The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1911-06-09
CHAPTER XVII. Continued,

1T seems that the gentle Bella has
been unusually beastly today to Jim.
and believe she's Jealous of Won.
Kit. Jim followed her up to the roof
before dinner with a box of flowers.
and she tossed them over the parapet
She said, l believe, that she didn't
want his flowers: He could buy them
Tor you, and be damned to him. or
some lady-like equivalent"
Jim is a jellyfish," I said con.
temptuously. What did he saw"
He said he only cared for one worn-
an, and that was Bella: That he never
had really cared for you and never
would, and that divorce courts were
not unmitigated evils If they showed
people the way to real happiness.
Which wouldn't amount to anything
If HARRISON had not been in the tent
trying to sleep!"
Dal did not know all the particulars
but 1t seems that relations between
Jim and Mr.. HARRISON were rather
strained. Bella had left the roof and
Jim and the HARRISON man came face
to face in the door Of the tent Ac-
cording to Dal, little had been said.
but Jim, bound by his promise to me,
could not explain, and could only
stammer something about being an
old friend of Miss Knowles. And Tom
had replied shortly that it was none
Of his business, but that there were
some things friendship hardly justi-
fed, and tried to pass Jim. Jim was
Instantly enraged: He blocked the
door to the roof and demanded to
know what the other man meant
There were two or three versions of
the answer he got The general pur-
port was that Mr.. HARRISON had M
desire to explain further. and that
the situation was forced on him. Rut
If he insisted-when a man system
atically ignored and neglected his
wife for some one else, there were |
communities where he would be tarred |
and fathered.
Meaning me?" Jim demanded, apo
pletic
THE remark was a general one "
Mr. HARRISON retorted, but if you
wish to make concrete applica-
tion-!"
Dal had gone up just them, and
found them glaring at each other Jim
with his hands clenched at his sides
and Mr.. HARRISON with his arms fold
ID and very erect. Dal took Jim by
the elbow and led him downstairs,
muttering, and the situation was
saved for the time. But Dal was not
optimistic.
You can do a bit yourself, Kit" he
finished. Look more cheerful 1irt
q little. You can do that without try
Ing. Take Max on for a day or so:
1t would be charity anyhow. But
don't let Tom HARRISON take it into
his head that you are grieving over
Jim's neglect, or he's likely to toss
him off the roof"
81 have no reason to think that Mr..
HARRISON cares one way or the other
about me-" 1 said primly. "You don't
think he's-he's in love with me, do
you, DALI" l watched him out of the
corner of my eye, but he only looked
III lOVe Win you! ne repeated.
Why, bless your wicked little heart.
no! He thinks you're a married wom-
AMI It's the principle of the thing
he's fighting for. If l had as much
principle as he has Td-Pd put it out
1t interest" a
Max interrupted us just then, and f
lsked if we knew where Mr., HARRISON t
vas. Il
"Can't find him" he said. i've got t
he telephone together and have 0
enough left over to make another. =
Where do you suppose HARRISON hides II
he tools? I'm working with cork s.
crew and two palette knives" il
heard nothing more Of the trouble p
hat night. Max went to Jim about Il
[, and Jim said angrily that only a b
ool would interfere between a man O.
nd his wife-wives. Whereupon Max il
etorted that a fool and his wives L
rere soon parted. and left him. The Il
wo principals were coldly civil to ic
ach other, and smaller issues were =