Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1909-04-01
Through a
WOrnan'S Heart.
BY Sidney Warwick.
BY Sidney Warwick.

certed the embarrassed comedian still
more. He felt beads Of perspiration be-
ginning to break out On his brow; he
saw the old look of suspicion return
ing to the landlords face.
mo; how stupid of mel" Joe FUN
bled with a match. What was he to
say? He glanced in desperation across
at Monty-no hope in that quarter;
besides, he had told Monty to leave
it to him. At the time he had vaguely
thought of lightly playing on the land
lords sense of humOr of showing him
the funny side of the situation. Where
was the funny side? Joe was unable
himself to see it now. He stood dumb.
Eyes, nine and tenpence," said the
landlord, shade more insistently.
I'm glad you think it moderate May
be you'd like to settle it now, and then
I can leave you to your CIGARS
"The fact is, landlordd," began Girls
son, making a desperate plunge, look
ing embarrassed and unhappy-the
publican's face was changing ominous-
ly-"er-perhaps, Monty, you would
prefer to explain the circumstances to
our worthy host?" 1t was base treach-
cry, and Monty shot a reprOachful
glance at his friend but he remained
dumb.
Joe plunged desperately into the
breach.
TIT will amuse you frightfully,
landlord, when you learn what assets
we've been; and l sha'n't resent it if
you laugh at us heartily-upon my
soul l sha'n't, dear boy!" And, with
rather badly-affected joviality, Joe
clapped the landlord on the shoulder.
The man drew himself from the IA
miliarity of Joe's hand with a surly
gesture. He did not seem to enter
into the spirit of it at all. His face,
so far from showing any incipient
symptoms of amusement, was growing
ominously suspicious.
'But-well it's like this" went on
Joe, getting more and more embar-
raised. 'Tve just discovered-most
in another coat pocket-cant under
stand such stupid forgetfulness-"
Il see,' said the man, slowly; "only
as cheques don't happen to be no use
to me from strangers, it doesn't sig
nifty. l only deal in cash; and the
cash l want from you and your friend
is nine and tenpence. And, what's
more, want it at once" The empha-
sis he put on the last word made Mon
ty almost start out of his boots.
Come, l don't want any larks. You've
had a good dinner, and now l want
my money for it,
His manner was distinctly threaten
ing as he looked from one to the 9TH
er. Monty realized that Joe, for all his
fair promises, was a broken reed. was
indeed paralyzed by a sort of stage
fright. He jerked out desperately:
quite natural, landlord-and every
penny of the debt shall be paid thrice
fold, only just for the moment quite
impossible-no money with us. Shall
consider it strictly a debt of honor
and will remit by postal order or reg
istered letter as preferred at earliest
possible date!" he cried, speaking with
staccato breathlessness. Meanwhile,
as security l will leave this costly fur
coat, which I value at twenty-five"
Monty got no farther. A heavy
hand suddenly fell on the collar of
each, shaking the two unhappy PLAYERS
to their foundations.
ooh, SO you're swindlers, are YOU.
coming here with your stories about
motor cars and kilograms, and getting
the best in the house on false pre-
fences? Don't want to pay, don't your"
the publican roared We'll see about
that! It's pay or jail!''
"But-but, guv'nor, this is mere fool
ishness," cried Joe, protestingly, with
what little breath was left in him
after this rough handling. "Why lose
our tempers? Why not talk it over
quietly? We're going. to pay-some
time we always meant to. I'll keep
my temper, if you'll only keep yours,
plunging wildly in his efforts to ex-
tricate himself. Come, that's fair
enough"
Arguments seemed wasted on the
publican Joe suggestion fell on deaf
ears. He shouted out to his wife. and
as she came running in told her to
fetch in George" from the stables.
With a desperate effort Joe wrenched
himself free from the grasp of the
man, who was finding two of them
rather a handful. The publican re-
Taxed his grip on Monty to make
dash after his escaped prisoner. and
the next moment the two unhappy
actors were flying hatless out of the
door, through the bar, into the street.
pursued not only by the publican, but
by his wife and George" who had
been summoned from the stables.
The chase was as short as it was
inglorious. Joe fell over the scraper
and George" promptly sat on him;
a village loafer made a grab at Mon
tvs fur coat as the heavy man rushed
by; there was a rending southland
Monty was still running, breathlessly,
but losing ground at every stride.
1t was upon this interesting scene
that Jack Lathom came as he turned
into the village. At the last moment
he had changed his plans about going
to the station, and had followed his
two casual acquaintances of the road
to Westham, guessing that he would
overtake them in that village, where
they would probably stop for rest and