Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1911-07-07

"~a< Suu ~ iSl ftT aiOne, anu
you'll do it. too. if you know what's
best for you"
A suggestion Of menace in his man.
ner, unconnectcd with any hint of
physical correction. caught Mats at
tention. He frowned over it.
Just what do you mean by this
line of talll?" he inquired blandly,
stepping nearer.
"I'll tell you what mean" Roland
clinched both fists and thrust his chin
out pugnaciously. I'D been a-goin
steady with Josie Lockwood for more'n
a year before you come here and
thought that on account of her money
you could sneak in and cut me OUT"
WAS her money the reason you were
after her. Roly"
"What" The question brought Ro-
!:nd momentarily up in the wind.
faint none of your business IL IL
was!.' he snapped. recovering. But
here's what I'm gettu' at" He tapped
his breast pocket with 81 Sneer of bu-
collie triumph Just about ten months
ago." be continued meaningly. they
was q cashier skipped out of the Long
acre National bark in Moo York, and
they amt got no trace of him yet"
So this was why Roland had been
so asSiduous student of the back
files in The Citizen office!
"Inderd?"
Yes. indeed had my suspicious
al along. but didn't say nothin'. but
just today | got IL description Of him.
and the description just fits. Mr.. Nor
timer Henry"
"IEiist fits MIR Mortimer Henry? But
what Las that
Nh. Cont you try to seem too darn
innocent" Roland snarled. You can't
fool me-
\ light dnwneI upon Nat. and laugh.
ter iioGGc1 his being, although out.
wardIy be remained imperturba BILE
mer"!, mildly curious. But his fin
gers Wrrp itching.
$50 you think I'm the abscondina
cashier. ell. ll"!y?"
"Yuu kSp away from Josie r you'll
find ont what | think Mats placid
ity d,pcivrI i.uund. who drew the
wholly tr:u:."uGS conclusion that he
had ..;ic"r;,'rd in frightening his rival.
ard ruliSruii" nily dared few lengths
further in lis TRADE. why. If | was
10 20 10 Mr Lockwood and tell him
YOU re- Mortimer Henry, alias Nat Dun
can
THAT will DO" icily. THAT will be
all for this evening. thanks"
Are you soiE to quit chasin' after
JoSic:"
I'll begin chasing after you if you
don't clear out of here"
You better a&rHr"-
Just there the Storm burst Ten Sec
onds later Roland with confused
impression Of having been kicked by
mule. picked himself up out of the
dust in the middle Of the street and
stared stupidity back Ill the store.
Here's your hat. Roly." called Nat
Tossing him the hit. Nat turned con
temptuouSly.
He paused in the middle of the store
and felt of his nccktie. 1t proved to
be a little out of place. but otherwise
he was as immaculate as was his wont
| He reviewed the encounter and laugh
ed quietly.
There's no cure for a fool" he
unused.
The telephone bell reused him from
his rev. rie de went over to the in
strumtnt. sat down and put the re-
ceiver TO his ear.
"Helo.' he said "Oh, hello, Josie!
What's that? That's right, but I'm
not used to it yet, you know. Well.
III try again. Now-ready"
lie schooed his voice to a key of
heartrending sentiment. Hello, dar-
ling. How's that? Told your father?
Told him what? Oh. about the en-
gagement? Was he angry? Oh, he
wasn't. ell? What did he say? Wasn't
that nice of him.
Conscious Of slight noise in the
store. he looked up. A young woman
bad just entered. She paused just In
side the door, smiling at him little
timidiy
Without another word to his fancee
Nat put down the telephone and hook
ed up the receiver.
Betty" he cried wonderingly.