Putnam patriot., 1908-08-07
CHAPTER XI.

III thN / strange reunion turned. For A a second or more they faced the crimson faced. dumfounded Perry without word. Here was an element in the affair on which neither Phelan fiSi. Cynthia had counted when giving Thompson their promise not to reveal his identity. They gradually realized this. and il left even the ready witted Phelan speeches..
 Perry himself was first to break the spell
 Well" he observed. with an assump- ton of airy seorn that was meant to be annihilating. you all seem quite happy. Don't mind me. I'm sorry to but in on this cute little love fest but I left q fiancee here Perhaps one of yon can explain what's happened to her since I't-
 eOh. Perry" exclaimed Cynthia. don't be sillyl I'll tell you all about il some time. It iss-
 "Some timer sqnealed Perry. rage battering down his attempt at sarcasm "Some time. Maybe it might be just as we'll if you did cendeseend to ex plain Here you promise to marry me, and ten minutes later find you in q eateh=as-cafeh-ean hng with This ugly little shrimp and Phelan looking on as happy as if he'd eaten canary, And then you've got the gall to tell me you'l explain some time,
 He glared nt Cynthia i'll all the maj esiy of outraged devotion. only 10 sur prise on that young lady's face look that indicated violent struggle with the desire To laugh
 This is funny all right. guess not he snapped Cynthia. you've maulet! and smashed q loving heart. and I'll make a hit with myself by forgiying you. but as for you. wheeling about and thrustlng his furious face to with in three inches of Thompson's immo- bile countenanee-.'a for you, I'm go ing te do all sorts of things to you the moment Miss Garrison will have the Kindness to shassay out Of fhe room Your sorrowfui relatives will have all manner of fun sorting you out when I've finished with you. Steal my sweetheart. would you. not ten min utes after "a
 There" interposed rhelan. showing his powerful hulk good naturedly be tween the two younger men and Ink ing his arln in Perry's Now you got quite bunch of hot words of your chest. an you'll be in better shape te hear sense Amt you just little bit asha aned?''
 -Ashaned7- sputtered Perry. -whoi IT We'll that
 -Yes. you. Noungster. and if yon hol Ter like that in comp'ny I'll sure h< forced to wind UP by spankin' you Now. stand off there-no. over there where you can see Miss Garrison-an listen to me So, Now. first of all did you happen 10 l,e in love with this young lady
 -lt's none of your measiy business but did v
 Why'd you ask her te hitch up witt you for keepsf"
 "Beeause loved her ands-
 "Because you had q lot of faith Tn her. too heyf persisted the alderman
 "Yes, and d nice way she's
 "pretty girl. too unused Pbelan as if to himself Tn my young days If could a got little beauty Ike that 10 sign articles with me To "a thought I was the original Lucky Jim. Td'-
 "So did IT. interrupted Perry hotiy "I''-
 ..ta fft.tf frv m n same abstract monologue:
 An if l could "a seen from ber eyes like any dough head could see from Miss Garrison'sl that she had Il heart as big as watermelon an as true as a Bible text an as warm AS T happy mans hearth hre-weli. if I'd seen all that an got wise to the gor- geous news that that same heart was just ehock -a-block full of love for my own ornery. cheap skate self I'd "a dopped down on both knees an sent up bunch Of prayers to be allowed 10 10 on dreamin' an never. never wake up.'
 Phelan paused. This time Perry did not break in, and the half audible mon oloxue continued:
 "l'd have had the sense to know that q giri with eyes like those couldn't be | firf an couldn't double cross 1he man she loved if her life depended on her doin' if- I'd "a licked any guy that said she could. an If I'd seen her kiss fin. another man I'd "a punched myself on the jaw an called myself liar That's what Jimmy Phelan Of the Eighth would "a done. An
 say" broke in Perry in curionsiy sutsiued voice. These eyes Of mine do funny things sometimes. I'll bet x3 they played a joke on me just now And even if they didn't don't believe 'em. Cynthia. I'm dead stnck on you' You're all right even If you did happen to be acting triie eccentric few minutes ago. Ton can explain or not. as 700 Ike. If you'H just say you love me that's ace high with yours truly
 He slipped au arm about he. saiss