Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1909-01-01

HIS BIG BOD WITH INTERNAL
LAUGHTER
comes from. You must give me your
word that never, under any possible
~provocation, will you betray this bar
gain. You will pay me that money
the $500 separate-and you will never
by word or deed let Mr.. Barrett know"
"All right" said Mr.. H. 81 will meet
your terms"
"And you promise never, never to
disclose this secret no matter what
~happensT"
my word and honor" he replied.
When Barrett returned, Mr.. II. was
no longer a inancier; he was a gentle
patron of the arts.
upon my SOUL" he cried, miss
Donovan's work amazes me. She is
worthy of liberal encouragement. She
has a great future" He turned to Mar
ella, at the same time indicating pic
lures with a pointing finger. II think
I'll take this one and that one
And he proceeded to discuss the can
vases with great delicacy and appre-
citation until Barrett could have clasp
ed him to his bosom. Not a word
meanwhile was said of Orton's note.
but Barrett's sense of gratitude was
working hard within him. The issue
could not be In doubt.
"As a personal favor to you, sir" he
said when the matter had at last been
~cleverly introduced, 81 will read that
note If | can. But 1t must be distinctly
understood that Miss Donovan has
nothing to do with this transaction"
II certainly do" said Marcia.
For the neXt half hour Mr.. II. and
Marcia were busy with the pictures,
while Barrett wrestled with the Orion
enigma, of which he finally presented
u written translation to Mr.. H., who
read as follows:
Dear II. Il am off for Washington,
strictly On the quiet. If necessary. com
municate with me through Hubbard.
Meanwhile ! want you to be sure to set
tie Dave Barrett's claim against me.
Don't let him sue. The matter must not
be made public. He does not know why,
but 1t must not at this time, | have just
been informed hat he intends to sue i'm
mediately. His claim is 1 0,000. Make
him take less if you can; if not, pay in
full. See that his silence is secured, and
at once. I'll be back Friday.
PHILIP ORION.
Mr.. II. read this, and his big body
shook with internal laughter. 1t was
the sort of joke that he could appreci-
ate. He had agreed to pay the amount
of Barrett's claim to Marcia for the
privilege of finding out that he would
have to pay it over again to Barrett
upon Orton's account. He was pledged
to Marcia not to tell Barrett, and he
was pledged to Barrett not to disclose
the contents of the note to Marcia.
And in a matter of this kind Mr.. II.
is a man of his word.
The five pictures were sent to his
house, and Marcia had a check for
$500, which she displayed to Barrett,
and another for $4,000, which she
kept to herself. 1t had been her inten-
ton to take this money to Orion and
persuade him to make a pretended
settlement with Barrett, %whereupon
the young man could buy his partner
ship and all would be lovely, with the
wedding bells %tinkling.
What was her amazement, there
fore, when upon Thursday afternoon
Barrett appeared in her studio flushed
with triumph. The orion claim had
been settled in full. The partnership
had been purchased. The shackles of
poverty being broken, he FASTENED to
put on those of matrimony. Would
Marcia name the day?
In the natural confusion of the inter
view the facts Of the case came out.
1t was agreed that the $4,000 must
be returned to Mr.. H. But Mr.. H.
would not take it. He insisted that it
Should be regarded as a wedding gift
and that his heartiest congratulations
ind best wishes went with 1t.