Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1911-03-29

His tron1c calm gave Roland pause
For moment he lost hts bearings
and stammered in confusion. II come
In to tell you that me and you's apt
to have trouble. Z he concluded s5. /.
''Oh? And are you thinking of start.
ing it,"
You bet IN start it. and IN start it
d quick il you don't leave Josie
Lockwood alone"
$50 that's the trouble. is it?" com.
mented Nat thoughtfully.
Yes. that's the trouble. From now
on l want you to let her alone, and
you'll do it. 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,
tention. He frowned over 1t.
"Just what do you mean by this
line of talk?" he inquired blandly.
stepping nearer. r
"Pl tell you what mean" Roland
clinched both fists and thrust his chin
out pugnaciously. I'D been a.goin
steady with Josie Lockwood for more'n
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. Roly?'
"What?" The question brought Ro-
land momentarily up in the wind.
"Tain't none of your business II it
was" he snapped. recovering. But
here's what I'm gettin' at" He tapped
his breast pocket with a sheer OF bu
collie triumph. Just about ten months
ago." he continued meaningly. "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 student Of the back
files in the Citizen Office!
''Indeed?''
"Yes. indeed. l had my suspicious
all along, but didn't say nothin', but
just today l got 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 me-"
A light dawned upon Nat. and laugh
ter flooded his being, although out
wardly he remained imperturbable-
merely mildly curious. But his fin
gers were itching.
$50 you think I'm the absconding
cashier, eh, Roly?"
You keep away from Josie r you'll
find out what l think" Mats placid
ity deceived Roland. who drew the
wholly erroneous conclusion that he
had succeeded in frightening his rival,
and consequently dared a few lengths
further in his TRADE why, if was
to go to Mr. Lockwood and tell him
you're Mortimer Henry, alias Nat Dun
cam
THAT will do" icily. "That will be
all for this evening. thanks"
Are you goin' to quit chasin' after
Josie?"
"1ll begin chasing after you 1t you
don't clear out of here"
you better agree
Just there the storm burst. Ten Sec
onds later Roland. with confused
impression of having been kicked by
a mule, picked himself up out Of the
dust in the middle of the street and
stared stupidity back at the store.
Heres your hat. Roly." called Nat
Tossing him the hat. Nat turned con-
temptuously.
He paused in the middle Of the store
and felt OF his necktie. It proved to
be little out of place. but otherwise
he was as immaculate as was his wont
He reviewed the encounter and laugh.
ed quietly.
''There's no cure for fool" be
mused
The telephone bell reused him from
his reverie. He went over to the in
strument. sat down and put the re.
ceiver to his ear.
Hello" he said. "Oh. hello, Josie
WHAT'S that! That's right. but I'm
not used to it yet. you know. Well.
III try again. Now-ready?"
he schoOled his voice to q key of
heartrendins sentiment. Hello. dar.
ling. How'S that? Told your father:
Told him what? Oh. about the en-
gagement? Was be angry? Oh. he
wasn't. eb? What did he say? Wasn't
that nice of himv'
Conscious Of slight noise in the
store. he looked up A young woman
had just entered. She paused just in
side the door. smiling at him little
timidly.
Without another word to his tiancer
Nat put down the telephone and hook.
ed up the receiver
Betty" he cried wonderingly.