Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-07-26

and, if you like, you shall be minister OF
| finance. We practically know the moneys
there, don't We, Signorina?"
She nodded assent
IF we fail?" said l.
He drew a neat little revolver from his
pocket, placed it for a moment agains,
his ear, and repocketed it.
Most lucidly explained, Colonel" said
l. viii you give me half an hour to
think it over:"
Yes" he said. You'll excuse me il
| stay in the outer office? OF course
trust you, Martin, but in this sort OF
| thing"
All right, 1 see,'' said I. And you,
Signorina?"
III wait, too" she said.
They both rose and went out, and
heard them in conversation with Jones
l sat still, thinking hard. But scarcely
moment had passed, when | heard the
| door behind me open. 1t was the Sig
norma. She came in, stood behind my
| chair, and, leaning over. put her arms
round my neck. looked up, and saw her
face full of mischief.
~ hat about the rose, Jack?" she
asked.
Bewildered with delight, and believing
had won her, l said:
Your soldier till death, Signorina"
Bother death % said she, saucily. NO
body's going to die. We shall win, and
then-n'
And then" said I, eagerly, you'll
marry me, sweet?'
She quietly stopped own and kissed my
lips. Then, stroking my hair, she said:
You're a nice boy, Jack"
Christina, you won't marry him?"
Him."
McGregor," said l.
hate him !"
so do l." 1 answered promptly. And
if it's to win you, I'll upset a dozen presi-
dents"
Then you'll do it for me? like to
think you'll do it for me, and not for the
money"
Il don't mind the money coming in,'' 1
began.
"Mercenary wretch ~ she cried II
didn't kiss you, did p
NO." / replied. You said you would
in a minute, when l consented"
Very neat, Jack" she said. But she
went and opened the door and called to
McGregor, "Mr. Martin sees 10 objection
to the arrangement, and he will come to
dinner tonight, as you suggest, and talk
over the details. We're all going to make
our fortunes, Mr.. JONES'" she went on.
without waiting for any acceptance of her
implied invitation, land when we've made
ours, We'll think about you and Mrs.
Jones'"
/ heard Jones make some noise inco-
herently suggestive of qualification, for
he was as bad as any of us about the Sig
norma, and then l was left to my reflec-
lions. These were less somber than the
reader would, perhaps, anticipate True.
| was putting my head into a moose and
il the Presidents hands ever found their
way to the end of the rope, l fancied he
would pull it pretty tight But, again, /
was immensely in love, and equally in
debt. To young man, life without love
isn't worth much; to a man of any age,
in my opinion, life without money isn't
worth much; it becomes worth still less
when be is held to account for money he
ought to have. So | cheerfully entered
upon my biggest gamble, holding the stake
of life we'll 'risked. My pleasure in the
affair was only marred by the enforced
partnership of McGregor. There was no
help for this, but l lnew he wasn't much
fonder of me than l of him, and / found
myself gently medtating on the friction
likely to arise between the new President
and his minister of finance, in case our
plans succeeded. Still the Signorina hat
ed him, and by all signs she loved me- So
l lay back in my chair, and recalled my
charmer's presence by whistling the hymn
of liberty until it was time to go to lunch.