The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1912-07-27

/ liz !. J ~.
chair, leaning forward, with shiDusg
eyes, you can't possibly know Wyatt
this means Just at this time! WIS, IL
you hadn't offered to speak to Fran
els. it's not likely that any one else
ever would"
"Judge!" l calculated, shocked.
who would want to-" And ne
grimaced horribly.
"Oh, say now!" protested warm
ly.
MY boy, tell you I know--you
don'ti" He lifted his hand eloquently,
DETECTING the corners Of his mouth
oh, such way! mo, stree, tell you
there's not another living man would
dare chance it," He threw himself
backward, putting his cheeks at me
and walling his eyes rrightfuliy. I'm
fact, hefeabouts where Francis is
known, there have been two men
only just two-who ever had the te-
merity to do It,"
Obi commented. Wondered IL
one of these was the other chap she
was engaged to.
He proceeded inpressively: "One
of these, my dear sir, was our rector
Ia most charming and venerable old
man, new nearly eighty-three and par
TALLY paralyzed and deaf; lives a
sweet, patient life all alone, you know,
with no one In the world to care for
him. Well, sir" he stiffened dramat-
ically, leveling one finger at me, do
you think that Francis would even
listen to him?"
Did /? Well, dash 1t, did /?
But / tried to humble something
polite.
And then" he pulled as he re-
lighted his cigar, there's Jacks chaut.
feur, you know"
Eth, Jack's-what's that?" | gripped
the arms of my chair.
Yes" he nodded, Jacks chauf-
feur. Oh, l was SO disappointed at
the result of his effort!" The old
gentleman slipped back in his chair
with sigh. Francis just swore at
him, you know"
BY Jove!" l managed to get out
and yet somehow / was devilish
| pleased aboutit.
Z You seer And he spread out his
hands. Absolutely no sense of ap-
DraoIa tior, Io,, obcor,,,. oo5 a. boa
seemed such a splendid chance! You
see they had been SO intimate oh,
are still, for that matter"
Icaught my breath "In-intimate!"
| stammered You don't mean Fran
ces and this chauffeur"
"Oh yes" carelessly, "Scoggins is
all right; very superior young man
for his position-fond of Francis, you
know, and ! really think has great in
fluence." He pulled complacently an
instant. Fact is, they are always to-
gether when Francis is home"-pufr
motoring, boating, or else off some
where camping together"
"Wha-at-what's that-not camp
ing?" looked at him aghast. "Oh,
come now, judge-really you don't
mean that, do you-not camping to-
gether?*
spoke excitedIy, but he Just stared
at me with an expression Of blank sur
prise
"Eh? Why, certainly, my dear boy
for weeks at time-and why not?'
His shift manifested some impatience.
"Pshaw, Lightnut," he growled, flick
ing his ash, whats the odds-why be
SO particular? ] don't mind!" He
| damned his hands into his trousers
| pockets till 1t seemed he would go
through them. Il tell you, I'm glad
| I'm democratic!"
"Oh!"I uttered, seeing light.
| So that was 1t! Well, in any case,
| knew now that was republican,
by Jove! Never did know before
what l was and 1t was devilish re-
| lief to find out. Half made up my
mind, then and there, would vote
next election-never had, you know;
| few of our set ever did. Pugsley, for
one. held 1t to be doubtful form.
Bright, self-made young man." /
caught as ! came back. By JoVe, he
was still talking about that beastly
chauffeur! Such fine morals, you
| know"
ooh, dash 1t, yes!" And | think
this must have been when / broke the
corner out of filling.
''That was why was SO sorry he
failed with grancis," he continued re-
| gretfully; "but vow may succeed bet
ter-oh, don't know but what It VIII
do just ais Welt"
Thanks er-awfullyl muir
INJURED weakly.
ooh, think sooh, yes!" He bobbed
his head as though he were quite re.
signed to it-then went on thought
fully:
And anyhow, If Francis finds you
.4A