Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1910-03-24

Very we'll, Mr. Lyon" indicating the rotund figure
in the doorway, will make out the check. A hun.
dred, Lyon. you mind"
"T1e needn't trouble to-" The tall figure tina,
stepped forward quite hid my dimnutive self from
view "Not until l have had few words"
The stared They unprepared for this.
who you, an what business is this of yoursi"
demanded Murphy.
my card will explain both questions This lady
has retained me, and here her attorney"
The name, blocked in correct tyne, enough
quell the money ed OF the firm. Mr. Lyon
not courageous as his would suggest
but it takes good deal to ntimidate of the
Emerald Isle. Murphy assumed bravado that made
my heart sink.
You're wastin valuable time sir. made my offer
the lady, an made it lair and square That
horse is all right tell you an I'm poor, hard
workn man, an can't lose money for every womans
whim. Lyon, he'll write the check
mo, he won't"
I jumped at the stentorian tone. Lyon jumped,
too, and looked this way and that as for some
avenue of escape The time was evidently ripe for
rearing and tearing" The Honorable James might
have been terrible Turk. bearing down upon these
unlucky horse-traders with scmitar unsheathed. He
spendd-awful!
"No, he won't. Not till I've had my say. Now.
my fine fellows let tell you thing You'll
refund this womans money-one hundred and fifty
III prosecute you to the full extent of the law
both civil and criminal I'll see you landed in the
penitcntary for endangering life by selling run
away horse, III show you there's law in this land
that protects helpless and children. III
make example Of you thatll discourage others
from trying the game for many years to come.
There's too much of this business going on. It's
got to stop. I've had my eye your
establishment for long time and have been waiting
for ;.sl ans chance Now, sir" wheeling suddenly
on the trembling Lyon, "you may write that check
when you please but remember the hour
tioned-noon tomorrow. Miss Hicks pardon my
subjectng you to this scene. The lines OF the law
do not always fall in pleasant places. And with
out so much as glance toward the speeches. men,
he led me toward the waiting carriage.
Well" he asked, when about the corner.
did they scare?"
did they scare?" echoed and then we both fell
to laughing merrily.
"I'd like to their faces when they find out that
it all great bluff that originated in the brain
of clever little woman.
Something in his tone made glance quickly
upward. Then l looked away, and sat more quietly.
1t all came over me, drove through the
shady streets; how pleasant it would be to have
someone holding the rens with strong hand;
smiling down upon you and calling you clever
little woman" in that hali-tender way. Somehow,
the loneliness would be harder TO bear when
been like little glimpse OF paradise. The sun was
setting The shadows heightened Why must 1t
all end soon!
AT my white gateway turned Wont you
in?" said.
He held out his hand Not to-day little woman"
he said "but if you'll repeat the invitation for-say
tomorrow afternoon-surely your lawyer would
rejoice with you over your check hope you'll let
me come many afternoons, Nell. It's been more
to than you guess, this page out OF the
old life hope we will never close the book again.
My days are busy ones, and some of them are very
lonely Won't you help to make them less SOP
What could answer, but: why. yes. Jim, 1t would
make me very happy and very proud, for you my
little Adamless Eden is lonely too"
When he was gone I did very un-schoolnla anlikc
thing Catching up my skirts raced through my tiny
house OF the back door into the yard and quite
gardless of chons and lace. fairly flung myself upon
the archng neck of the magnificent Richard, CGur de
Lion, with laugh that was half sob, and sobbing
that was all sadness
"Oh Richard, Richard, you're bad scheming old
horse! You're hand in hoof with those trcssters
know You ambe along like the most peaceable OF
nags till you've womans confidence. then yor
go through your act and brighten her out OF year:
growth But love you, you dear old cheat, because
Richard il it weren't for you, this afternoon woult
never have happened, and then he wouldn't be coming
tomorrow Nes, it's all your doings, Richard, and IT
forget you-nevcr'
And | never have The morning, when MI
Murphy meek and conciliatory Murphy--he hat
dipped his coors most nglorously and stood upon m
doorstep check in hand with fully three hours to spar
led him away, watched tearully from my window
1 till there was onv CLEAN of yellow amid the trees $
passed Richard, Cuur dc Lion, out OF my life; but
never forgot him,
did get my horse through the kind office
of the Egg and Butter Man. Jim and bought her to
geher, and a nice bargain made. Dolys dant
n little creature chestnut with four white feet, and "
couldn't love her better though the slightest prove
cation she has been known to stumble and plough up I'll
earth for yards with her nose, be the road level
Il floor But there is strong hand at the reins and
!. am not lonely woman any longer.