Putnam patriot., 1913-07-11


 erable scoundrel 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"
 Tn short, MT. Gregory? But what about the wrong done Fran?"
 "Ain't I telling you? That worm- eaten pillar of the church that's made me lose so much faith in religion that l ain't got enough left worth the post age stamp to mail it back to the re- vival meeting where it came from"
 For heavens sake, Bob, tell me what wrong MT. Gregory did Franl"
 Didn'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 IFran's mother-was living, and hadn't been divorced? Don't he refuse to ac- Knowledge Fran as his daughter, mak- ing her pass herself off as the daugh- ter of some old college chum? That's
  like to see that baton of his laid over his back; I'd like to lay it, myself"
 It was impossible for Abbott to re- ceive all this as whole; he took up the revelations one at time. "is 1t possible that Fran is MT. Gregorys daughter"
 "Oh, she's his, all right, only child oF l,f fe Ch, came. thinking her father would do the right thing. him that's always praying to be guided alright, and balk- ing whenever the halter's pulled straight"
 Then" Abbott stammered. Mrs. Gregory is
 ''Yap; is with question mark. But there's one thing she isn't; she isn't the legal wife of this pirate what's always a-preying upon the consciences of folks that thinks they're worse than him."
 AS for MT. Gregory" Abbott began sternly-
 Robert pursued the name with a vigorous expletiye, and growled, "One thing, MT. Gregory has done for me, he's opened the fiood-gates that have been so long dammed-yes, I say dammed-I say"
 Bob" Abbott exclaimed, don't you understand Trans object in keeping the secret? It's on account of Mrs. Gregory If she finds it out-that she's not legally married-don't you see? Of course it would be to Fran's in- terests-bless her heart! What a. what Nonpareil!"
 "'Tain't natural" returned Clinton, for any girl to consult the interests of a woman that's supplanted her mother, No, Fran's afraid to have it told for fear she'd be injured by your cut-glass paragon. your religion-stuffed pillow that calls itself a man."
 Fran afraid? That's jokel I tell you, she's thinking only of MT. Greg ory."
 ''I'nl sorry for Mrs. Gregory" Rob- ert allowed, "but Grace Noir is more to me than any other woman on earth. F You don't see the point When think , of a girl like Grace Noir living under the same roof with that-that--" : MT. Gregory" Abbott supplied.
 And she so pure. so high, so much above us. It makes me crazy. And all the time she's been breathing the same air, she's thought him a Moses in the Wilderness. and us noth- ing but the sticks. Think of her be- lieving in that jelly pulp, that steel engraving in a Family Bible! No, mean to open her eyes, and get her out of his spiders web"
 q see your point of view"
 You do if you have eyes. Think of that perfect angel-but just say Grace Noir and you've called all the virtues. And her in his house!-"
 "You still believe in angels?" in- quired 4bbott gravely.
 "Yap; and devils with long sort-of- curly hair, nd pretty womanish faces, and voices like molasses."
 But Fran wants Mrs. Gregory spared"
 Abbott, when think of Grace Noir spending one more night under the roof of that burrowing mole, that croc- odile with tears in his eyes and the rest of him nothing but bone and gristle-"
 Bob. if I assure you that Miss Noir will never spend another day under his roof, will you agree to keep this discovery to yourself?"
 You can't make no such assurance. If she ain't put wise to what branch of the animal kingdom he twigs to. she'll not leave his roof"
 Bob, if she leaves that house in the morning, for ever, won't you agree to silence. for Mrs. Gregory's sake-and because Fran asks it?"
 "Fran's another angel, bless her heart! But you cant work it."
 Leave it to me. Bob. I'll be guided by the spur of the moment"
 'I need bookkeeper at my store," Robert said, ruminating.
 T promise you that Miss Noir will soon be open to offers"
 See here, Abbott. can't afford to lose any chances on this thing. I'm going to see the feathers fly. No-I don't want Mrs. Gregory to learn about 1t, any more than you or Fran; but I'll limit the thing to Grace"
 Shed tell Mrs. Gregory"
 Don't you say anything against Grace Noir, Abbott, for though you are my frtend-"
 T say nothing against her; I say only that she's a woman"
 We'll Clinton reluctantly agreed. .T reckon she Is. I'll tell you what I'll do. I'll go with you into that wolfs den, and I'll let you do all the