The Sentinel=record., 1911-12-31

which creaked for some reason w,+l this Roland wore a ribbed whita si,, waistcoat. very brilliant low cut no : mt leather shoes and white silk socks The trousers were strikinely cut as f each leg after the physical eonaoura ton of the domestic pear. and the et fect or the whole was measurablv on hanced by an opera hat. one of tbos, tall and striking contraptions thai vo, can shut up by pressing gently hut firmly upon the human midrif and looking unconscious, but which is apt 10 open with resounding report if you're not careful. l am glad to he able to report that Roland failed to commit the solecism of wearing red string tie. His tie was a sober blacI, firmly knotted at the factory.
 Duncan fell into routine without the least evidence of discontent He was early to rise and early to work and rarely left the store save st maal hours and closing up time He at tended church with admirable regu- larity, both morning and evening serv. Ices. on Sunday, the midweekly prayer meeting and Friday evening choir practice. for in the course of time he had been won over to join the choir and modestly discovered to our edia- cation a baritone voice wholly un- trained. but not unpIeasing. Josie Lockwood sang contralto and Bess Gabriel what we were informed was soprano only Radyille called 1t a tre- ble. Tracey Tanner pumped the organ and puffed audibly in the pauses, singular testimony to his devotion to Angie Tuthill. who "just sang" with the others chiefly because she was Jo- l sie's nearest friend. Nat had settled down to pretty | steady correspondence with Kellogg. | chiefly on business matters. Kellogg was Investigating old Sam's burner and seemed quite impressed with it's possibilities. He had quarreled with | Roland's friend Burnham on Duncan's representations and ordered him out Of the offices Of L. J. Bartlett & Go, 1t seemed. Later he opened up negotia- tons with corporation known as the Modern Gas company. l believe, a competitor of Consolidated Petroleum, and ii due course representatives of both concerns came to Radville, exam 1ned the burner and retired. noncom- initial. Then Bartlett sent requisi- ton for model and supplied the funds for making it. thus demonstrating his confidence.
 As for old Sam. he had risen to the dignity of frock coat and felt him self an aristocrat for the first time in his life.
 l don't remember just how soon 1t was. but it was shortly after the for nation of the firm of Graham & Dun can that the yonng man received his first invitation 10 dinner at the Lock woods He accepted. of course. wheth- er he wanted to or not. for there could be no excuse for his refusing a Sunday bid. and the Lockwoods made quite an event of it The Soues were invited because they were Araminia Lock woods brother and sister-in-law. and the Godfreys came over from West erly 10 grace the board as representa- tiges of the Lockwood strain
 At the conclusion Of the meal. which endured throughout two interminable hours. the elder men folk withdrew to the garden and the lawn. Nat was left to Josie. who conducted him to the side porch. out of sight of everybody.  and planted herself ia 6 baggy ham mock there. She was gay. even bril-. liant within her limitations. arch. naive. coquettish. shy. petulant, by turns, animated by sense of con quest. She supplied the major part of the conversation. chatting volubly on The thousand subjects she didn't un- derstand. the dozen she did ln the most ingenious manner imaginable she laid herself open to advances. not once, hut score of times. and when he failed to respond according to the code of Radville had the vii to mask her chagrin. did she feel any. Very prob ably she laid his lack of responsive ness at the door of his shyness ia NuAuTy ne WIS WILDLY WItbOuH "aN liked him the better for it.
 1t was on this day that she extracted from him his promise 10 join the choir He acceded through apathy alone.
 'I don't care whether you can sing or not" she confessed, with a look But do want somebody to wall home with me that like
 That's nice way of putting It. Duncan considered without emphasis.
 Roland Barnette's always walked home with me, but think he's Jus tiresome.''
 "why?' inquired the young man with some interest
 She averted her head. plucklng the strands of the hammock. "on' yo know" she said difiidently.
 "OhY' Nat was enlightened. lne Pm sorry for Roland"
 "Why2"
 q can't blame him. you know couldn't help this. The time. the plac' the girl. inspired-indeed. incitea-on to banallty.
 ''Why?'' she persisted. :.
 "Oh, pou know" He caught lhe tonatlon of her previous words pr cisely.
 She had the grace to blush ana na
 hnr head hut ha received a lDIllH