The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-06-08

LHSH got QeaQ interested trying to make the store amount to some In my life was so happy as when it began to show a profit. I realized i things were easier for the old man | and found by scrimping a little we l could send the girl away to school
 She was well worth it, you know.
 "Oh!' calculated Kellogg, raising | his eyebrows and giving his friend a ! wise look. ''So that's the ideal" | NO. no, mol" protested Duncan l Not what you mean, Harry, not al
 all: Only she-well. she's nice lit
 little girl, and she needed chance il
 life, that's all. Since I've been work of our agreement-singled out this Lockwood girl and worked all the de grees. didn't say much-no love-
 making, but just let her catch me
 looking sadly at her once in a while. ' That's the way" Interrupted Harry enthusiastically; you've got the idea, Yes, that's the way" repeated Dun can, bitterly. .but the longer I keep il
 up, the meaner I feel I'm getting along on my own account now, and
 want you to agree to let me out These rubes, as you call them, struck
 me as being nothing but a. lot of jay 
 know them they are just as human as city people. I like 'em now and on the level, I'm getting kind of stuck on church.. And as for work why, eat it upr'
 Kellogg rose with heavy sigh,
 which was belied by the smile that
 n1ckered around the corners of his
 mouth, and walked so close to Nat
 that he could look him into his eyes. He felt that he must use his utmost powers of persuasion if his whole scheme was not to collapse, leaving Duncan where he had been year be- fore with only a hard experience for his palms, ts%-as es
 Nat, my poor crazy friend, listen working and helping Graham is all very noble and fine and I'm glad you've done it. This drugstore is a. monument to your business ability, but come down to earth now. This place is paying little profit-very good; that's all 1t ever will do. It's all new to you and you're having the time of your life finding out you're good for something. But from now on it will get stale and before long youu hate it. and next you'll hate the town and then you'll be right where you were before.,. Now, Pm go- ing to hold you to your bargain for v the town and the store, you can keep right on just as we'll. after you're mar rfed. but if you're not--you've got a fortune to do what you like with. Oh, Nat, don't. let this chance slip now, on your hfei"
 grill" protested Nat. From the way I've been living she thinks I'm closely related to the saints" @g,s
 Kellogg considered a moment before answering this argument, but he smiled craftily as he said:
 Well, if you think you're taking a mean advantage on that account, when she proposes to you, tell her all about yourself-just the sort of chap you've been. And if she wants to back out then, I'll have nothing to say. But believe me, Nat, if you tell her. it will cinch matters ''' s Duncan droppedzinto the chair that Kellogg had vacated and held his head in his hands. Il
 Well. a bargains a bargain he Of; honor and ,IH go through with this thing, but tell you now, don't like it.''
 ..Oh, I suppose that's the way you feel now" said Harry, sootfingiy, "but sometime you'll come to me and say: Harry, if you had let me back out Of that agreement. I'd never have forgiven you 7
 All right sighed Nat, getting up wearily. 1T suppose you know best,
 You can bet I do!'' said Kellogg, enthusiastically. And now, I've got to get around and see your prospective father-in-laW.''
 He was moving toward the door when Nat, recalled that he had not asked him something. of grave import ance to old Sam and Betty
 stOh, say, Harry he said, 'show is that patent gas-burner getting on?"
 "Our lawyers are still working on it." said Kellogg. sThe Modern Gas They've got burner that does the trick all right, but if we find it's an on Graham's patent we'll put a crimp in them. How much of 1t do you, own?'
 .It,s all Graham's,' said Nat short lv.
 stAll Graham's?" repeated the other in surprise. And you write me as if it were everything in the world to you. You're still far from a business man, Nat...
 Josie Lockwood entered as he was about to; pass out of the store and Nat introduced him.
 "Oh. MT. Kellogg she said, ''my father is waiting for you"
 r II SCOIl u4r JuaL ldu8u0U f1drry. ''As I'm not wanted here and am awaited there, I'll be off,'
 Hurry back" called Nat.
 Josie turned to him poutingly and the argument she had be- gun over the telephone about his es- ,orting her home from church trSI
 Its awfuly hard for me, Nat,'' she | protested, 'fo have folks think I'm you and you're avoiding | me-"
 "oh. Josie." he scolded. shaking his finger at her. Il
 q don't believe you care anything l about mel" she said. suddenly and 1 with an arch look
 Nat felt. in his bones that the cru :ial moment was at hand but he was | oowerless to stay it's advance.
 ''Oh, Josie, please" he protested 1 But she gave him another maidenly l modest look and continued:
 You never told me sO.''
 Don't you see that I shouldn' t?' he l declared, going close to her. You Ire an only daughter-you are rich-| m heiress. I am a poor man. Would you want it said that I was only af- .er your money?'
 ''No one would dare say such a | hing,". she protested, indignantly, and 1 moving bit closer to chifn!ts q
 "Oh, yes, they wouH,' he insisted. ! And for all you know, they might | 3e right. How could you tell that-''
 .Oh., don't, say such horrid things!" .ooed the heress. 'I. could tell, Nat. \ woman always can. know that