Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-04-25

willy IPTNtUllE. ENtu -Il53 " HdT1
shall never know
Time meant everything to him now,
so he turned his attention to Erncs
tine. who was still murmuring STAG.
cato thanksgivings over Ahmed.
Can your raptures for the present,
Ernestine." said Willy sternly, "o~
that nest egg for your old age Will
receive no further incentive to hatch.
and now listen to me. You arc Qui'e
ignorant of the fact that DRAGGED
Ahmed from under the tub. You do
not even know that he has been ra.
covered All You do know Is that
called you up on the telcpho0a and
asked YOU to let me know as soon "a
Miss O'Hara returned. Then. in Your
intense surprise at the sight of the
restored Ahmed, you can have your
Mysteries all over again"
He picked up his green legal bag.
which fortunately he had brought
with him that morning, and without
ceremony dumped Ahmed into H.
And when return"-he paused I'M
pressively in the doorway-"remcm-
her that l am to see Miss OHara
alone"
With eyes and pointed fnEer.,ins
raised towards heaven, Ernes'iua as
sured him of hor complete under
standing, and at the same time exc
cuted series of rapid dips which
were intended fifty to express her APP
probation Of his bounty
So Willy departed with a light
heart, although Ahmed proved so
heavy and struggling a burden that
Gaines wasted no time in hustliug
him into a taXicab, lest his loud out
cries secure the interest of the pas.
sers-by and lead TO further complica-
tons
But an hour later. in response to
Ernestine's telephone. he was again
at the apartment. His entrance was
dramatic. Ernestine threw open the
door and then burst into a torrent Of
Joyous eXclamations-very staccato-
while Ahmed glared frenziedlv from
the prison Of WHY'S arms and
fought wildly to escape. Then she
discreetly retired. Just as Rose flew
across the room and Willy staggered
YEARLY in. His hair was dishevelled
this an artistic touch Of his own.
Ahmed held ono end Of torn neck
tie tightly in his claws-this an I'M
Willingly artistic touch of Ahmed's-
while his clothes looked as if he
might have been in q serious strug-
gle, result produced by crawling
over the floor for an hour or more.
"Oh, Willy. You've found him.
When? Where? Darling kitty"
claspins Ahmed close to her heart.
He was all safe home again. And
did he have dreadful time, and was
he so lonely and frGhtened?" But in
spite of these tender words and ca
resscs. Willy noted with a thrill of
JOY that it was not upon Ahmed that
her eyes were fixed. but upon him.
How did Mr. Darke get him." was
her next question.
Willy played his trump card. I'm
afraid shall have to claim that
honor" he said; "Darke has had
nothing to do with it,
oh" she cried again YOU.
might have known it. You always do
everything for me. And did you
have desperate struggled" anxious
ly. You look II. Was Senator
Wodeburn very
"He was not. Rose. put that mon
strous idea out of your head. Neither
Senator Wodeburn nor Mrs. Allen had
anything to do with Ahmed's disap-
pearance. Some day I will tell YOU
the whole story. but ask me no ques-
tons now. Let it be enough that
Ahmed is homo again. There are
reasons why"
You dear Willy" The beautiful
naughty Miss O'Hara dropped Ahmed
indifferently upon a chair She
drifted nearer Willy Gaines, and al
most before he knew ii she had
thrown her arms about his neck and
impulsively Kissed his cheek.
Willy made no effort to return that
embrace. although what the renunci-
alton cost him the world will never
know. Thank you. Rose he said
stifly.
She drew hastily back in wounded,
rcsentful surprise. What was this
incredible thing, After all these
years. had Willy ceased % love her.
The world rocked.
Then she lifted her wonderful gray
eyes to his. storm flashing through a
mist of tears. You don't seem TO ap-
preciate my gratitude" She meant
kisses.
"A grateful kiss now and then
. along lfe's dusty highway means lit
tie to me- said Willy with gentle,
cold Indifference,
Al tnlS kOSe turned her back on
him, and walking over to the window
cazed out into the gathering night
A moment later Willy saw her lift
her handkerchief and furtively wipe
her eyes. Then he realized that the
pose he was striving to maintain was
too strenuous. He could not hope to
= keep it up. He strobe across the
room and threw his arms boldly
around her
All, Rose. | want them fresh every
day. every hour You know it. Give
me one more token Of gratitude. Rose
and ! will show you my apprecia
ton"
But Rose scorned to answer him
= and the more earnestly he pleaded the
more vehemently she shook her
averted head.
But here Ahmed. not only hungry
Q but greatly annoyed that he was not
3 as usual. holding the center of the
s stage. began to execute a number OF
\ hollow mieus, and at that familiar
: sound. Roses Indignation vanished
J. Slowly, she turned a forgivng and
@ even repentant cheek toward Willy.
/. Just because you risked your life
z to save him. and to seal our mutua
t JOY in his return" she said, and lifted