The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1913-10-23

Robert. What business can you have
with me that wouldn't wait till morn
ing? Look here, I'm desperate!"
$50 am l." retorted Abbott. Bob,
you've been to Springfield"
Robert Clinton snatched open the
yard-gate, muttering, That's my BUSH
ness"
Miss NOir sent you to unearth a
secret"
"Oh!" exclaimed Robert, in an al
tered tone, stopping in the gateway,
did she tell you about it?''
"No-but you've brought back that
secret, and you must not tell it to
Miss Noir"
mot tell her? That's funny!" Rob-
ert produced a sound which he expect
ed to pass as laughter. $50 that's
what you wanted to tell me, is it? Do
you know what the secret isl"
~ do not But you mustn't tell it.
However, that's what I'm going to
do, as soon as | reach that door
take your hand off, man, my blood's
up. by Georgel Can't you see my
hoods up? It's a-boiling, that's what
it's doing So all you want is to
ask me not to tell that secret?"
mot exactly all"
"Well, well-quick! What else?"
"TO see that you don't tell it."
How do you mean to see that j
don't tell it,"
you will listen to reason, Bob"
said Abbott persuasiveIy.
mo, / WON'T" cried Robert 'Not
me! No, sir! I'm going to tell this
minute"
"You shall mott" said Abbott, in a
lower and more compelling tone. His
manner was so absolute, that Robert
Clinton, who had forced his way al
most to the porch-steps, was slightly
moved.
See here, Abbott-sayt Fran knows
all about it, and you pretend to think
a good deal of her. Well, it's to heI
interests for the whole affair to be
laid open to the world.
II think SO much of F'rsn," was the
low and earnest rejoinder, that if J
were better fixed, I'd ask her to marry
me without moments delay. And j
think enough of her, not to- ask her
to marry me, until | have a good poa
sition Now 1t was Fran who asked
me to see that you didn't betray the
secret. And 1 think SO much of her.
that I'm going to see that you don't!"
For a moment Clinton was silent;
then he said in desperation: Where
is your nice dark alley? Come on,
then, let's get in it," -
When they were safe from Interrupt
ton, Clinton resumed: You tell me
that Fran wants that secret kept? I'd
think she'd want it told everywhere
This secret is nothing at all but the
wrong that was done Fran and her
mother. And since you are SO frank
about how you like Fran, I'll follow
suit and say that l have asked Grace
Noir to marry me, and I know I'Il
stand better show by getting her
out OF the hypnotic spell of that mis-
cradle scoundrer who poses as bleat-
ing sheep"
Abbott interrupted: "The wrong
done Fran? How do you mean?"
why, man, that-that hypocrite in
wool, that weed that infests the
ground, that"
"In short, Mr.. Gregory? But what
about the wrong done Franz"
"Ain't l telling you? That worm
eaten pillar of the church that's made
me lose SO much faith in religion that
1 amt got enough left worth the post
age stamp to mail it back to the re-
vfval meeting where it came from
For heavens sake Bob, tell me
what wrong Mr.. Gregory did Fran."
sDidn't he marry Fran's mother
when he was a college chap in Spring
field, and then desert her? Didn't he
marry again, although his first wife
F'ran's mother-was living, and hadn't
been divorced? Don't he refuse to ac-
knowledge Fran as his daughter max
ing her pass herself off as the daugh-
ter of some old college chum? That's
what he did, your choir-leader! I'd
like to see that baton of his laid over
his back; I'd like to lay it, myself"
(TO BE CONTINUED)