Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1913-04-23
copyrtght 1911 BY Bobbs-Merriu comDaay


81 am very happy" was all he could
say.
George, | am uneasy. I don't know
why. It's my mother, my uncle, and
Horace. I am going to meet them
somewhere. know it. And / worry
about you"
"About me? That's foolish" He
smiled down at her.
tAh, why did my mother seek to re-
new the acquaintance with you? Why
did Horace have you kidnapped into
the desert? There can be no such a
thing as the United Romance and Ad-
venture company. 1t is a cloak for
something more sinister"
"Pshaw! What's the use of worry
ing, little woman? Whatever schemes
they had must be out of joint by now.
Sometimes I think I must be dream
ing, little girl"
'T am not little. I'm almost as tall
as you are"
"You are vastly taller in many
ways"
Don't be too sure. am human;
have my moods. I am sometimes
crotchety; sometimes unjust and quick
of temper"
Cali right; I want you, temper and
all, just the same"
''But will they like me? Won't they
think I'm an adventures, or some
thing like that?"
'Bless your heart, not in a thou
~,
some ways, and they know it,
And so it proved to be. Both Mr..
and Mrs. Mortimer greeted them at
the pier in Hoboken. One glance at
the face Of the girl was sufficient. Mrs.
Mortimer held out her arms. 1t was
a very fine thing to do.
'I was in doubt at first" she said
frankly. George is so guileless. But
to look at you, my child, would scatter
the doubts Of a Thomas. Will you
let me be your mother, if only for a
little While?" with wise and tender
smile.
Shyly Fortune accepted the en-
brace. Never had she been So happy.
Never had she felt arms like these
about her
''What did he cable your" she asked
in a whisper
THAT he loved you and wanted me
to mother you against that time when
he might have the right to take you
as his own. Has he that right?"
Eyes. And oh! he is the bravest
and tenderest man know; and below
it all he is only a boy"
Mrs Mortimer patted her hand A
little while later all four went over
to the city and drove uptown to the
Mortimer home. On the way Fortune
told her story, simply, without avoid
ing any essential detail. And all her
new mother did was to put an arm
about her and draw her closer.
The Mortimer home was only three
blocks away from Georges. So, when
dinner was over, George declared that
he would run over and take a look at
his own house. He wanted to wander
about the rooms a bit, to fancy how
it would look when Fortune walked
at his side. He promised to return
within an hour. He had forgotten
many things, ordinarily important;
such as wiring his agent, his butler
and cook, who were still drawing their
wages. He passed along the street
above which was his own. He paused
for a moment to contemplate the
great banking concern. And the pres
ident of this bank was the elder
brother of Ryanne! Lots of queer
kinks in the world; lots of crooked
turnings. He passed on, turned the
corner, and strobe toward his home,
ran up the steps Three doors below
ecstasy thrilling his heart. Lightly he
he noticed two automobiles. He gave
them only a cursory glance. He took
out his ring of keys, found the night
latch and thrust it into the keyhole.
He never had believed in this putting
up of iron gates and iron shutters. A
night-latch and a caretaker who came
round once a day was enough for any
sensible person. He turned the key.
Eth? 1t didn't seem to go round. He
tried several times, but without sue
cess Puzzled, he struck a match and
stopped before the keyhole
1t was a new one.