The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-12-21

deep gloom. And treating with tn Company must. of course. be conduct cd most cautiously and secretly. If people ret wind of it," said Crun den- I'm done. If it's known what I've been driven into the arms of tho Com. pany--there's an end to my credit" "A dangerous move.' said DowAng "A very dangerous move" Our best chance.' said Jack. .T feel or later" @
 Alone with Bowling in the road out side the cottage. Jack gave his views even more firmly
 T told you what I thought last autumn. Your scheme went to pot the moment these bounders started. Then was the time to take stock and remodel the scheme on other lines;-give up half of 1t. and get out as fast as one could. That's all there is left to do now Get out as fast as one can--save all one can"
 T hope you don't blame me person. ally" said Mir. Bowling.
 "Oh. no" said Jack: 'But don't want you to stand in the way now--if we can cut short our losses.r
 Certainly not" said MT. Bowling. T assure you it gives me pain to see our friend troubled and harassed. only wish I was a rich man and could bolster him up-but I am nots - . I have myself been much harassed of late. Mir. vincent--not money matters. Are you going to the yard? May I stroll with you 90 far?"
 And MT, Bowling unburdened himself of his private and domestic trouble. He spoke of the censoriousness of the world. the false positions Into which mistaken kindness often pushes one. and of the unpleasantness which the drawing of nasty conclusions now and then causes in the home circle.
 Great unpleasantnessi' said Mir. Bowling, after a cough and pause. Tt is about my little neighbor-er- Miss Barter. She has written me a silly note-addressed to Mir. Bowling! MT. Dowling! One would suppose she might know W. Bowling. Esquire, was the proper mode of address. However, her customers being all ladies, she would not often be writing to our sex-and is. therefore. ignorant of the usual superscription of gentlemen. But the ignorant mistake caused our maid to deliver the note-to Mrs. Dow ling"
 "Ah! How awkwardw
 "One thing leads to another" said MT. Bowling dolefully And there has been further unpleasantness about Miss Barter--and sum of fifty pounds."s
 Has there! on, hang it-how did that come out?''
 "An inadvertence. It is. as I said. not matter of the money. The sum is so trifiing But. Mir. Vincent scarcely like to ask it--but if you were married man you would under stand. Would you mind my pretend ing that you gave her fifty poundsY'
 ''Pretendingl Hang 1t all. did give her fifty pounds"
 "You did? To set her up in busi- ness? I gave her fifty"
 DO you mean you gave her fifty. too? Oh. I say-what an underhan nd little puss she is--really."
 ''She is very troublesome."' said Mir. Bowling. But had no idea she bled you also. It only occurred to me to put you forward--to-er-shie my self-in the home circle. You know how ridiculously people connect one's name with any one. Your name, MT. the stupid talk of, the town. That's why 1t occurred to me."s
 ''Yes. but don't want people to con- meet my name. don't want my fifty talked about any more than you do your fifty"
 Not generally" said Mir. Bowling. with eagerness. Only at home-your fifty would shield my fifty If 1t were to come 10 the point of saving real unplea santness, would you mind my putting your fifty forward in the place of mine? Only at home. Would you mind-Brothef VincentT'
 don't much like it--er-Brother Dow ling; but-yes-work it how you please" stss .4+a
 fContinued Tcu,orrov.,