The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-03-23
Mr.. THOMPk kINS
By Kilbourne Cowles

the fact of our love, which he pretended
to ignore. But l feared that if asked
him TO yield to our wishes it might
simply result in his reiterating and in
creasing the severity of his refusal. So
L sat silent and unhappy while father
restlessly paced the floor of the study,
every once in a while stopping to ex-
AT last we heard the puff-puff OF the
automobile. and we both ran out on
the veranda
The locksmith jumped fairly out of
the runabout and behind him came Har-
old The porch light fell full on his
face, or ! should have thought L was
mistaken, so surprised was /.
"Well, ] captured our man." said
the locksmith, genially.
"That s good answered father, and
then, suddenly recognizing Harold, said,
"What are you doing here, I'd like TO
know7 Didn't / make myself under
stood when [ intimated that your pres
ence at Hilltop was not desired7''
Father was very angry, and trem-
bled lest Harold should resent his tone
and words and say something that would
enrage him still further But I need
not have worried. Harold had no desire
to provoke father He laughed little
in his pleasant way,
".Why, Mr.. Grantley, you sent for
me-" he said, most respectfully, cor /
should not, Of course, have taken the
liberty of coming
The locksmith was looking on very
much mystifed. when I exclaimed. "Oh,
father. Mr.. Thompkins must be. the in
ventor Of your lockl"
"Of course he is, miss said the
locksmith, "and Wen have the safe
open now in jiffy."
"Yes, admitted Harold, "I did get
up that little lock-
"The deuce, You did, growled fa.
| ther, and then, realizing that be was al
| the mercy Of Harold, he said, more amia
bly,, "Well, as you probably know / an
extremely anxious to get into my safe
Please name your price and go to worl
at once
~ think there is no need of telling
you, Mr.. Grantley, that / don t desire
any money in payment for the little
service / am about TO perform. [ wisf
something far more precious than al
the money in the world. but whether yo,
see fit TO give me that or not, [ an
very happy to help you out of your pres
ent difficulties ~
Dear old daddy looked anything bu
pleased at this magnanimity He hat
always liked Harold, and he found i
most displeasing TO have him behav'
in a manner that he could only admire
| dnu no Siicbl1N 1Cu LuC way lnlO Lu'
study. In very short time Harold ha,
deftly picked his own lock, and ia
ther g precious papers were lying in hi
hands.
''I am greatly indebted to you, Nh
Thompkins, greatly indebted, and I wisl
that you would permit me to recon-
pense you in the only way that | can,
said father, lingering his check book
f'I couldn' t think of it for a mo
| y1cpt - TJara1l fGJnJoa5
am only too happy to have the oppoI
tunity of repaying in n small measure
the many kindnesses [ have receives
"Well, Just as you say.n Fathe
offered his hand, which Harold graspe
warmly, smiling at me so confdentl
that ] felt happier than I had sine
he and / were In the grape"arbor til
day before.
"That young EugGshman conducte
himself like a gentleman. If he does bt
long to the middle Glass; remarked fl
ther as Harold and the locksmith hui
lied away 10 catch the last train
town. eff he hadn t made such a foe
of himself over you, Sue, [ could hay
become quite attached to him.
Father, - j said, 81 shall never maj
never marry anyone but Harold
''Is that your ultimatum, Suef''
eyes. father" l answered He kisse
me fondly, but said nothing. [ kne1
that be longcd to say, "Marry him an
be happy. dear child" But it is yer
difficult for father to dismount from
high horse, and then, too, ne was think
ing that l might be lady of title som
day. Harold s name was not mentione
again before fathers departure earl
the next morning.
During the first weeks of his absenc
l found myself wiehing that Harol
would come out to Hilltop, but muc
as I longed to see him, in my heart
was glad that he did not come. for
hated the thought OF anything clande
stine. Those were lonely days, indeed
| did not ask q friend to stay with me
as father had suggested, for [ felt tina
| would be poor company for anyone j
my restless, unhappy state. Then, toe
| very much preferred being alone wit
my thoughts. Father did not write 70
me 10 JOIN him Immediately, as I ha
expected he would, / had mo word fror
Harold. but an occasional cluster of pin
and white roses was mute messag
that told me [ was still in his mind.
Then. much to my surprise a mont
after father had left, Harold presente
himself at Hilltop. He found me in III
grape .arbor, where ] was in the habi
of spending every afternoon. When
looked up and saw him smiling dow
upon me. ] began TO cry.
"Why these tears, Sue' l though
YOU would be glad TO see me, and no,
you weep He sat down beside M
; and took my hand in his.
'I am glad" l sobbed. THAT
what makes me cry. But you shouldn
have come added. with touch O
severity, which Harold didn' resen
for my head was on his shoulder. an
: was weeping contentedly.
81 had to come, dear, for I'M goin
, to England. and couldnf 90 withou
seeing YOU
"Going to England"
5 ''Yes. | am called home by impor
/ ant business. There is much to te
you and explain. Sue,
2 "Is it your invention that is takin
e YOU home?'' I asked. 81 shall be S
: glad if you have succeeded with it, -
I "No, it is not the invention thu
. takes me to England. Indeed, | thin
:. America is much the better place
: launch it. and that is what brought m
here in the first place. ] shal II alway
:. be thankful that / came. An adde
c pressure OF his hand told me why b