The Wenatchee daily world. [volume] (Wenatchee, Wash.) 1905-1971, 1906-12-20
erything seemed to be against him.

low me no opportunity to explain
"There is no possible explanation
she said decidedly. .'rhe least you
can do is to keep silent for the .ew
minutes langer that you are to be bar.
dened with my company
"yerv WELL be said shartl- ~ ycr
are determined. | saDno*e thor IS ne
use n irving to pr6ye y3u w-raac"
| San As'crted ner head en,t rs
bowled along through tha. ic.fy avenw
Castron, al unconscious Of u" talnu!i
ia her mind, wherein pa.se ana aztec
| ten wagad war. sat in silent aagaG re
viewing the events of tie past twenty
! four hours.
It Christmas Edith had given HIN q
locket inclosing her picture Yester
day she had opened the ease and had
focnd therein another picture and a
! lock of hair t.lat in 10 way suggested
her own chestnut cUrls
Before he could explain she had run
| into the house, and no amount of en-
treaty could induce her to listen to his
| explanation.
For two miles no one spoke. George
wriggled uneasily on the back seat
| froEI time to time, while the horses
boots beating on the smooth road
seemed to Castron to count the lost
| seconds.
At last, in desperation. he felt in his
pocket There was bill he had slip
ped into his change pocket to avoid
the trouble of taking out his pocket
! book in the station. Gently he with
drew the bill and for an instant held
it behind his back; then, certain that
! George had seen it, he released his
hold and let it fiutter to the road.
Quickly the boy slipped off the tail
board and scrambled in the dust.
Castron turned to Ethel.
"We are almost in town" he said.
81 insist upon being given the right to
explain
Hush" she warned. George will
heer"~
Not unless he has exceptional ears"
he smiled. George is about half
mile back"
Ethel half turned in her seat to con-
vince herself, then turned to him
again.
Il suppose you bought him off, she
said scornfully You told me you
were aware of his price. / suppose |
shall have to listen since l cannot
drive and stop up my ears too"
.I'n drive" he volunteered, "if you
| want RI sim nm yoJlT. eo RS -
What is it you wish to say?' she
demanded. ignoring lis generous offer.
.'.Tilst this" be said eagerly. THAT
! is not my locket at ALL
j "As though I did not recognize itf'
she .coffed
| 1T fooled me-, he argued. You see,
haven't looked inside since I've been
no here because I've had the original
of tie picture TO look at. l never no
| ticed that | picked mp Frank Comp
| tons Iocliet by mistake. You We're so
proud of the unilueness of the locket
! that hated to tell YOU that my room
mate had one just like it. From the
similarity of the engraving l fancy il
| came from the same store
when | picked up the chain | got
/ Franks and never found it out until
/ you opened it. That girl in this loeket
! is Franks fiancee."
| For moment the horses trotted
along in silence broken only by their
/ hoof beats: then she turned to him
| with moist eyes.
What can you think of me?" she
cried penitently.
THAT you are the dearest little wo-
! man in the world" he said promptly.
/ Her hand stole into his.
'I'll never be so foolish again. she
said. I'm so glad you persisted,
! dear"
'eMe, too" he agreed
| A couple of days later Castron was
smiling over scrawly letter that had
! just come. 1t read:
| Dear Fred-Here's yer S. 1t amt fair
! to take it. because I didn't drop off that
wagon because of the five. but because
want you TO be my brother-in-law some
! day / heard what sfs said. I guess she
! wanted me to, too. because she gave me
! the gun and cried over me. It's funny to
| have girl cry over you. Did you ever
| have one cry over you? Come up soon.
| Yer brother-in-law to be, GEORGE.
Castron smiled rcminiscently, recall
| ing the last ride to town.
/