The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1911-02-24

I WAS ONLY THINKIN' ABOUT ANGIE"
nothin'; said she had headache an
was goin' home. Roland went with
her. but she didn't want him to. You
just missed seem her."
Heavens, what blown
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
true friend"
Pm tryin' 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'
a 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. l amt the only one. Every
body in town says they don't under
stand you half the time"
Duncan moved over to Tracey. His
ldCe was eutlleIy StIlOuS lIdCcy,
he said. dropping a hand on the boys
shoulder, do you know. nothing in
life is harder to bear than not to be
understoodY'
Tracey wrestled with this for mo-
ment. but 1t was beyond him.
Then why the dickens don't you talk
SOS folks III know what it's about ?" he
demanded heatedly.
"Because-hmv' Duncan hesitated.
with his enigmatic smile. well, be-
cause the rules don't require it"
what d. you mean by that?" Tracey
exploded.
Nat couldn't explain. so he counter
ed neatly. This is one of your An
gle evenings, isn't it. Tracey"
Yep. BUT
"Well. you hurry along. I'll close up
the shop"
To Duncan, now seated on the edge
Of an upturned box in a corner of the
bills from his pocket and stripped off
the top one.
Here's So" he said TO Tracey.
Girls can usually be captured by
judicious expenditures. l wish you
luck"
"Ah, thanks. Mr.. Duncan"
but, Tracey
The boy paused at the door.
"What?"
Remember what l told you. Don't
you make too much love. Let Angie
do that"
Gosh. that III be the hardest rule of
all for me!' A shadow clouded Ira
cey's honest eyes. But got to do it
that way. anyway. l can't ask her to
marry me yit. l can't afford to get
married"
ITS contrary world, Tracey, con-
trary world" sighed Nat in a tone of
deepest melancholy.
What makes you say that? You
kin git married s soon IS you want to-"
You think so. Tracey?"
"Ail you got to do S ask JOSIE
I'm almost afraid you're right"
why? Don't you want to git mar
ried?
"Welr'-Nat smiled-'no. Don't be-
lieve DO, not just now. at any rate"
"Well. you Cont have to If you don't
want to. Cd night"
Yes. do" Nat told Tracey's back.
THE rules say so. If the girl asks me
must"
He grimaced ruefully beneath his
wisp Of a mustache. Anyhow, I've
got few months left"
So the winter wore away, and as
spring drew nigh upon our valley Dun
can seemed to grow perturbed. even
as he had been in the autumn before
Betty went away.
Duncan urged Sam to move his house
hold from over the store to house. He
pointed out that separate residence
distinctly befitted the dignity of a man
who was at once prominent inventor
and one Of Radville's leading mer
chants wide Personal" In the late
issue Of the Radville Citizen). to say
nothing Of the social position of his
aughter-meaning Betty. And tn,
house Duncan had his metaphoricaI
eye upon was large enough to shelte
Nat himself in addition to the Ora
ham family.
Graham fell In with the scheme with |
out murmur Of dubiety or dissent