The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1906-05-11


"Shall l give you some salad? This is
not the first time 1 have engaged ~
investigations Of this sort, by some
hundreds. / may have struck you as
harmless old gentleman, with whom it
was safe to play tricks: but knew
at once that you were fitting your side
Of the table when we got that Yes
Why did you do it,"
Miss Everard ate her salad pensively
for a few moments. Then she smiled
at her accuser.
Yes" she said, you are quite right,
professor. / did work the old table
just at the end But you don't want
to give me away now, do you? had
my reasons"
"As it was quite clear from the out
set that you would not pretend to con-
duct the experiment in proper spirit"
replied the professor, with good humOr,
Il was quite ready for something Of
the sort from you. My only surprise is
TO learn that you had a reason worth
calling By that name. May one ask
what it WasW
"Why, no; not too closely, anyway"
answered the American, dallying with
a fork in some apparent confusion.
"But / will tell you this. I happened
TO have a sort of an idea what Mr..
Forester's question was, and l guessed
it would do him a heap of good to have
it answered with Yes His question
was about IA family matter that's
been troubling him some. 1 think it
was that, anyway"
"Well, your benevolent fraud seems
to have worked wonders observed the
professor, innocently regarding Mr..
Forester. HE looks more cheerful
than I've ever seen him, positively. L
must congratulate you"
The professor spoke these last words
with the faintest suggestion of en-
phasis, and smiled gently at his neigh
Dor. Miss Everard again colored lit
tie and then looked him bravely in the
face
Perhaps you may later on, profess
sor," she said.
Come. I'm walking your way, For
ester" said Professor Denman, as they
put on their coats. "We'll go together.
Only have some consideration for the
trembling limbs of an old man, my
boy DON'T run me off my legs. You
SEEM" he added, as they descended the
steps Of the house, "as if you walked
on air
$50 I DO" exclaimed Mr.. Forester,
barring his head to the night breeze.
"Tm the happiest man in London, by
love! Professor, you shall be the first
10 wish me Joy! I am going to marry
Alice Eyerard. She accepted me in the
drawing room half an hour ago. What |
DO you say to that, sir?'
q am overwhelmed" replied the pro-
fessor, with the hint of dryness in his
ione my dear Forester, I wish you
joy. I never met the lady before this
evening, but I can tell you this: She
Is resourceful ana she has pluck"
81 should think she hadn' cried Mr..
Forester with enthusiasm. "But [
say professor, we owe this evenings
happiness to you, | must tell you. 1t !
all came Of your iable-trning"
"Yes?' said the professor, interroga-
lively.
THE question I put in my mind"
pursued Mr.. Forester, twas whether, 1
had any chance with Alice. 1 had
hardly dared to hope it; there We're at
least a dozen better men than l am
in The running, ana I simply couldn't
summon up the cheek to ask her until
tonight. But when your jolly old table
thumped out Yes l took my courage
IN both hands and did it. 1 shall
never" he added solemnly, "laugh at
that sort Of thing again. It's dashed
odd and uncanny and I don't under
stand it. Bet it answered my question,
and it was right"
Yes" mused the professor, at was.
Speaking as an investigator, I may say
that a remarkably strong influence was
at work to-night-yery strong indeed"
Il. Clerihew, in London Daily News.