The Somerset reporter., 1907-06-27
AN
UNPROTESTED
CHECK.
BY Edith NJ. Doone.
1907, by NJ. NJ. Cunningham.

When all the legal formalities We're
ended and the fortune that had been
Robert Maxweli's was finally handed
over to his beloved daughter Eliza
BETH" that young laGy regarded her
new found responsibilities in dismay
and promptly proceeded to shift them
to other and broader shoulders. James
Gordon had been her fathers secretary
and his shoulders were presumably bet
ter fitted for the burden.
But you cannot hand me over your
fortune to carry, as if it were book
or a parcel" said Gordon distractedly.
though ir.eXpressib : cAeered by this
profession of confidence. You do not
understand
"Oh, yes, | do returned Miss Max
well serenely. Il understand perfectly.
l shall appoint you
chairman of the finance committee. "
suggested Gordon.
Yes" said Miss Maxwell. Il will
be the COMMITTEES"
"Well. | shall do my best" said Cor
don, laughing. But the committee
will please remember that it has GER
tain active duties"
II don't see why it should have any"
she retorted "Practically, you have
already managed the estate for the
past five years. You We're Invaluable
to father"
"Perhaps | was" Gordon returned,
though | don't remember it, and he
never mentioned it. However | appre-
ciate your confidence and will serve
you faithfully; but Cgravely) what if
should make mistakes? Is 1t wise to
intrust the handling of 50 much money
to one MANI"
81 should think it might depend n
good deal upon the man." said Miss
Maxwell softly.
So Gordon fitted up an office in n
downtown skyscraper where he sat at
a table strewn with papers and pink
tapped legal looking documents, tigur-
ing and writing late into the nights.
and Miss Maxwell having arranged her
financial affairs to her liking, annexed
a meek, elderly relative as chaperon
and turned her attention to other diff
flcultles.
Her first chlefest and most lmmedi-
ate difficulty was her cousin Tom Cor
nish
at isn't that do not like you" she
panstakingly explained for the hun
dredth time. you know do. AS
sister, now, p
ooh, drop IT,! retorted Tom inele-
gantly.
"And anyhow l shall never marry"
$50 it's all up?'
II think have been telling you that
for the past five minutes" said Miss
Maxwell lmpatiently.
you know what meant all along"
he said sullenly. Some one has been
giving you a resume of my vices"
"Your vices are nothing to me nor
your virtues either II YOU The
words died on her lips. For the first
time In all their lives his arm closed
around her, Convulsiyely he held her
to him, bending his head till his lips
met her soft brown hair.
Betty, 1--we got to-tell you-Tm
in no end of trouble. need you'll
need your help-I"-
BY a single vehement effort Betty re-
leased herself.
How dare you? How dare you"
she ragged, then came to a dead stop.
Her eyes grew wide with dismay and
fixed upon the doorway at the end OF
the room.
"Mr. Gordon" she said In a con
strained voice.
1t was Gordon indeed. He was quite
at the other end of the long room, but
not so far that the late tableau could
be unseen by him, and the distress Of
her face was intensified in his as be
bowed hurriedly and the yellow por-
there fell behind him.
Betty blushed furiously. A person
looking on and not understanding
might, of course-she turned suddenly
to Tom, who stood staring at her I'M
easily.
"Now GO" she cried desperately.
"Gow
Meanwhile Gordon had found his hat
and the sidewalk and walked blindly
down the avenue, forgetting the papers
he had gone for-forgettng everything
except girls flushed dlsmayed face.
1t was scandalous that she should be
allowed to drift into complications with
that fellow. 1t was all very well that
Cornish was her cousin, but what OF
the fellows character-a gambler, a
fortune hunter? Yet what could he
do? All day he had looked forward to
seeing Betty. Well, he had seen her.
And she must have been in earnest.
She wasn't the kind of girl to let
mainland as memory gripped him be
plunged gloomily on.
1t was several days later that Miss