The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1913-08-14
CHAPTER XII.
Before the Storm,


laughed Grace. Marks been as cross
as bear"
Il haven't declared Robertson.
You have!" she insisted. And just
because the train was a few minutes
late. Oh, well-a few hours, then.
When I got in you were stamping up
and down the platform surrounded by
q blue haze; like Ajax defying the
railroad Really, l was ashamed of
you. II it hadn't been for the lovely
flowers you got me-"
What was the deIay?" asked Blake.
II don't know" she answered, laying
aside her wraps with Robertson's awk-
ward If eager aid. THE engine made
too strenuous an effort to get out of
Baltimore. And it broke down. How
are you, dad?"
Oh grunted Blake, AS we'll as a
man may hope to be who never can
hope to make himself worthy Of such
a wonderful son. L"
Toni" cried Grace in jolly reproof.
There's been another explosion!
What was it, this time? Tell mel"
Politics." answered Blake before
Tom could speak I'm a wicked, hope
less, corrupt old guy. And Toms just
discovered it-for the thousandth
time. It's hurt his feeling something
terrible"
why do you boys quarrel so fool
ishly?" she demanded Neither of
you ever quarrels with me. I'm going
10 be an arbitration committee and
dove of peace, all in one, and settle
your grievances-when get time"
And, speaking of time" put in
Mark, 81 ought to be at the Capitol
this very minute. Coming?" he asked.
turning to Blake and Tom.
'Tn little while,' said Blake. You
two run on. l want to speak to
Grace"
Tom led the way from the room.
Mark, following, paused an instant on
the threshold.
by the way, Grace" he called, over
his shoulder, we've asked Standish to
come here II wouldn't do for US TO
be seen comforting with him at the
Capitol or anywhere else in public.
If he gets here before we're back, ask
him to wait, won't your"
His wife's back had been turned to-
ward him and she was leaning over a
table arranging flowers in vase Her
voice as she replied was quite indif-
aerent.
Certainly" she agreed. Confer
all night if you want to, so long as
you don't do it loudly enough to keep
me awake"
Robertson closed the door, leaving
Grace and her father alone together.
Noting Blake's scowl, she asked:
How is the Mullins fight coming
on?"
"Twenty-fourth round,'' he replied.
Both men groggy."
You'll win, thought she said; and
there was scarce a note Of interroga-
ton in her voice.
ITS a way I've GOT bluffed her IA
ther; loath that the daughter, whose
faith in his powers was so secure,
should know of the straits in which he
was laboring. "Standish is doing his
best to block US. And he thinks he's
done it A lot of other folks think so,
too. But I'm fixing up mine to
spring under him tonight. And after
the explosion guess the air will clear
for the Mullins bill. But that wasn't
what wanted to speak to you about.
IT'S Tom"
Toni"
yes He's in love-
'Ts that all? Oh, see. The quar-
rel was about that. He came to you
Tor sympathy and"
;rI
can get sympathy for. I don't know
why, but he can't: having his umbrella
stolen; getting his best hat sat on; a
toothache; and falling in love. But 1t
happens. Tom didn't come looking for
sympathy He Just handed me an ul-
timatum. And 1t didn't ultimate.
That's where want you to help me-"
who Ia she? Do know herr"
you've probably seen her here at
the Keswick, though / don't suppose
you've noticed her You wouldn't be
likely to. She's Wanda Kelly"
Not the phone girl?" asked Grace In
dismay.
You win. Real nice, amt it2
Makes an awful hit with me, after all
I've done and planned for that boy, to
have him tumble into an affair like
this"
Don't worry!" she treasured him.
There are other ways Of convincing a
man-especially lover-than by
storming at him. You know all about
politics, dad, and you can whip voters
and congressman into line. But Tom
needs a different line of attack. And
he's going to get it. From me-"
"Say!" calculated Blake. You've
taken three-ton load OF my mind.
by the way, do you know anything
about this Kelly girl?''
I've spoken to her once or twice.
What about herr
"Sha isn't fnol She's EakkAr E=A.