Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-03-02
Copyright 1910, BY WincheIl Smith
and LOUIS Joseph Vance


firmly. ~ you really want her M
will follow the rules l give you it's a
rinch."
Honest, Mr. DuncsnT'
Il %guaraptee ii, Tracey. Listen to
ne" And Duncan e~xpounded Kels
.ogg's rules at length, adapting them
10 Tracey's circumstances, Of course.
and throughout maintained the grav-
ity of q craven image. You try and
you'll see Il Pm not right he conclud-
ed.
Gosh. I blieve you are." Tracey
cried admiringly. I'm just goin' to
see how it works"
DO, IL you'd favor me, Tracey"
"Say, Mist-Nat, you've treated me
somethin' immense"
"Your mistake, Tracey. I haven't
created anybody since I've been here.
I'm on the wagon"
Il mean just now, when we was
talkin' bout me an Angie. Td-Td
like to help you the same way If I
could
You would?" Duncan eyed the boy
ap~prehensively, wondering what was
coming.
Yes. indeedy. would. An p'rbaps
/ kin tell you somethin' that will"
Speak, I beg"
"You-er-you're tryin' to court Josie
Lockwood. amt your
OH said Nat. 80 that was r..
That's a secret, Tracey he averred.
"All right. Only if You are she's
%your'n."
Just how do you figure that out?'
"Oh, l kin tell. She was in here to.
night with Roland
"Toniaht?"
Eyes, Just afore you come home from
prayer meet!n'. She was lookin' for
you, an when she seen you wasn't
here she wouldn't wait for no soda nor
nOthiu': said she had Il headache an
was goin' nome. Roland went with
her. but she didn't want him to. You
just missed seem her
'IIeavens. what a blow
But Roland's takin' her home
needn't upset you none"
Thank you for those kind words,
Tracey Nat sighed and passed a
troubled hand across his brow. You're
u true friend"
I'm irwin to be, Nat. same's you
are to me" Tracey thought this over.
But you amt foolin' me, are your he
asked presently. Il mean bout bein'
n true friend"
why should II"
"Ah, | dunno. You're so Gurus
sometimes. ] amt never sure whether
you mean what you're sayin' or not"
"Oh, don't say that"
well, | amt the only one Every
body in town says they don't under
stand you half the time"
Duncan moved over to Tracey. His
face was entirely serious. Tracey"
he said, dropping n hand on the boys
shoulder, "do you know, nothing in
life is harder TO bear than not to be
underStood:'
Tracey wrestled with this for a mo-
ment, but it was beyond him.
Then why the dickens don't you talk
sos folks IL know what it's about?" be
demanded heatedly.
"Because-hm!' Duncan hesitated,
With his enigmatic smile. "Well, be-
rause the rules don't require it,"
What d you mean by that?' Tracey
exploded.
Nat couldn't explain. so he counter
ID neatly. This is OHIO of your An
gle evenings, isn't it, yhacey?"
Yep, but
"Wcll, YOU hurry alcng. I'll close VI
the shop"
To Duncan, now npated on the edge
of an %upturned box in a corner Of the
store, came an idea. He drew a roll OF
bills from his pocket and stripped Of
the top one.
Here's So" he said to Tracey
Girls can usually be captured by
judicious expenditures. | wish yol
luck"
"Ah, thanks, Mr.. Duncan"
But, Tracey
The bog paused at the door
"What?"
Remember what | told you. Don
you make too much love. Let Angie
do that"
Gosh. that II be the hardest rule o
I'LL for me-" A shadow clOuded Ira
ccy's honest eyes. Blu | got to do /
that way, anyway, | can't ask her t.
marry me yit. | cant afford to &c
married"
ITS a contrary world. Tracey, a con
trary world" sighed Nat in a tone o
deepest melancholy,
what makes you say that? Yov
kin git married s soon s you want to.
You think so, Tracey"
"All you got TO do = ask josie
I'm almost afraid you're right"
"Why? Don't you want to git maj
ricd?"
"Well'-Nat smilcd-"no. Don't bt
lieve | do, not just now. at any rate"
well, you don't have to If you don
want to. CD night"
"Yes, | do Nat told Tracey's bach
'The rules say so. If the girl asks m
must"
He Grimaced r%uefully beneath hi