Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1911-05-26

affiiction through squirting at the sill
yer dollar to make sure none Of its
: milling had been worn off. | have
never known the man to wear any
thing but rusty old frock coat, black,
Of course. and black and shiny broad
| cloth trousers. with u hat that has al
ways Il coating of dust SO thick that 1t
seems a notified gray.
He grunts his words. glunt to each.
He gi'lnted at Betty when he saw her.
"Whnre's your father"
She put down her glass and dish rag.
II don't know, sir"
Don't know. eh?" he asked in an
indescribably offensive tone
Il think he went to the bank to see
YOU"
"Oh. he did. eh? Did he have any
thing for me-
The girl took up another glass. 81
don't know. sir" she said YEARLY.
Pm afraid not"
well. if he didn't there's no Use
seem me. 1t won't do him any good"
81 guess he knows that" she return
ed. with little fash of spirit.
Does, eh? Well. that's good thing
saves talk. You don't do no business
here. not to speak of. do ye?'
"No. not to speak of"
Then what's the good Of all this
fooIishncsS. fxin' up?"
81 don't know"
COSTS money. don't it?"
81 guess so
And that money belongs to mo"
ITS Mr. Dunran's dnn" Father
amt paying for 1t. He can't"
"What's he doin' then: Sittin'
round fooIin with his inventions. amt
her,
Eyes"
"What's hn invrntin' now?"
II don't know much about It," She
pointed 70 the model beneath the Win
dow. "ThatS the last thing. ! guess
Blnky snortcd and stamped over TO
the window STOPPING to peer ut the
machine "What's tho good of that?'
| he demanded. diSdainful. and without
waiting for her response went on nag
ging. "Fooishncss. That's what il
IS. Why don't you tell him not TO
waste his time this way"
because he likes It," said Betty
hopelcssly. ITS the only thing that
makes life worth while TO him. SO
let him alone"
"What difference does that make? 1t
| don't bring him in nothin. does 1t!
No, stree. it don't. What does lie do
with them things"
"PatentS them"
"And then what?'
"Nothn' that | know Of"
That's it-nothin'. nor ever Will.
Well. he's been gettin' money from
me for those patents. thought at
fust there might be somethin' in 'em.
But he won't any more"
She interjected a significant Huh"
He broke off abruptly, pale with anger.
"Well, | want to see him. and want
to see him before noon." he snapped.
I'm goin' over to the bank, an if he
knows what's good for him he'll come
there pretty darn quick"
He swung on one heel and slouched
out as Betty turned to 90 upstairs.
Presently she reappeared. pinning on
her sad little hat. and left the store.
1t WAS upward of IN hour before she
returned. walking quickly and very
erect With her head up ard shoulders
back. her eyes SuspiciollSly bright
Even old Sam who had returned from
the depot after missing Blinky at the
bnnk-even he. blind az he ordinarily
was. saw instantly that something was
wrong with the child.
why, Betty" he cried In solicitude
as she flung into the store-"Betty.
dear, what's the matterT
For an instant she seemed speech
less. Then she tore the hat from her
head and cast it regardlesly upon the
counter Father" she cried-"fa-
therr' and gulped to down her emo
ton. Can You get me- some mono"