Monroe City Democrat. (Monroe City, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1912-06-13

rTdHCiS- my ueHTL LOOh Jolly leap
but Francis Is mpossible-quite
impossible!"
by Jove, mol" calculated eagerly,
and I came up in my chair like a gal
vanized what's-its-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 1t. mo, sir!" His head
shook with decision. Wouldn't do
i wouldn't think of trusting you with
Francis" he finished shortly.
"O!" Just gasp, you know; and
my jolly cheeks stung as from dash
OF fiery what's-its-name sauce. So he
knew about the paJamas too!
half rose from my chair.
II assure you, sir" began stiff
ly.
His fussy shrug checked me. mo,
no, We'll just have to wait till Jack
gets up. The only thing I'm anxious
about is the scenery and the view
points; and l just know if Francis
went with you, you would never see
any OF it."
BY Jove, thought that quite likely
enough, but of course it was devilish
personal Of him to say so. And dash
seeing the scenery and view points,
anyway-who wanted to see them, If
they could see her? | was just going
to suggest this, when he went on:
The fact is" He hesitated, then
fiicked his ashes with a sigh. "Oh,
well, since I've said as much as |
have, l should go further, l 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"
hitched to the front OF the chair.
How dev-I mean how"
He nodded. And so l feel justified
In talking to you frankly-not that |
want to prejudice you against Fran
els, you understand, but just because"
his head wagged 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
could feel the smile slowly loosen
ing in my face. He moved to a seat
| nearer.
II don't like to seem to be dis
| paraging 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!" felt myself shrink together,
my knees slanting away from him.
My dashed monocle hung limp.
He angled closer. Jacks drinking
is bad-that / admit, but perhaps
| h'm--he comes by It naturally; still
Jack has never forgotten that he is a
| gentleman-the son OF a gentleman
and has never been what you would
call fast, but" His chest lifted under
| q deep breath-"but Fransis-whew!"
"Fast-Frances?" It faltered tremu.
lousy from my hps; my cigar dropped
with q soft thud.
His eyes wfdened. "Oh, yes-fright'
tully!" And he teadered me another
cigar. and / had to light the made
me! "Of course, the mistake was in
! ever sending Francis away to school
not always = wise thing, Mr.. Light
nut, especially when the home life
| has been too cloistered. ! think the
reaction was too much for one SO
green and inexperienced as Francis.
And extravagance-my!" He lifted
his hands. II thought Jack was bad
enough at Cambridge with a thou
sand-dollar apartment on the Gold
Coast as you call it-and, by George
you Harvard men have got the right
name for it!-but Francis beat that IN
one terms drain on me for poker
losses and"
"Poker?" moistened my lips. Then
frightened, for perhaps he meant
bridge-and that was good form, foI
there was my Aunt Julia, who lived by
it--fact! But his head shook impa'
tiently when / suggested that he
meant this.
"Bridge!" he exploded. why, Fran
els doesn't know bridge from casino!
! fOheTS Tell you' anu law o ~A'
the rest. The plucking was done
nightly at a certain-er-club, the es'
tablishment of a gentleman by the
name of McGinty-'Spot' McGinty-
oh, you know the place, them"
I faced him earnestly. "I-er--
Judge Billings, do / understand you
that is, 1t can't be that you are speak
ing of-er-Frances?" stammered
| Internationally. "I mean your Frances