Putnam patriot. [volume] (Putnam, Conn.) 1872-1962, 1911-02-10


~Awrh. amt 'fraid OF him." spIut-
tered rete
Neither am l. Get out won't you.
and leave him To mef'
"Awrirht" Pete became more
calm. IN leave him loue. but all
the same wan II 'stinctly unerstood
j kin lick any man In town eepun' m
wife. c. night. everybody"
He gathered himself together and by
a supreme effort lunged through the
door and into the deepening dusk.
We'll. Roly9" Nat asked. turning
back.
His ironic calm gave Roland pause
Fer moment he lost his bearings
and stammered In confusion. II come
in 10 bell you that me and you's apt
to have trouble" he concluded.
"ob? And are you thinking of start
ing it,"
..You bet IN start 1t. and III start It
d quick n you don't leave Josie
Lockwood alone"
$50 THAT'S the trouble. is itr' COM
mented Nat thoughtfuliy.
Yes. that's the trouble. From now
on want you to let her alone. and
you'll do II. too. If you know what's
best for you"
a suggestion of menace in his man
ner. unconnected with any hint of
physical correction, caught Mats at
tenlion lie frowned over II
Just what do you mean by this
line of talk?" be inquired blandly,
stepping nearer.
I'm tell you what | mean" Roland
clinehed both fists and thrust his chin
out puguaciouSly. I'D been goin
steady with Josie Lockwood for more'u
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, Roly2'
"What?" The question brought Ro-
land mOmentarily up in the wind.
s'Taint none of your business If II
was he snapped recovering But
here's what I'm gettin' at" He tapped
his breast pocket with sneer Of hu
collie triumph just about ten months
ago" he continued mo""ingly, they
was cashier skipped out of the Long
acre National bank in Moo York. and
they amt got no trace of him yet"
So this was why Roland had been
so assiduous a student of the back
files in the Citizen office!
"Indeed?"
baA f,f
all along. but didn't say nothin'. but
just today Il got a description of him.
and the description just fits, Mr.. Nor
timer Henry
Just fits Mr. Mortimer Henry? But
what has that
"Ah, don't you try to seem too darn
innocent" Roland snarled. You can't
fool mei''
light 'dawned upon Nat. and laugh
tier flooded his being. although out
wartily be remained impertnrbabl BILE
merely mildly curious. But his fin
gers were Itching.
$50 you think Inn the absconding
cashier. .eh. Roty?"
you keep away from Josie r you'll
find out what j rhnk." Mats placid
lily deceived Roland who drew the
wholly erroneous conclusion that he
had succeeded In frightening his rival.
and consequently dared few lengths
further in his TRADE why. If | was
to go To Mr. Lock wood and tell him
you're Mortimer Henry. alias Nat Dun
can
THAT will do" icily THAT will be
all for ribs evening thanks"
Are you goin TO quit chasin' after
Josie7''
IN begin chasing after you If you
don't clear out of here"
"You better agree
Just there the storm hurst. Ten sec
tonds later Roland. with a confused
impression of having been kicked by
"a mule. picked himself up out of the
dust in the middle of the street and
stirred stupidity back at the store.
'fHere's your hat. Roly." called Nat
Tossing him the hat. Nat turned con
rtemptuously
He paused In rhe middle of the store
and felt of his necktie. 1t proved to
he little out of place, but otherwise
he was ,as immaculate as was his wont
Gle reNiewed the encounter and laugh
ed quietly
Themes no cure for n fool" be
fnu,eed.
THE teleIihOne bell roused him from
Ms np-rsaiie He went over to the su-
,srrmtnt. sat down and put the re-
eeiwsd t@ his ear
-Il@llo.' The said 'Oh. hello. Josie!
Wharf, fhat2 That's right. but I'm
nof u>se1 10 ii SET. you know. Well.
III try again New-readyT'
He sch0oled A.s voice to key of
heartreDding sentiment. Hello, dar-
ling H"w's that9 Told your father?
Told him what? Oh. about the en-
gagemenff Was he angry? Oh he
wasn't. eh? What did be say? Wasn't
that nice Of him.
Conscious OF slight Doise in the
store he looked up A young woman
had Just entered She paused just in
side the door. smiling az him a little
6imidy
Without another word to bis flaneee
Mai Pun down the Telephone and hook
ed up the receiver
Betty be cried wonderingiy.
Fastidious Stephen Girard.
The people Stephen Girard liked
best were the Quakers. He had sym
patty with their disdain Of forms.