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

Enere wasn't any reply TO That, SO
! took the watch and placed it on the
library table between us. The effect
was all that I had hoped. He stared
at it for an instant, then at me, with
hts hand outstretched for it, stopped.
Where did you find it?" he asked.
I couldn't understand his expression.
He looked embarrassed, but not at all
afraid.
IT think you know, Mr. Harbison,"
retorted
81 wish 1 did. You opened it?"
Yes
We stood looking at each other
across the table. 1t was his glance
that wavered.
About the picture-of you,'' he
said at last. "You see, down there
in South America, a fellow hasn't
much to do evenings, and "a chum
Of mine and I've were awfully down
on what we called the plutocrats, the
the leisure classes. And when that
picture of yours came in the paper,
we had-we had an argument. He
said" He stopped.
what did he say?"
well, he said it was the picture Of
an empty-faced society girl"
"Oh!" I exclaimed.
IL maintained there were posi-
bilities in the face" Me put both
hands on the table, and, bending for
ward, looked down at me. We'll, |
was a fool, I admit. l said your eyes
were kind and candid, in spite Of that
naughty mouth. You see, I said I was
a fool"
Il think you are exceedingly rude"
I managed finally. eff you want to
know where l found your watch, it
was down in the coal cellar And if
you admit you are an idiot, I am not.
IL know all about Bella's bracelet
and the board on the roof, and-oh, if
you would only leave-Anne's neck
lace-on the coal, or somewhere-and
get away"
My voice got beyond me then, and
dropped into chair and covered my
face. I could feel him staring at the
back of my head.
well, I'll be-" something or other,
he said finally, and then turned on his
heel and went out. By the time l got
my eyes dry Eyes, was crying; l al
ways do when I am angry | heard
Jim coming downstairs, and 1 tucked
the watch out of sight. Would any
one have foreseen the trouble that
watch would make!
Jim was sulky. He dropped into a
chair and stretched out his legs,
looking gloomily at nothing. Then
he got up and ambled into his den,
closing the door behind him without
having spoken word. It was more
than human nature could stand.
When l went into the den he was
stretched on the davenport with his
face buried in the cushion. HIT looked
absolutely wilted, and every line Of
him was dropping.
Go on out, Kit" he said, in
smothered voice. BE a good girl and
don't follow me around"
"You are shameless!" I gasped.
Follow you! Whea you are hung
around my neck like alike "a"
Milestone was what I wanted to say,
but couldn't think OF it.
He turned over and looked up from
suffering cherub.
I'm done for, Kit" he groaned.
bella went up to the studio after
we left, and investigated that corner"
What did she find? The necklace?"
asked eagerly. He was too wretched
to notice this.
mo, that picture of you that did
last winter. She is crazy-she says
she is going upstairs and sit in Ia
kahiro's room and take smallpox and
die"
"Fiddlesticks!" I said rudely, and
somebody hammered on the door and
opened it.
Pardon me for disturbing you"
Bella said, in her best dear-me-Pm-
glad-Iknocked manner. "But-FIan-
nigan says the dinner has not come"
Good Lord" Jim exclaimed. II
forgot to order the COMPOUNDED din
ner!"
1t was eight o'clock by that time
land as it took an hour at least after
telephoning the order, everybody
looked blank when they heard. The
entire family, except Mr.. HARRISON,
who had not appeared again, escorted
Jim to the telephone and hung around
hungrily, suggesting new dishes every
minute. And then-he couldn't raise
Central. It was Is minutes before we
gave up, and stood staring at one an
other despairingly.
call out of window and get one
Of those internal reporters to do some
thing useful for once" Max suggested.
But he was Indignantly hushed. We
would have starved first. Jim was
peering into the transmitter and
knocking the receiver against his
hand, like a watch that had stopped.
But nothing happened. FTannigan re-
ported box of breakfast food, two
lemons and pineapple cheese, a
combination that didn't seem to lend
itself to anything.