The Irish standard., 1913-03-08
CHAPTER XIII.
Back IA tha Road

D6rtletC IOOk the telegram the clerk
handed him in an elation it was hard
to conceal from Bachelor, who leaned
against the counter of the store and
telegraph office combined, and
watched him modify.
Realizes that it was a piece of fool
ishness. his taking that trip" thought
Bartlett with the sympathy of the VIC
tor for the beaten. "Has probably for
gotten Billy for the time. Poor
Billy!"
He tore open the telegram quickly
and read it eagerly. and then slowly
and still again more slowly. while his
ford face grew first red and then
white.
Come back, for Gods sake. B.
here all the time. Where have you
been?" signed by his brokers' name.
After the third reading, Bartlett
raised his eyes and glanced DULY at
the Watermelon, leaning against the
counter, among the gay rolls of cali
co and boxes of rubber overshoes and
stockings, watching him with thought.
. full, wary eyes. and Bartlett wondered
If he were going mad.
It was late in the afternoon. The
general and the girls, having tele.
graphed for money, had gone to the
hotel to wait for their answers, while
Bartlett and the Watermelon had re.
NAMED in the store, Bartlett eager
to receive the answer to the Joyful
congratulations he had sent his brok
er on the success of his plan, and the
Watermelon because he scorned tc
run away like whipped cur, prefer
ring Bartlett to know who he was
ITO ask me for Billy" Bartlett ha6
at first decided. but changed his mind
as the youths gloom became appar
emily impenetrable.
Bartlett's jaw was set squarely
sternly, his eyes cleaned angrily and
small pulse beat in his cheek. He
handed the Watermelon the telegram
and watched him as he read it. !,
go who are. you?" he demanded
hoarsely, when the Watermelon had
finished reading the message and re
turned*it. s.,*. T.,
"Jeroboam Martin" said the Water
melon slowly, a grim: amusement in
his half:shut eyes.
"Jero-what?'.
"Jeroboam Martini"
"ButsBatchelor." stammered Bart
lett.Econfused. -
"B4tohelor,is in New York." re
turned the. w atermelon. ri just tele
graphed him, c. o. D., where he could
find his blooming car. Don't sup
pose the police had sense enough to
look for it at the hotel"
"A low. dirty trick" sputtered Bart
lett.
The Watermelon agreed. Typical
Of the Street." he sneered. "Yah, 1,
fairly reeks with the filth Of money
your plan and mine.'
my plan?" Bartlett flushed and
looked away. "stung." said he hum
bly,, and crumpled the telegram in his
hand as he gazed moodily through the
open door to the village street, impo
tent to refute the words of the Wa
termelon.
!. The. Watermelon nodded withou,
any undue elation, in fact, not think
ing at all about Bartlett, he was toe
entirely absorbed in his own troubles
Il suppose you are his partner
friends" questioned Bartlett, after a
moments painful readjusting of ideas.
mo, / am stranger. We met by
chance, as you might say. I am a
tramp"
"A tramp!" Bartlett's business cha
grin vanished before the rush of his
paternal alarm and surprise. "But.
by heavens, man. told Billy she
could marry YOU
The horror in his tones angered the
Watermelon. The hot blood leaped
into his face and his hands clenched.
well, why not?" he demanded. II
am man If am a tramp"
"Bah,"' sneered Bartlett. A man!
A COW, rather. an animal too lazy to
work. suppose you stole your
clothes"
Both talked in low voices that the
clerk, who only restrained himself
from approaching by the exertion OF