The Press., 1905-01-25
Bis Negotiable
Hunt
Copyright. 1904. by Ohio 3. s.nsa
By otbe 3. 5ensa

OF IL, out our lrlenu JACK mas DeeI
adopted
Jack Hawarden's honest face cloud
ed.
Don't, Alecr' he protested.
Jack" said Alec solemnly, I'VE are
hidden not to hide our light under q
bushel. You're trying to hide yours
in pill box, and shall tell the girls
the whole story"
Il came to see Mrs. Gray" said Jack
rising. II will find her upstairs.
think"
AS he passed Bruce he whispered
fiercely, For heavens sake, Alec. keep
that thing to yourself!'
Alec smiled and nodded. but as soon
as Jack had disappeared he continued
seriously. It's n thing you ought to
know, girls. and I'm determined you
shall. Jack is too modest-an unusual
trait in an Englishman," he added
thoughtfully.
Forget that you're Scotch and let's
have the story" cried the girl who
wrote stories.
"Sure. I'll begin right in the middle
Our Jack is in love-
Laughing EXPLANATIONS of increduli-
ty from the listening girls.
He is-honest His soul is tuned
to sweet accord with peerless strains
off,
Never mind his SOUL" interrupted
Kathleen again. Tell us the stoiy."
This isn't wild Irish story, Miss
Clyde" he returned, with an air of
impotence. This is the story of IL
slow moving and particularly slow
speaking Englishman. He hasn't told
his love, because the young lady is
earning fine salary and is seemingly
happy in her work. and his position
was far from satisfactory. But the
first of the year he was promoted,
with generous increase. He was
screwing up his courage" (here Alec
paused and made Il strenuous imita-
ton of a person using screwdriver)
when he received Il message from
the immigration authorities that
changed all his plans
The willy story teller stopped as if
the narration were complete.
do go orr cried some one impa-
tiently. That surely isn't the end?"
What could the immigration au-
claimed another.
After much urging Alec continued:
when Jack went to the immigration
office he found Il clean, decent looking
old EnglishwOman, who fell upon his
neck and called him her dear nephew
and announced to the officers that he
was the living image of her dear dead
brother, Jock. Now, Jack hasn't a liv-
ing relative and never had an aunt,
and he tried to explain this to the old
lady and to the officers. But she would
have none of it. and the officers told
him very gruffiy that If he didn't in
tend to support his aunt to say so at
once, for in that case the woman would
have to be deported. She broke down
way, and-well, it ended in Jacks TAX
ing her away with him. He has a
room for her in the house where he's
boarding and is doing his best to make
her comfortable. He spends most of
his evenings with her, and the old
creature is as happy as can be-"
Jacks brickr' exclaimed Kath-
leen excitedly.
1T is certainly very noble of him.
said the editor warmly.
Cant he find the real nephew" ask
ed the artist
mo. He has visited every Hawarden
IN the city, and none has any knowl-
edge of the old lady. He has found
he record of the death of John Ha.
warden who came from England TWEEN.
y years ago and who died shortly after
MS arrival"
THAT was undoubtedly the real
nephew" said the girl with the violin.
IAN old person does not realize the
change there would be in a young
man. She would expect her nephew
to look as he did when he left Eng.
land, and almost any big blond
Toung Englishman would correspond
to the picture she has carried in hel
memory all these years"
What does Jack intend to doY' ask
ed Miss Fairlie.
Take care of her as long as she
lives. 1t can't be so very long, poor
soul, and she hasn't a cent. Jack says
has sent him an aunt and
be shall do his duty by her. She ad-
mitted a day or two ago that perhaps
she might not be his real aunt, but she
was his negotiable haunt OF course
the poor old lady hasn't the slightest
dea of the meaning of negotiable but
under the circumstances-the way she
mas transferred herself to Jack-you'll
admit it's funny. He's upstairs now
asking Mrs. Gray to go to see the old
ady."
He turned abruptly to the music
teacher. who had remained silent
What do you think of Jacks quixot-
SIN, Miss StuartI"
II think Mr.. Hawarden is doing
light" she saiG softly, "only he
ought She stopped, with flushed
heck and shining eyes, for Jack Ha-
warden stood in the doorway.
Alec" he cried reproachfully, turn
ng to his friend. you've toldr'
Jack" returned Bruce, spreading
'ut his hands tragically, II have-all
except about the pill box-and that I'm
yoing to tell now
Alec" protested Jack desperately,
you're really going too far-you've no
'ight"-
That's where your ideas of right
lifer from mime said Alec coolly. 81
AVE my instructions from the ne
,otiable haunt herself. and intend to
AIRY them out. You see," he con-
lnued, turning to the interested little
rOup. I've called frequently on the
Id lady, and she has taken a great |
ancy to me as the friend of her dear |
ack. Last night she gave me this |
title box and asked me to give it to the |
Dung lady of Jacks choice, with the |
equest that she make use Of it In |
furnishing a home"
He took from his vest pocket a tiny |