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

take chance M anything. no matter
how contemptible Now-well. It's dill
ferent'
b Good heavens! You don't mean
you'd be willing to live hereT
MAI smiled. but not mirthfully.
ion't know" he hesitated. I'm AFRAID
nm beginning to like It,"
"You Nat?" KellOggs amazement
was unfeigned You ready to spend
your life here Shaving away In this
measy storeT
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 near that" Kellogg ap'
pealed vehemently to the universe at
large. lis 1t possible that this is Nat
Duncan. the fellow who hated work 80
hard be couldn't earn a living? Cad,
l believe I've arrived just in time"
"In time for what?"
"To 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 more than half Inclined
to back out. You make me tired"
81 suppose must But l can't help
It. I can't make you see how the
thing looks to me- You know-I've
written you all about everything
what this place has meant to me.
Until came here never realized 1t
was in me to make good at anything.
But here l have. I'm doing so well
that I'd actually have some self re-
spect If I wasn't bound to play this
low down trick on Josie Lockwood.
I've worked and succeeded and been
of some service to people who were
worth it,
"Who? Sam GrahamT
HE and his daughter
"Oh, his daughterW
"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 a real chance in life-until l
managed to give 1t to her. And I'd
feel pretty good about that if Oh,
mo; go on. You're very entertain
ing" Kellogg laughed mockingly.
"Well, l have tried to keep to the
terms of our understanding. singled
out this Lockwood girl and worked all
the degrees-didn't say much, you
know-no iovemaking-just let her
catch me looking sadly at her once in
awhile"
''That's the way to work it"
Eyes. that's the way" Nat assented
gloomily.
Kellogg laughed with delight. NAT"
he cried, my poor crazy friend, listen
to me- This working and church go.
ing and helping old Graham is all
very noble and fine. ard I'm glad
you've done it. This drug store is a
monument to the business ability that
l 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
neat profit. Well and good That's
all it'll ever do. It's 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'll
be back where you started. Now. I'm
going to hold you to our bargain for
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
ried. but when you do begin to tire of
1t you'll want that fortune to fall back
on and do what you like with. Don't
let this chance slip-not on your lifev
But" Nat argued feebly. "think Of
the injustice to the girl. From the
way I've. behaved since l struck this
burg she thinks I'm closely related to
the saints"
"Very well. then; I'll concede point.
If you really think you're taking q
mean advantage of her, when she pro-
poses to you tell her all about yourself
just the sort of chap you've been.
You needn't mention our agreement,
however. Then If she wants to drop
you I'll have nothing to say"
. "Thank you for nothing" said Dun
can bitterly. "A bargains a bargain.
gave you my word Of honor I'd 60
through with this thing, and I'll stick
to 1t. But I tell you don't like It."
"Oh, know how you feel, Nat But
know that some day you'll come to
me and say, Harry, If you had let me
back out I'd never have forgiven
you"
"All right" said Nat fmpatiently.
II presume you know best"