Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1911-02-22

would talk about the salad her last
cook had concoted, and Max told
about little town in Connecticut
where the restaurant keeper smokes a
corn-cob pipe while he cooks the most.
luscious fried CLANS in America. And
Aunt Selma related that in her family
they had a recipe Cor chicken smoth-
cred in cream. And then we slipped
the weak lemonade and nibbled at the
cheese.
"To change this gridiron martyr
DOM Dallas said finally, where's
HARRISON? Still looking for his
watch?"
Watch" Everybody said it in q
different tone.
Sure" he responded. "Says his
watch was taken last night from the
studio. Better get him down to take
a squint at the telephone. Likely he
can fix it,
Flanagan was beside me with the
cheese. And at that moment felt
Mr. Harbison's stolen watch slip out
OF my girdle, slide greasily across my
lap, and clatter to the floor. Flanni-
gan stopped, but luckily it had gone
under the table. To have had it
picked up, to have had to explain how
l got it, to see them try to ignore
my picture pasted in it-oh, it was
impossible! / put my foot over it.
Drop something's" Dallas asked
perfunctorily, rising. Flanagan was
still half kneeling.
"A fork" I said, as easily as
could, and the conversation went on.
But Flanagan knew, and I knew he
knew. He watched my every move
ment like hawk after that. standing
just behind my chair. I dropped my
+. useless napkin, to have it whirled up
before it reached the floor. I said to
Betty that my shoe buckle was loose,
and actually got the watch in my hand,
only to let it slip at the critical mo-
ment. Then they all got up and went
sadly back to the library, and Flanni-
gan and I faced each other.
Flanagan was not a handsome man
at any time, though up to then he had
at least looked amiable. But now as
| stood with my hand on the back of
my chair, his face grew suddenly
menacing. The silence was absolute:
I was the guiltiest wretch alive, and
opposite me the law lowered and
glowered and held the yellow remnant
of pineapple cheese! And in the 81
lence that wretched watch lay and
licked and licked and licked Then
Flanagan creaked over and closed the
door into the hall, came back, picked
Up the watch, and looked at it.
You're unlucky, I'm thinkin'," he
raid finally. you've got the nerve
all right, but you aiE* cute enough"
Il don't know ~rat you mean" I
quavered. A1ige me that watch to re-
turn to Nj. HARRISON
Not on your life" he retorted
easily. Il give it back myself, like I'm
going to give back the necklace, if you
act like a sensible little girl"
I could only choke.
its foolish, any way you look at
it," he persisted Here you are. lots
of friends, folks that think you're all
L
Of them that wouldn't lend you money
If you needed it so bad"
''Will you be still?" I said furious1y
"Mr. HARRISON left that watch-with
mean hour ago. Get him, and he
will tell you so himself"
"Of course he would Flanagan
conceded, looking at me with grudging
approval. "He wouldn't be what I
think he is, if he didn't lie up and
down for you" There were voices in
the hall. Flanagan came closer. can
hour ago, you say. And he told me
it was gone this morning! It's a
losing game, miss. I'll give you "a
hours and then-the necklace, If you
please, miss"
tTO BE CONTINUED.)