
younger set
BY JOve!" said one of them as he
prowled around the library, that
impressionist bit is something new,
isn't it? Looks like Buffers work
Oh-it is? How jolly to fird it here.
l always like his stuff. Why, Butler
and l were old chums out in Frisco;
rOomed next each other for awhile;
but I've lost track of him, late years.
He's been pounding out his existence
in Paris and l mine in New York.
Reilly exclaimed Mrs Murray,
enchanted Her fibs had been repeated
so many times now that they slipped
quite smoothly off her tongue, and in
all seriousness her interest in Theo-
dore E. Butler was genuine. Her hus-
bands was as great, but was accom-
panied by feeling of intense irrita-
ton.
Who in the thunder is he anyway"
he demanded, darkly, when they were
alone. Mrs. Murray laughed hysteri-
cally.
May merciful Providence protect
lis from ever knowing him better"
she said.
'Merciful Providence doesn't hurt
itself protecting people who lie like
troopers!" he roared.
Shall we take it down. she asked.
Then everybody would want to
know what had become of it, No; we
have got to face the music-quite one
Of us. iun't he!'
This was the state of affairs at
Christmas time when Katherine came
home for holidays
"A new treasure, Daddy?" she
asked, nodding her head toward the
uymphs.
"Ah. my dear, yes; it's a picture"
he informed her, firm in the resolve
that he would not lie again.
L could have guessed as much"
she laughed; but where did you get
II, and who is it by, and what is it
supposed to be. anyway"
ut was given to your father by a
friend of his, a young art student"
began Mrs. Murray.
"Henrietta,'' cried her husband
sternly. 'let us stop this nonsense.
~ NatHSIInc, at IedSI, let us be truth
full. That picture is, as your mother
says, signed by man, an art student,
presumably young ahem-Theodore
E. Butler. But
Theodore E. Butler!" calculated
Katherine, turning a vivid crimson
and casting down her eyes
Il fail to understand the meaning
Of this said Mr.. Murray, majestic
ally, glad of moments reprieve.
THE meaning. of what?" murmured
Katherine. again turning toward the
picture. Her mother walked across
the room, took her by both shoulders
and shook her gently.
Tell us Immediately what you
know about him." she commanded.
conscious that she was on the track OF
the mystery
The girl was half frightened by her
mothers veh emence. She felt dis
tlnctly te2rfui--hut rallied her u-itc