Putnam patriot., 1913-05-16
CHAPTER X.
An Ambuscade.

An Ambuscade.
 Fran's conception of the Clinton Boarding House, the home of jollity. was not warranted by it's real atmos- iphere. Since there were not many inhabitants of Littleburg detached from housekeeping, Miss Sapphira Clinton depended for the most part on "transients;" and, to hold such in lsubJection, preventing them from in- dulging in that noisy gaiety to which "transients" are naturally inclined just because they are transitory-the elderly spinster had developed an ab- normal solemnity.
 This solemnity was not only benefi- cial to "drummers" and court men" acutely conscious of being away from home, but it helped her brother Bob. Before the charms of Grace Noir had penetrated his thick skin. the popular Littleburg merchant was as unman- ageable as the worst. Before he grew accustomed to fall into & semi-coma- tose condition at the approach of Grace Noir, and, therefore, before his
 
 bachelor merchant often swore-not from aroused wrath, but from his pe- culiar sense of humor. In those Anti Grace and heather days, Bob, sitting on the long veranda of the green frame building, one leg swinging over the other knee, would say, "Yes, - it," or, No, - it." as the case might no hot fha protest of his sisters face would jelly in the fat folds of her double chin, helping. somewhat, to cover profanity with a prudent veil.
 Miss Sapphira liked a joke-or at least she thought so-as well as any body; but like a too-humorous author, she found that to be as funny as pos sible was bad for business. The 'trav- cling men were bad enough, needing to be reminded of their wives, whom they'd left at home, and, she'd be bound, had forgotten. But when one man, whether traveller or not-even staid young teacher like Abbott Ash ton, for instance-a young man who was almost like a son to her-when he secluded himself in the nighttime by himself? with another male? oh, dear, no,-with Fran, for example, what was the world coming to?
 There they stood" she told Bob, ''the two of them, all alone on the foot-bridge, and it was after nine o'clock. If I hadn't been in a hurry to get home to see that roomers didn't set the house afire, not soul would have seen the two eolloguing."
 And it don't seem to have done you any good remarked her brother, who, having heard the tale twenty times, began to look upon the event almost as a matter of course. You'd better not have saw them"-at an early age Bob had cut off his educa- tion, and 1t had stopped growing at that very place. Perhaps he had been elected president of the school-board on the principle that we best appre- ciate what does not belong to us.
 My home has been Abbott's home," said Miss Sapphira, "since the death of his last living relation, and her step. and it a mercy, for nobody could get along with her, and she wouldn't let people leave her alone. You know how fond I am of Abbott, but your position is very responsible. You could get rid of him by lifting your finger, and people are making lots of talk; it's going to injure you. People don't want to send their tender young innocent girls-they're mighty hard ened and knowing set, nowadays, though, I must say-to a superinten- dent that stands on bridges of nights, holding hands, and her young slip of thing. His a-standing on that bridge"
 He ain't stood there as often as I've been worried to death a-hearing of it." growled the ungrateful Bob, who was immensely fond of Abbott
 Miss Sapphira spoke with amazingly significant double mods between each word-"And saw only =. four days ago."
 She pointed at the schoolhouse, which was almost directly across the street, it's stone steps facing the long yeranda. They were the last to come out of that, door. You may say she's mere child. Mere children are not in Miss Bulls classes"
 But Abbott says the girl is far advanced"
 Far advanced! You may well say' I'll be bound she is-and carrying oa with Abbott on the very schoolhouss steps. Yes, l venture she is advanced You make me ashamed to hear you.
 Bob tugged at his straw-colored mustache; he would not swear, for whatever happened. he was resolved to lead the spiritual life. See here. Sapphira, I'm going to tell you some thing. had quite a talk with Abbott about that bridgebusiness-aftei you'd spread 1t all over town. sis-and II you'll believe me. she waylaid him