Evening times-Republican., 1911-02-02


tunity BY asking. "whsre's Lize?"
And this embarrassed her. for the rea.
son that she did not care to 60 into the
cause Of her mothers temporary alb.
sence.
| Percelving her nervousness, Neill Bal.
lard raised loud outcry over mistake
| she made In returning change, and
this % confused and angered her that
her eyes misted with tears. and she
toner. His delight In her discontinue.
his words. his grin, became unendura.
BILE, and in a flush Of rage and despair
she sprang to her feet and left them
to make triumphant exit. II got her
ratified" he roared as he went out.
"She'll remember me-"
The diners were all smiling, and
Gregg took malicious satisfaction in
her defeat. She had held herself
haughtily apart from him. and he was
glad to see her humbled.
Leaving her place behind the coun-
ter. she walked through the room with
| uplifted head and burning eyes. her
heart filed with bitterness and fire.
She hated the whole town, the whole
state at the moment. Were these ''the
chivalrous short grass Knights she had
! heard 50 much about-these the large
souled western founders Of empire? ~
| At the moment she was in. the belief
| that all the heroes Of her childhood
had been Of the stamp Of Neiil Ballard
In the hall her pride. her sense Of
duty, came back to her. and she halted
! her fleeing feet. II will not be beaten"
she declared, and her lips straighten-
! ed. Il will not let these dreadful
creatures make fool of me In that
way"
Thereupon she turned and went
back, pale now. but resolved to prove
herself the mistress Of the situation.
Fortunately Redfleld had returned.
ard his serene presence helped her to
recover complete control Of herself.
She remained coldly blank to every
compliment. and by this. means she
subdued them
The DOCTOR. appearing suddenly in
the door, beckoned to her. and. leav.
Ing her place. she crossed to where he
stood. Your mother needs YOU" he
said curtly. 60 to her and keep her
quiet for an hour or two if YOU can"
what is the matter, doctor:"
II can't tell you precisely. but yol,
must get her on diet and keep her
there. I will write out some lists for
you after my luncheon"
| Lee found her mother sitting in such
detection as she had never known her
to display though she fred up sufIi-
| ciently to say: THAT cussed little
thimblerigGer has been throwing a
great big scare into me. He says I've
got to get outdoors. live on raw meat
and weak tea and walk five miles
day. That's what he says she add
ed in renewed astonishment at the
mans audacity. who's at the cash?''
"Mr Redfeld." replied Lee. III so
light back
''No, you won't I'm no dead horse
4et-Y She struggled to her feet. and
started for the cash register. II won't
let no little Omaha doughie like that
put me out of business"
| Despite all warnings she walked out
Into the dining room and took her ac-
customed seat with set and stern face,
while her daughter went to the table
where the doctor sat and explained
her inability to manage her mother.
That's your problem he replied
coolly. Then rapidly. succinctly and
clearly he went over the case and laid
out course of treatment. Out of it
all Lee deduced that her mother was
| very i'll indeed. though not in danger
Of sudden death.
"She's on the chute" said Fessen-
! ten. land everything depends upon her
| own action whether she takes the
plunge this winter or twenty years
from now. She's strong woman. or
has been. but she has presumed upon
her strength. She used to live out of
doors. she tells me. during all her ear
~ life. and now. shut in by these
she Is killing herself Get her out If
you can and cut out stimu!ants."
| AS he rose and approached the coun-
ter Lie showed a couple Of gold pieces
across the board. THAT wipes you
of my map" she grimly declared. Il
hope you enjoyed your ride"
"It's up to you. madam" he replied.
pocketing the gold. Good day."
"Fll be down again in day or
two" called Redfeld.
The machine began to pur and spit
and the wheels to spin. and Lee Vir-
ginia was left to face her mothers OBJ
stinate resistance alone She felt sud
denly very desolate. very weak and
very poor. what II mother should
die" she asked herself.
Gregg was standing before the coun-
ter talking with Lie rs Lee returned.
and he said. with broad smile. I've
just been saying Id take this hotel
OF your mothers hands provided you
went with It,"
In the mouths Of some men these
words would have been harmless
enough, but coming from the tongue
of one whose life could only be OBJ
scurely hinted at the Jest was an IN
suit The girl shuddered with repul-
sion, and Lie spoke out:
"Now, see here. Bullfrog. I'm dead
ON the hoof AID all that. but neither
Won nor any other citizen like you can