Putnam patriot. [volume] (Putnam, Conn.) 1872-1962, 1911-02-03


believing he was telling the truth.
"0nly don't lock at things the way
did once"
Just what do YOU mean 10y thatT'
Nat. sJuariug himself TO face KEEL
locg. was very serious now and trou-
bied. See here. Harry" he said, do
you really want me TO carry out the
rest of the agreement
.Most certainly | do. Why nots'
Because I'm pretty well fixed here.
The business is making good. and so
am l. 1t won't be long before l can
pay you back. with interest. as We
agreed. without having TO marry that
poor girl and draw on her money to
make good to you"
You want to go back ON your agree
ment?~ demanded Kellogg. with a
show OF disappointment and disgust.
Yes and no. went break faith
with you If You insist. but I'd give
lot if You'd let me off-let me pay
back what you advanced and cry quits
When Won outlined this scheme I was
down and three times cat. willing TO
take a chance at anything. no matter
how contemplate. Now-weH. It's diff
ferent."
Good heavens, You don't mean
you'd be willing 10 live here"
Nat smiled. bur not mirthfully. Il
don't know" he hesitated. I'm afraid
Tm beginning 10 like it,
You. Natf- Kellogg's amazement
was unfeisned You ready to spend
your life here shaving away in this
measly store:~
Duncan grunted Indignantly. Hold
on. now. Don't YOU call this measly
store. There isn't more complete
drug store in the state.'
"Do you hear that" Kellogg APP
peaied vehemently to the universe at
large is it possible that this is Nat
Duncan, the fellow who hated work so
hard lie couldn't earn a living? Cad,
| believe I've arrived just in timer
I'm time for what?"
ITO save you from yourself, old
man. Here's the heiress you came
here to cop out. ready and anxious,
everything else coming your way, and
and you're Wore than half inclined
to back out. You make me tired
Il suppose l must. But l can't help
it. / can't make you see how the
thing looks to me. You know-fye
written you all about everything
what this place has meant to me.
Until | came here never realized it
was in me to make good at anything.
But here | have. I'm doing so well
that Id actually have some self re
spect if | wasn't bound to play this
low down trick Oh Josie Lockwood.
I've worked and succeeded and been
of some service to people who were
worth it,
who? Sam GrahamF'
HE and his daughter
"Oh. his daughter
"Now. get that foolish idea out of
your head. There's nothing in it.
Betty's just simple, sweet little girl
who's had pretty hard time and
never real chance in life-untn |
managed to give il to her. And I'd
feel pretty good about that if oh,
there's no use talking to your
No: go on. You're very entertain
ing" Kellogg laughed moekinglg.
We'll. | have tried TO keep to the
terms of our understanding. l singled
out this Lockwood girl and worked ali
the degrees-didn't say much. you
know-no losemaking just let hel
catch me looking sadly at her once il
awhile.
That's the way to work it,
Yes. that's the way Nat assented
gloomiy.
Kellogg lauehel with delight. Nat.
he cried. my poor crazy friend, listen
to me This working and church so
ing and helping old Graham is al
very noble and fine. and I'm glad
you've done it, This drug store is 4
monument 10 the business ability that
I always knew was latent in you
And clean living hasn't done you any
harm. But now you're due TO come
down to earth This place pays you q
neat profit. Well and good. That's
all it'll ever do. Its new TO you now
and you like the novelty. and you re
having the time of your life finding
out you're good for something. But
pretty soon it'll begin TO stale ON you
and before long you'll find yourself
hating it and the town. and then you Il
be back where you started. Now. I'm
going TO hold You to our bargain fol-
your own sake If you're stuck on
the town and the work you can KEEP
right on just as well after you're mar
lried. but when you do begin to tire OF
it you'll want that fortune to fall back