The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1906-11-01
A Great Gun
----------------
BY GRETCHEN GRAYDON
Copyright, 1906, by Homer Sprague
By GRETCHEN GRAYDoN

"Oh, yes. Billy has it again, and
this time very bad Mrs. Wheat said,
nodding across at her son. 'Eut you
won't wonder at it when YOU hear the
new sweethearts name-Slrah- Susan
Miss Sarah-Susan Gunn."
Billy turned all colors. Conner, his
clnm, laughed explosively and said as
soon as he could speak: Billy, / cali
that positively immoral. You had bet
ter be counting twins. How ever will
You fix it? You may propose to Susan
and lie rejected or accepted by Sally.
Think. too, of being always mere
gunper'S nate
shut up.' Billy INTERCEPTED, his face
scarlet, but grinning in spite of him
self. "Wait till you've seen her at
least. Mother makes fun OF her names
because she can't find fault With her
any way else And Sue isn't to blame.
She didn't name herself or choose the
fam she had to be born in
hut you do choose the family
YOU Larry into" Mrs. Wheat cooed
She was less than twenty years older
than Silly and still a very pretty and
very lively woman
Comors thought her stunning. So
did his Uncle Tim. Harking back sud
denly in his mind to something year
old, he whistled aloud and asked alb
ruptly: Say. Nanny Wheat, is it the
same way with Tim? Did You turn
him down because you wouldn't lie
Mrs OToole?'
1t was mammy's turn TO blush The
blush made her younger and prettier
than ever "Who says l had the
chance to be Mrs. O'Toole?" she began,
but stopped us both the youngsters
g.owled dcrision and unhelief.
Tim was the worst ever" Connors
said decidedly; couldn't cat or sleep;
used to hang out of the windows all
prom. week Just to stare up the street
toward where YOU We're staying; in
the greatest tidset. too, to get his place
fixed up new. And then. after he'd
walked about With you one teeny half
hour. he Quit-cut out everything eX-
cept my allowance and scooted across
the pond With just half Il steamer kit.
Don't say YOU don't know why, mann
my! 1t Won't Go any good-not with
US two We know He wented-be-
cause you scented him. Poor old Tim.
You have IL heap on your conscience.
nanny! How could you do it:'
.Iln,,'f ,-o,, ,,nInreto,d o,,.,- don
nanny said, still blushing. ut was
all on Your account | couldn't bear to
supplant YOU" Her eyes laughed. but
Larry Connors saw under the laughter
If that was your game you went
blind,'' he said. Don't you see. Tim is
SO near the years of indiscretion-they
begin at forty-five-he'll sure fail vic
tim somehow somewhere You ought
to have taken him, nanny. Then, in
deed my future would have been Sc
cure
Where is he? Have you heard from
him lately?' nanny asked, her eyes
suddenly downcast
Larry shook his head HE was tear
ing around toward the midnight sun
thought maybe the icebergs would re-
mind him of you.'' he said but that
was six months back-long enough for
him to be buried or married"
He always talked Of Ireland
nanny began. signing family.
But he didn't care for it unless you
We're there % see it with him." Larry
interrupted. II think Ill cable him to
come back right away. Maybe he will
be ready to sacrifice himself for your
whim-carry off the adorable Gum and
so save Billy"
Il had rather-almost-sh had Billy"
nanny said inconsequently. Tim
is Il dear, but-.Hon. Mrs. Timothy
OToole" Dear me. could cry when
l think of it. Why wasn't he born
something else?'
Smith, Jones, Brown or Robinson "
Larry commented.
Mrs. Wheat got up and walked quick
ly away
Billy went to the window. Larry
staring after the vanishing lady. was
amazed to see her head droop and her
DOSDlI SNcll. NlcitltN Sic WIS Oh llt
point of sobbing. He followed her soft
~ and said as she flung herself on q
couch: Tell me. nanny. You're play
ing a game. What is it,
How did you guess:H nanny said
speaking Very low. With her finger OF
her lip. you mustn't ever let Billy
guess it," she said HE doesn't know
about our money. 1t came TO me from,
my uncle, the dearest straitlaceG
soul. He thought second marriages sin
ful-spiritual bigamy, he called them
SO | kept my fortune. which will bt
Billy's fortune. on condition of remain
ing always a widow Now you sec
why / had to send Tim away"
GAS if he cared for your money
And he'd never let Billy lose" Larry
said eXultantly. But he bent his heaJ
reverently to kiss mammy's hand a;
he added: But. oh. you are a brick
You made up all this about the name
to blind that blessed boy?'
81 had to-tllcre-thera wasn't any
thing else. Tim was such a gentle
p,nn MIC (W,nat s..:tJ cp,ot n /.