Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1909-05-20

three. Els father was a fine man, and
his daughter Is Just as good a woman
as ever was made."
about Joe, nowf' Merton queried
DR. Waters frowned.
"Joe courted Florrie with such
rush that In a week they were en-
gagged. Then he went right in to old
Glib and had 1t out with him; told him
all about himself and his business, In
and out. up and down, but the sub
stance Of it was he wanted Florrie for
his wife and would do whatever old
Glib said if only he could get her. And
then the old crocodile pretended to
cry: said Florrie was all he had to live
for; he hoped Joe wouldn't press him
for an answer then, nor, indeed, talk
OF an ENLARGEMENT until he was either
dead or himself again. You know how
soft hearted old Joe IS and how he
hangs on TO his word once he passes
a. of course he promised, never mis-
trusting the old wretch was playing
him. SO there you are! Florrie's Wor-
rving and losing color because Joe
only speaks when they pass by, but
doesn't come to the house. Joes about
desperate. and old Glib is fattening and
getting ten years younger-on spite
and crutches. What the end is to be
nobody can guess
"Can old Glib be shamming?' Merton
asked. DR.. Waters shook his head.
thought so at first" he said. But II
he is It beats anything in the books.
There's certainly nothing wrong with
his legs, except that they're bit nab
by. It's equally as certain he can't
walk on them / think sometimes he
has hvpnotized himself. If it was just |
deceit and what l call cussedness, / !
would have been able before this to
take him of his guard"
"WeT, can at least go over and |
condole with joe" Merton said, step |
ping across the street. "And maybe |
sympathy will be worth an order" he |
called back over his shoulder as he |
struck the store steps.
Although it was late March it was
still nipping cold. A red fire roared in |
the base burner inside old GIBBS store. |
Old Glib himself sat close beside it, his
eve ranging all the miscellaneous mer-
chandise which crowded shelves and |
floor. His three clerks had been on
the jump all morning, but toward noon
there came a lull He was about to
send two Of them off to dinner when
the door opened wide and Merton
came through, with Joe Beenam in his
wake and Or. Waters and Lew Bayne
marching solemnly behind. Joe's face
was white, his eyes brilliant, his figure
tense in every line. Indeed, he looked
desperate, and his voice rang hard as
he said, stopping short three feet
away:
"Mr. Ezell, l have come to ask you,
here in the presence of these witnesses,
to release me from my promise. You
know we'll how it was given-with a
total misrepresentation of the truth"
you mean you want to take my
daughter as well as my trade and leave
me, a cripple, to starve| old Glib
roared.
Joe set his teeth. Il mean nothing !
of the sortr' he said "Give me your
daughter and our home shall be yours
l will serve and care for you as
would for my own father"
"You won't get the chance" old Glib
sneered.
Joe half turned to his friends and
whispered sepulchrally: go away!
Quickr'
Going to murder me, hey?" old Glib
shifted
Joe stood very straight. The others
had skunk toward the door, with the
awed clerks budding after. They
heard Joe shout:
1T is not murderl shall give my
life to free Florrie from your intolera-
bic tyranny
Then they saw him fling wide the
stove door and dash into lit what
seemed like several pounds of gun
powder
Old Glib saw it too With one wild.
whooping yell he leaped from his chair
regardless Of crutches, Of everything
but flight, rushed madly for the door.
darted through it and did not pause
until he came painting and trembling I
to his own gate. AS he chung there
the others overlook him. as GREATNESS
rs himself betwiXt running and laugh
ing.
DIT Waters made low bow. IF
had thought three pounds Of black
sand would be so enectual l would
have had you well long ago" he said.
Merton dragged Joe forward. 1T.
You want TO kick anybody. kick me-"
he said TO old Glib. II put this lad"
pattiug Joes shoulder cup to playing
you that trick"
"Humph / knew he didn't have the I
brains for it himself" old Glib snorted. /
But, though he had found his legs. he |
was none the less old Glib The fact |
was proved by his letting Joe and |