The Sentinel=record., 1912-01-07


 me" And Duncan expounded Kel- logg's rules at length. adapting n to Tracey's circumstances, of course, and throughout maintained the gray ity of graven image. You try and you'A see if I'm not right" he conclud- ed
 Gosh, b'lieye you arer" Tracey cried admiringly. I'm just goin to see how it works
 Do, if you'd favor me. Tracey Say. Mist--Nat. you've treated me somethin' immense"
 Your mistake, Tracey. haven't treated anybody since I've been here Pm on the wagon"
 Il mean just now. when we was talkin' bout me an Angie. rd-rd like to help you the same way if could" You wouldT Duncan eyed the boy apprehensively, wondering what was coming.
 Yes, indeedy. 1 would. An p'rhaps kin tell you somethin' that will"
 speak. beg"
 "fou-er-you're tryin' to court Josie Lockwood. amt you?" "Ohr' said Nat ''So that was iti That's secret, Tracey" he averred.
 "All right Only if you are she's your'n."
 Just how do you figure that out?"
 "Oh. kin tell. She was in here to. night with Roland" ''Tonight?'
 Yes. just afore you come home from prayer rneetin'. She was lookin' fo, you, an when she seen you wasn, here she wouldn't wait for no soda nor nothin'; said she had a headache an was goin' home. Roland went with her, but she didn't want him to. You just missed seein' her"
 Heavens, what blowP
 But Rolands takin her home needn't upset you none"
 Thank you for those kind words. Tracey" Nat sighed and passed a troubled hand across his brow. You're a true friend"
 I'm tryin' to be, Nat. same's you are to me-" Tracey thought this over But you ain't foolin' me. are your" he asked presently. T mean bout bein' a true friend"
 Why should IF"
 "Ah. I dunno. You're so cur'us sometimes. amt never sure whether you mean what you're sayin' or not"
 "oh, don't say that"
 Well, 1 aint the only one. Every body in town says they don't under stand you half the time"
 Duncan moved over to Tracey. His face was entirely serious. Tracey" he said. dropping hand on the boys shoulder. do you know, nothing in life is harder to bear than not to be understood ?'
 Tracey wrestled with this for a mo- ment, but 1t was beyond him
 Then why the dickens don't you talk sos folks n know what it's about?" he demanded heatedly.
 "Because-hmw Duncan hesitated, with his enigmatic smile. Well. be- cause the rules don't require it"
 What d you mean by tharY' Tracey exploded.
 Nat couldn't explain. so he counter ed neatly. This is one of your An gie evenings. isn't it, Tracey?"
 Yep. but"-
 Well. you hurry along m close up the shop"
 To Duncan, now seated on the edge of an upturned box in a corIRr of the store, came an idea He drew ron of bills from his pocket and stripped o1 he top one.
 Heres $5," he said to Tracey. Girls can usually be captured by ludicious expenditures. wish you luck"
 'Ah. thanks. Mir Duncan"
 But. Tracey
 The boy paused at the door "What?"
 Remember what l told you. Don't you make too much love. Let Angie do that"
 Gosh. that Ii be the hardest rule of all for mer' A shadow cIouded Ira cey's honest eyes. But l got to do 1t that way. anyway. ] can't ask her to marry me yit l can't afford to get married"
 Its contrary world, Tracey, q con trary world!" sighed Maj in tone of deepest melancholy.
 What makes you say that9 You kin git married s soon s you want to-" You think so. Tracey7"
 "All you got to do s ask Josis''-- I'm almost afraid you're right" "Whyf Don't you want to git mar ried %