Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-02-16

tnhtS Ill rlEnt.
"To me IT'S meant everything. IL
only hope I'll be able to repay You
some day God bless you, my boy!
God bless your
lie managed to jam his hat awry on
his white old head and find his way
out. his hands fnmbling with one an
other, his lips moving inaudibly. per-
haps IN prayer Of Thanksgiving
1t was perhaps within the next thir-
ty minutes that Betty twho had been
left In charge of the store while Dun
can, with coat and collar off and
sleeves rolled above his elbows, hack
ed and pounded and pricd and banged
at the packing cases In the back yardD
sought him on the scene of his lnbors.
Pretty good work for York dude
not?" he laughed.
There was shadowy smile in her
grave eyes. ITS an improvement"
she said evenly.
He shot her q curious glance.
"Ouch" he said thoughtfuly.
II just came to tell YOU" she went
on. again immobile. YOU'RE wanted In
side"
Somebody wants to see MOI" he de-
| manded of her retreating back
Eyes"
"But who"-
"Blinky Lockwood" she replied over
her shoulder as she went into the
/ house.
LOckwood?" He speculated. for an
ther-in-law!' he cried. "Shivering
snakes, he mustn't catch me like this
| |, q business man.
Hastily rolling down his shirt
sleeves and Struggling himself into his
coat he made for the store. buttoning
his collar ard knotting his tie Oh The
way.
: He found Blinky nosing round the
room. quite alone. Betty had disap-
peared. and the Old scoundrcl was hav
| ing quite an enjoyable time poking in.
to matters that did not concera him
/ and disappearing of them on general
4 principles So far rs the improve
/ ments concerned Old Sam Grahnm's
! fortunes. Blinky would cOnccde no
! health IN them But with regard to
4 Duncan there was another story to
| tell. Duncan apparently controlled
money to some vague extent
! you're Mr.. Duncan, amt your he
asked, with his eer moving down to
meet Nat
Yes. sir Mr.. Lock wood | believer
That's me-" Blnky clutched his
/ hand in genial claw I'm glad to
/ meet YOU"
THANK you" said Duncan. Some
thing I can do for you, sir?"
WAL, Pete Willin' was tellin' me
/ you'd Just took mp this note of Gra-
hamsf"
Not exactly The firm took it up"
Rlinky winked savagely at this
The firm what firm
ezra ham & Duncan. sir I've been
taken into partnership"
Have. eh?" Blinky grunted mystic
riously and fshed in his pocket for
some bills and silver WAL here's
some change comm to the firm, then
And here" he added. producing the
document in question. "is Sans note"
THANK you" Duncan ceremonious
~ deposited both in the till. going be
hind the soda fountain TO do so. and
then waited, eypectant Binky was
CruntinG busily in the key Of one
about to make an important com
municaton
I'm glad you're a-comin' in here
With Sam" he said at length. with IN
acid Erimace that was meant to be n
smile
"Oh. it may be only temporary ="
Nat endeavored to assume n seraphic
expression and partially succeeded
Pm devoting much Of my time 10
my Studies" he pursued primly. but
nevertheless feel should be earning
something too"
That's riGht-that's the kind OF
spirit like to see in young man.
You always go to church, don't YOU"
mo. sir-Sundays only"
That's what | mean D. you drink?
"Oh. no. sir" Duncan parroted glib
ly. don't smoke drink swear. and on
Sundays go to church"
The bland smile with which he faced
Lockwood's keen scrutiny disarmed
suspicion
I'm glad to hear that" Ecinky told
him. I'm at the head OF the temp
rance movement here and hope You'll
join US and set an example to our faai
young men"
81 feel sure | could do that" said
Duncan meekly
} Lockwood removed his hat. exposing
the cranium of haidhcndcd eagle
and famed himself Warm today
he observed In an endenvor to be genial
that all but sprained his temperament
Indeed, SO great was the strain that
he winked violently.
Duncan observed this phenomenon
with natural establishment not unmix
ed with awe. Yes, sir; very" he
agreed, wondering what 1t might por
tend.
Il believe I'll have n glass of sody.'
Certainly" Duncan, by now habit
uated to the formula Of soda dispens
Ing, promptly produced bright and
shining glass.
81 see you've been Gxin' this place
up some"
"Oh. yes" said Nat loftily, 1--WE ex
pect to have the best drug store IN the
state. What strip would you PREFER
Just sody." stipulated Lockwood,
His spasmodic wink again smott