The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1912-03-19
was awful!
CHAPTER XXI.
/ Sneak TO Her Father.

library table had encountered him
in the hall just as had descended to
rejoin the girls IN the living-room.
Forthwith. he elbowed me into the H.
brary.
know from Jack how glad You al
ways are to escape girls" he re-
marked cheerily as he produced Gig
ars. Don't blame you at all-in fact.
do you know 1t refreshes me to find"
Don't know what dashed thing It
refreshed him to lind, for | never
caught It, For just then through the
doorway there tioated. from across the
hall, a bar OF music--the laugh Of the
dearest girl In the verdi
strained for another bar.
"Hah!" calculated the Judge, paus-
ing with questioning uplift Of cigar.
THE silly cackls Of those giris-it
disturbs you Yes, It does--I can see
ityou look disturbed" And. dash 1t,
he insisted upon closing the door.
You mustn't let them bother you
while you are here" he urged pleas.
antly; you must just go ahead and do
tne tnlng you want 10 90.
BY Jove, there seemed little oppor-
tunity for It!
Thanks awfully," murmured
feebly.
| The Judge proceeded genially: "Or
course we all understand that you
just came up to Wolhurst to please
Jack" Then his face clouded. HIM!
Sorry to learn that he came home with
another" his eyes rolled through
circle-"er-is not feeling just tit.
It's too bad, for wanted some one to
take you over the neighborhood-in-
teresting landmarks. you know, rem
inlscent OF Major Andre and Washing
ton Irving"
Charmed. I'm sure" | chirped up.
Jolly lie, though, for ! wasn't i'm
pressed; didn't know who the other
fellow was. but had seen irving in
London--scores of times Not potch
on John Drew to my thinking!
! "And now, let's see," said the Judge.
Il wonder who We can get to take
you!' His fingers drummed together
thoughtfully "Um, of course, there Is
Francis" my heart took Jolly leap
but Francis Is impossible-quite
impossibie"
by Jove, no." calculated eagerly.
and came up in my chair like a gal
vanized whatsits-name. Just the
thing-be delighted, you know
He smiled grimly Natural you
should say that, but" He expec.
torated with deliberation, glowering at
me as he did It, mo, sir" His head
shook with decision. Wouldn't do
wouldn't think OF trusting you with
Francis" he finished shortly
"O" Just gasp, you know; and
= my jolly cheeks stung as from q dash
OF fiery what's.its-name sauce. SO he
knew about the pajamas, tool
half rose from my chair
II assure you. sir" began stiff
ly.
His fussy shrug checked me. mo.
no, Wen just have to wait till Jack
gets up. The only thing I'm anxious
about is the scenery and the view
points; and | just know II Francis
went with you, you would never see
any Of It,"
By Jove, thought that quite likely
enough, but OF course 1t was devilish
personal Of him to say so. And dash
seeing the scenery and view points,
anyway-who wanted to see them, II
they could see her? was just going
to suggest this, when he went on:
"The fact is" He hesltated, then
fiicked his ashes with a sigh. ION.
well, since I've said as much as 1
have. l should 60 further, suppose.
It's only fair not to leave you In the
dark, especially as my daughter was
enthusiastically telling me just now
--puff-"that she already looks on
you as one of the family"
by Jove, did she thought" 1
hitched to the front OF the chair.
How dew mean how"
He nodded. And 80 / feel justified
In talking to you frankly--not that
want to prejudice you against Fran
els. you understand, but Just because
his head wagged soberly-"Francis
won't dol" And he looked at me
| steadily.
Something like sharp pain struck
through me. Again--and this time
from her own father! just sat there
kind of frozen, you know, except that
I could feel the smile slowly loosen
ing in my face. He moved to q seat
nearer
II don't like to seem to be dis
paraglng my own flesh and blood, MIR.
Lightnut," he proceeded gravely, but
the truth Is Francis is the only one
Of my children that gives me any.
anxiety"
"Oh!' l felt myself shrink together.
my knees sianting away from nim'i
My dashed monocle hung limp.
| He angled closer. Jacks drinking;
ia bad-that I admit. but perhaps
hm--he comes by It naturally; still
Jack has never forgotten that he ID
conference.-the son OF a gentleman
and has never been what you would
call fast. but" HIS chest lifted under
deep breath--"but Francis--whew!"
"Fast-Frances? 1t faltered tremu-