The Washington herald., 1913-10-19

fully slanting. be helped Betsy Spencer
mending the neck-band Of a faded shirt
Snow, look here" began Brian. remov-
ing his hat and trying to look severe.
There's been awful rotten team work
about this job. came to praise Caesar,
and you pulled a gun on me. Cordial
little thing. aren't you"'
i Il suppose real estate men are all
Z poets, Betsy rang tiny mocking bell
Of laughter. She drew one OF his folders
from her work-basket ana began to read:
Famed by old Pacific's balmy breezes.
mayhap the ti-erd business man."
"oh. Betsy?" moaned feeble voice
from within the house.
"Grandpa's very ti-erd business man
\ today, she announced, disappearing.
| rs he sick?' asked Brian, as soon as
she came back
He's getting all right now. but he's
been awful
Through the haIf-open door Brian saw
the old mah. wrapped in blankets.
What did you feed him at the famous
health lunch?'
| Ham an eggs"
'.Murderr' she gasped- Hes lived on
| butternilk and toast for years.
He Dragged he could walk further and
eat more vittles than
''oh. look!'' she said. suddenly regard
on your pretty actors coat Let me
\ sew IL on"
Without a word, the Booster shed,
while she selected button and began to
| sew.
GRANDPA is a great novelist gone
wrong. He's always amused himself tell
| ing tales. When he was fifty years old
he began lying about his age
The old-excuse mer'
"At sixty he swore he was seventy
| FIVE; at seventy he claimed to be a hun
dred- Are You in pain. Mr.. Boru?''
Then the old-excuse me-is only sew
/ enty-seven"
''on the 18th of last March," she re-
piled serenely.
grunted Brian. clutching at vain hopes.
Didn't he show marriage license to
prove it,
That license belonged to his father.
of the Same name. who has been dead
for twenty years.
Brian rose and started up the porch
Where are you going?" asked the
\ girl, intercepting him.
1 I've got to see bim-right off,''
mo. you don't" she said. grasping the
| doorknob firmly. Hes promised TO tell
the truth. and I'm going to help him.
More than that. I know reporter on the
Globe. and III give him the whole story"
The Irish rage that seethed within him
Brian suppressed by means Of a diplo-
macy that was still more Irish.
Miss Spencer" he said gently. Celtic
pathos gathering in his blue eyes. .'in
about ten minutes man who can buy
| the whole tract Is coming here with a
| hundred rubbernecks. The sale depends
on whether your grandfather sticks to
his fairy story or not
4 II don't see why grandpa and should
1 add our dishonesty to yours" Her tone
i was firm
who's dishonest?" he asked very
earnestly. We're offering those lots at
q snap, considering what they'll be
| -,orth in two years. improved and with
| a colony on EN- I'm boosting it as a
health resort, and it is healthy-every-
thing in this part of California is. Be-
sides''-Brian sighed-'I amt making
much commission on this job. but need
what little can get-need ii bad"
! More bunco dealsT
..Nope. Straightest game IN the world
"What. them" Her voice was softening
under his influence.
I'm goin' to get married. he confessed
huskily.
"oh. that's itr' He could feel the sud
den give in her antagonism. ''Well-if 1
see grandpa and ask about this. you must
remember-hes not to get cent for his
| falsehood."
After a minute Brian went in to the
| invalid, who sat, the picture of wee.
swaddled in quilts and smelling Of cam
phor.
In the distance Brian could hear the
honk of approaching automobiles.
"You see, Col Pottle." said Brian po-
litely. ''your granddaughter was so good
as to promise that you and she would
| help me out of this fix
"You know told you-he's going to be
married" prompted Betsy.
BE he? To who?" asked the dotard.
sharply.
'-oh, grandpa the girl chiaed. Just. as,
with a below and a honk, the first car
of Halloway's Health Pilgrimage drew up
at the gate outside.
Gimme my slippers m dressin' gown
piped the old man. Guess Pm bout as
| old as I feel. anyhow"
After the eminent Cyprus Holloway had
cast his owlish glances on Uncle Steve,
scrutinized carefully his records to OBJ
serve them fiawless. inquired into his an
cestry. religion. and state of stomach. he
suddenly paused. confronted his faithful
Hundred. and uttered an oracular state
ment
"A wonderful. wonderful case.'' he said
Il agree with you!' echoed Brian de-
voutIy
And now. IL we may. we will look at
| the land that has produced this IDEAL
specimen" he requested. Brian gave or
ders to the head chauffeur with the in
= ward sensations of one who orders mov-
| ing vans to carry away bank notes.
Follow the road to the big signpost
below" he instructed. "I'n come down
cross lots in about ten minutes" The
| buses thundered away.
"win they buy?'' asked Betsy, as the
two stood at the gate and watched the
| caravan fling across the acres below.
| "will a cork fioat?" he queried, in re-
ply. The signs never fall Look down
there. Already 1 can see half a dozen,
old gents pacing OF the street fronts.
while their wives are poking umbrellas
into the places where flower beds are go
| ing to be. Add me to that landscape and
you can tag the picture. Sold .
| He took her hand and half turned to-
| ward the road.
I'D like to thank you in my bum Ian
guage." he stammered- II can't. because
lit would need an orchestra to get IL
over"
'-Good-by." she said. raising her dark
eyes.
.Geer' said the Little Booster, when
I'm seventy-seyen I hope have a des-
cendant like you.''
"a favor for a favor" she requested,
looking away. What's the name Of that
helpless maiden you're going to marry.
You" said Brian Boru Blaney softly,
as he released her hand and began rae