The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1909-01-05
GOrdOn'S Last
Chance.
By TAYLOR WHITE.
Copyrighted, 1903. by Associated
Literary Press.


manded Maud Tolliver suddenly as
her small brother came into the room.
do I walk on my feetT7 demanded
Jimmie in surprise. Pipe your lay,
angel face. I'll get you somehow,
even If your speaks are all to the
middle Throw it off your chest"
IT'S this way" explained Maud.
"You know Mr.. GordonT
1--WE seen him once or twice." ad-
mitted Jimmie, with a grin. Gordon
was a regular visitor at the Tolliver
home.
Papa wants me to marry him." ex-
planned Maud Hes so strict and
proper that hate him. thought that
If !, were to talk slang and act up per-
haps he would leave me in peace. He
hates slangy girl. He said so last
night"
Jimmie grinned appreciatively. He
had no great liking for the eminentIy
staid and correct Gordon. He hated
men whose suits always looked as
though it was the first time they had
been worn.
Els own preference was for Barry
Spaulding, who occasionally offered
him cigarette and who talked to
him precisely as though he was a
grownup.
Gordon never seemed to see him,
never laughed and joked, and Jimmie
entered into the conspiracy with his
whole heart after being assured that
Maud would never disclose the source
| Of her education In slang.
Before the week was out Gordon
looked troubled. He was very much
In love with Maud after his own fash
ion. There was no want of real affec-
tion, but Gordon was no gallant wooer.
He had been accepted by the family,
and in his quiet, patient fashion he
was laying siege to Maud's heart
He had fancied he had been making
Roadway until she developed a trick of
interlarding her speech with slang ex-
pressions.
At first he was shocked, but as Maud
acquired proficiency and grew more
and more slangy Gordon withdrew
from his campaign Though he loved
the girl as much as ever, he assured
himself that a wife who used slang
J was utterly impossible.
In secret Maud gloated over the fact
but bore herself demurely when heI
father sharply questioned her concern
ing her treatment of Gordon, for the
latter's visits had fallen of, and
, though Gordon had pleaded business
as an excuse, Mr.. Tolliver had an ides
that there was something else thai
: might explain the lovers sudden lacE
! of interest.
Then fate took a hand, and so it hap
pened that Jimmie Tolliver CROSSING
{ the avenue, slipped on the muddy paw
/ ing and fell directly In front of a rap
E idly advancing automobile.
3 There was a cry of horror from thu
e spectators, but one man sprang for
; ward and with an easy movement
grasped the boys arm and carried hin
to safety.
For a moment Jimmie was too dazet
to comprehend; then he slowly cam
to realize that Gordon, unmoved a
ever, stood beside him, answering tn
\ questions of the crowd, but refusing +
: give his name.
"All right, old MANI" he asked as b
saw that Jimmie was pulling himsel
together Suppose we move on. Thi
n crowd is a little too eager"
He signaled a passing taxicab an
directed the driver to go to a tailor
where Jimmie's muddied garment
might be made presentable. The rus
Of cold air drove the last of the col
webs from Jimmies brain, and. gain
admiringly at Gordon, he decided tha
Maud was wrong in her estimate G
! the man. There was fire under th
ice. red blood beneath the waxenl,
immobile expression, and Jimmie
Is heart warmed to his rescuer.
Say, 3D." he demanded suddenl,
''are you still dead nuts on Maud?"
Il esteem your sister very highly
admitted Gordon.
You're all right" declared Jimm
admiringly IF you want to win ca.
ne your port ear over this way and NAL
= a noise like a listen"
- The noise Of a listener was cont
y ued long after the visit to the tailor
IL was concluded. Gordon's face was
at expressionless as ever, but there W
ry twinkle in his eye.
ID. Some evenings later Maud, comm
NJ downstairs, reached the lower hall ju
~ as Gordon was admitted by the butte
Jimmie had been cautioned under pa
Sc of losing his promised reward to 81
RS nothing of his rescue, so it was mere
to that tiresome Kenneth Gordon" who
sh Maud greeted with, perfunctory CT
or diality.
81 butted in to tear off a piece
=, talk with the boss bloomer wearer
he inT' asked Gordon
ne IF you mean my father beg
ur Maud icily.
be That's the guy interrupted g,
lat don "Will you tell the delegate fri
In the wax works to ask him to grea
ey his heels and slide down here?''
nc 81 viii go myself" offered Ma
"a nervously. Gordon was as coldIy C
" rect in appearance as ever, but D