Troy weekly news. (Troy, Idaho) 1897-1933, 1907-05-24
Castron faced the front again. Er.

eTYiHlHS SeeUeu u De dSdluSl LII.
81 congratulate you upon your fore
thought in bribing George" he said
bitterly. "You seem determined to al
low me no opportunity to explain"
There is no possible explanation"
she said decidedly. 1.-The least yqI
can do is to keep silent for the f~v
minutes longer that you are to be hsr,
1ened with my company"
every we'll" he said shortly. IF yrn
are determined, l suppose there is ne
use in trying to prove you wrong"
She averted her head, and as thsy
bowled along through the leafy avenue
Castron, all unconscious of the tumult
IN her mind wherein pride and affec
tton waged war, sat i'll silent anger re-
viewing the events of the past twenty
four hours.
At Christmas Edith had given him a
locket lnclosing her picture. Yester-
| day she had opened the case and had
| found therein another picture and q
| lock of hair that in no 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
from time to time, while the horses
hoofs beating on the smooth road
seemed TO Castron to count the lost
seconds.
/ At last. in desperation, he felt in his
pocket. There was Il 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 ana for an instant held
It behind his back; then, certain that
George had seen it. he released his
hold and let it futter to the road.
Quickly the boy slipped off the tail
board and scrambled in the dust.
Castron turned to Ethel.
1--WE are almost in town." he said.
Il insist upon being given the right to
explain"
"Hushr' she warned. George will
hear"
mot unless he has exceptional ears"
he smiled George is about half
r.ile back"
vince herself, then turned to him
again.
IL suppose you bought him Off" she
said scornfully. you told me you
We're aware of Ills price l suppose
shall have TO listen since 1 cannot
drive and stop up my ears too"
III drive" he volunteered, "if you
want to stop up your ears
what is it you wish to sayY" she
demanded, ignoring his generous offer.
'Just this" he said eagerly. THAT
IS not my locket at ALL
''As though did not recognize it,
she scon'ed.
at fooled me-" he argued. you see.
| haven't looked inside since I've been
UP here because I've had the original
of the picture to look at. l never no
ticed that l picked up Frank Comp
toms locket by mistake You were so
proud of the uniqueness 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 ii
came from the same store.
when l picked up the chain I got
Franks ana never found it out until
you opened it. That girl in this locket
is Franks fiancee."
For a 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 pentently.
THAT you are the dearest little wo-
man in the world he said promptly
Her hand stole into his.
"I'n never be so foolish again." she
said. I'm so glad you persisted
dear
ME, too" he agreed.
couple of days later Castron was
smiling over a scrawly letter that had
Just come. 1t read:
Dear Fred-Heres yer IS. It amt fair
to take IL, because didn't drop off that
wagon because of the five. but because
want you to be my brother-in-law some
day I heard what sis said | guess she
! wanted me to- too, because she gave me
the gun and cried over me. It's funny to
have a girl cry over you. Did you ever
have one cry over you? Come up soon.
Yer brother-in-law TO be, GEORGE.
Castron smiled reminiscently, recall
ing the last ride to town.