The Cairo bulletin., 1912-03-20

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II RUBIES
III By
Ill FRANCIS PERRY
III ELLIOTT
III Niattra.ienf BY
Ill RAY WALTERS
<lopynsAL l9li b.. BsOb, Msran compaay)
NiaJtrd!fen5 ~
RAY WALTERS

there WAS my Aunt Julia. who lived by
it--fGct! Rut his head shook impa-
tiently when suggested that he
meant this
bridge" he exploded why, Fran
els doc Mt knox hri &c from casino!
Poker, | tell yoig, ana Iaro-and all
the rest. The piutking was done
nightly at certain--er~-elub, the es'
Establishment OF a gentleman by the
! name of MeGinty-S Spot McGinty--
CHI. you kxow the place. them
faced him earnestly, 1--er--
Judge Billings. do understand YOU
/ that is, 1t can't be that you are speak
ing cf--er-Frances? | stammered
incredulously Il mean your Frances
surely you are mott"
81 Just am" His jaw set with a
snap. Just who I'm talking about
and nobody else, young man! mean
my Francis-Francis Leslie Billings
who else could | mean?" He almost
groaned. "Oh. you don't know Fran
cis,"
| Dash 1t, what they all chorused at
me, They seemed pretty positive
| about 1t. too, and | was jolly miser'
| able; but looking back now, | some
| how think of that moment as being
| the point where reached the parting
of the INTERPRETATIONS.
Meantim her father was studying
me little oddly md smiling.
II see you don't quite like what
say about Francis, he remarked, puff.
fing complacently.
looked him straight In the eye.
Frankly, I don't, If you must know"
blurted. Then / screwed my monocle
| tight and Strengthened forward by
Jove, think you ought to be ashamed
OF yourself, you know!'
"Wh-what's that?-Lightnuti He
turned beet color and grasped the
arms OF his chair.
"Oh, do" ] stood up and he fol-
lowed. II think If that poor child had
| had @ NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. and
kindness-that sort OF thing-oh, dash
1t, Just think you've been Internally
| harsh always-yes, I dol"
| Well, I'll be-" He swallowed IL,
neck forward, and stood painting bit.
Harsh, eh?" he jerked at me. UNI"
| He stood there his feet braced apart.
his white brows beetling at the floor,
Harsh" He cooked his head on one
side, thrusting out his heavy under
lip. Then came sniff and grunt.
| and oh, he looked black
And just then came quick breath,
| and | caught murmur: Il wonder
| now II, after all, that ia true, BY
George, they say children and" The
mutter trailed off. Here, here, my
boy--sit down" he exclaimed sudden.
| ly; and he made me.
II want to thank you, Lightnut," he
said impressively. 1T may be that
you are right. Perhaps the better
course would be gently to reason with
Francis"
"Oh. judge, am sure of It," urged
feelingly.
We'll, well, my boy--we'll see" He
patted me on the knee. I'm going
to try your way-by George, I'll do II
tonight" His eyes seemed to hold
me with a more kindly and personal
interest. do you know | can't tell
you how glad | am that you find SO
much In Francis to like; indeed. am
delighted" Still studying me atten
| lively, he musipgly reached for fresh
light. "In point of fact, Lightnut,
am free to say hope the intimacy
begun between you two will grow clos
er. 1t would be a laundering good
thing for Francis and a great comfort
to me-"
And, by Jove, he smiled at me--a
devilish pleasant smile!
SO | Just leaned forward and made
O go:
Thanks awfully; and-er---by the
way" Then | stuck. boggled wildly
an instant and went on: That is &c
say, this intimacy, you know-has Il
been too short to Justify" I gulped
"Er-would you be willing to trust
And ] lost the dashed idea again
foundered bit and took another shy;
"Oh, I say, you know, have your
permission to speak to Francesca
you know"
You speak to Francis"-he JUS
leaped toward me- "Why, my boy!'
And he was wringing my arm witt
one hand while the other clasped m,
shoulder. MY de-e-ear boy-why
Lightnutv" BY Jove, he almos
gushed You're not joking now, ar,
your" He peered anxiously into m.
face mo, by George. believe yol
really mean IT." And he went L
pumping like mad. How awful,
good OF ou--self-sacriticing is thu
word! Are you quite sure you don
mind"
"Mind?' BY Jove, think looked
what felt at such a dashed sill!
question.
WELT we'll! WE'LL My dear yount
friend!" And oh. he went on In thu
most disgusting way---why, dash 1t
you would have thought was doint
him some favor! guessed, though
that 1t was the usual custom, but 1
seemed rum--for I should hav,
thought that in giving your daushte
4 has xlrxs n IA.