Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1911-11-30

to that effect had not a shadow cross
ing the window brought me to my feet
in CONSERVATION. But before | could
do more than rise Colonel Bohun had
flung open the door and stamped in
guided by his nearsighted eyes. and
singled me out with a threatening
wave of his heavy stick.
We'll. sir" he snarled. i've come
for my answer. Have you sense
enough in your added pate to under
stand that. man? I've come for my
answer
And may have it. whatever it may
be. for all Of me-" told him.
His face flushed a deeper red oh
it's only you. is it, Littlejohn? took
you for that fool Graham in this dirty
dark hole. Where is he?"
| looked to Graham, and he followed
the direction of my gaze to the work
bench, where Sam stood with his back
to it, his worn hands folded quietly
before him. He seemed little whittier
than usual. thought, and perhaps it
was only my fancy that made him ap-
pear to tremble ever so slightly. for ne
was quite calm and self possesSed-so
much so that | realized for the first
time there was another man in Rad
vile besides myself who did not fear
old Colonel Bohun.
I'm here colonel" he said quietly
What is ii you wish?'
The colonel swung on him. Ghaking
with passion But he held his tongue
until he had mastered himself some
what. feat Of self restraint on his
part over which l marvel to this day.
You know well. Graham" he said
presently. You got my letter-the let
ter | wrote you week ago."
Yes" said Sam. with a start of com
prehension. Yes, got it,
Then why the devil. man. don't
you answer it?'
Sans Apologize smile sweetened his
face. Why" he said hatngly. I'm
sure | meant no offense; but. you see
I'm very busy man. l forgot it."
1.-THE devil you forgot it, Dye ex-
pect me to believe that, man"
I'm afraid you'll have to-
Bohun was speechless for moment,
stricken dumb by second seizure of
fury. But again he Gained himself.
Very well; I'll swallow that inso-
lence for the present.
ut wasn't meant as such. | ASSURE
Don't interrupt me. Dyou hear?
I've come for my answer Yes, I've
come down to that. Graham If you
can't accord me the common courtesy
of a written reply I've come to hear it
from your MOUTH
Sam nodded thoughtfully. "Mebbe."
he said. you forget you have failed
to accord me the common courtesy of
any sort of communication whatever
for twenty years. Colonel Bohun.
Even when my wife. your daughter.
died you ignored my message asking
you to her funeral"
BE silent"' screamed the colonel.
"Do you think Pm here to handy
words with you. fool? l demand my
answer"
And as for that" continued Sam as
evenly as if he had not been inter-
rupted. your proposition was so pre-
posterous that 1t could have come only
from you and deserved no answer
But since you want it formally, sir.
it's no."
For a moment 1 feared Bohun
would have stroke. The back of the
chair | had just vacated and his stick
alone supported him through that
dumb, terrible transport. He shook so
violently that l looked momentarily
to see the chair break beneath him.
There was insanity in his eyes. When
finally he was able to articulate it
was in broken gasps.
II don't believe it," he stammered.
ITS lie! l don't believe it. It's
madness. The girl wouldn't be so
mad"
what is it. father?"
| don't know which of us three was
the most startled by that simple ques-
ton in Betty Graham's voice. Sam.
at all events. showed the least sur
prise. The old colonel wheeled to-
ward the back of the store. his jaw
dropping and his eyes protruding as
though he were confronted with
ghost-as. in a way. he was. Even
| had been struck by that strange.
heartrending similarity to her moth
er's tone. and even | trembled little
to hear that voice, as it seemed. from
beyond the grave.
Betty stood at the foot Of the stair
case. Alarmed by the noise of the
colonel's raging, she had stolen down.
unheard by any of us. And in that
moment | realized as never before
that the girl had more of her mother
in her than lay in that
production of Margaret
voice. AS she waited there one de-
tected in her pose something of her
mothers quiet dignity. in heE eyes
more than a little of Margarets Tag
edy. OF Margaret's beauty | san
scant trace. | own but in those day
my eyes were blinded by the signs OF
overwork and insufficient nourisl+
ment that married her young features.
by the hopeless dowdness of her gar
/