The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1913-05-08


you like. Mr.. Pepperton is a dinlcult
bird to catch, 80 we hope for you at
luncheon, aud OF course we expect you
for dinner"
Pepperton booked at me inquiringiy.
judged that he had known Miss Oc-
tavia n good many years-the tone of
their intercourse was intimate, and yet
he plainly was ut loss to understand
Just how came to be so thoroughly es-
tnblished In her good graces. I confess
that as I glance back over these passl
It looks odd to me!
AS paced the hall waiting for .
horse to be saddled, Pepperton led me
out on the terrace above the garden.
"Tm bursting with great secret, old
man. I'm going to be married"
"Whatr'
I'm going to be married."
I grasped a chair to support myself
This was almost too much. Could II
be possible that Hezeklah had miscal'
culated the list Of reflections In the sil.
yer bound book. or that Cecilia herself
had been deceivcd7 Pepperton misrcad
my agitation and with a hearty laugh
clapped me on the shoulder.
"Oh, I'm not intruding on your pre-.
serves, old man! Cecilia IL the second
finest girl In the world-thats all. I'm
engaged to Miss Gaylord of Stock.
bridge. I'm telling u few old friends. In
advance of the formal announcement
TO be made next week at n dance the
Gaylords are giving"
| crushed his hand IN both my own
and, seeing that he misconstrued the
fervor Of my emotion. L FASTENED to SET
myself Alright
you're u lucky dog as usual, Pep,
But you don't understand about Cecilia
HOLSTER. It's not I'm not I'm the run
ming at all, but Hartley Virgins isl
I'm here trying to help him score"
"Whats this? You're here to repre-.
sent Wlggy?"
"Well, he didn't exactly send me
here. but when | came l found that
WirCy wasn't playing the game with
quite the necessary APOLOGY. There's
more required than appears-a little Of
the dash and snap of the old adventur.
ers-thc ready tongue, the eager, thirsty
swordr'-
Pepperton pursed his lips and looked
eye.
~ = are contributing those elemcntsl
IN are Octaviaized-is that itr' Pep
perrou laughed until the tears came.
81 prefer Hollisterzed as the broader
term. Brother Bassford has II. too,
and there's always Hezcklah!"
"Ah Hezekiah the unpredictable! |
knew there was skirt 6uttering some
where. saw her yesterday-stopped
to see Bassford. who's good old chap,
Hezekiah OF the teasing eyes was
whitewashing the chicken coop, and
Michelangelo couldn't have done 1t bet.
ter"
pep" l said. lowering my voice, III
you love me keep close to Cecilia all
day. You're an engaged man and In
practice. Give an imitation of devo
tion. Keep her out Of doors-keep
male human beings away from her
Don't fail me In this. I've got to pull
or the greatest coup OF my life today
There's band OF outlaws hanging
round here who will propose to Cecilia
the first chance they get, and they
must NOT. Wigs got to speak before
night or lose out forever No-not a
word of explanation. You've got t
take my word for It."
"I'll be the goat. Go ahead, bu
build fire under Virgins, ! cam
stay here forever"
Pepperton's engagement smoothed on
one wrinkle and | felt sure that
could trust him ms an ally. The groom
was holding my horse In the porte
cochere, aud | mounted and rode ava!
to the Prescott Arms.
found Ormsby. Shallenberger, Ar
buthnot, Henderson, Hume and Gors
glumly sitting In semicircle befor
the hall fireplace. Deepest gloom per
rIded the inn. | have rarely seen mel
suchOly so darkly stamped upon tn
human couutenance. They turned In
Ill ferently and glared as they recog
nILed me. Shallenberger alone ros
and greeted me.
Il hope there is no bad news" h
said chokingly
Bad news2'
Il mean Miss Hollister-M Miss Cecilia
We were all deeply grieved last nigh
10 hear OF her sudden illness. There's
always something so terrible In tn
very name of diphtheria"
My wits had been so sharpened b.
my late adventures that readily &C
counted for these false tldings, Die
was absent. Dick alone would hav
been equal to this diabolical plot 10
keeping his rival suitors away froI
Hopeheld. The despair in those face
taxed my gravity severely,
1T is extremely sad, but the frs
diagnosis was erroneous" | answered
II think It more likely TO prove to b
CHICKEN box. EGeaIhe truth is known,