The Mena weekly star., 1913-10-09

"She's-" faltered Tom; then, talk ing the plunge, he blurted out: 'she'l Miss Kelly"
 Kelly" repeated Blake, mystified,
 Yes. Wanda Kelly, the phone op. orator downstairs"
 ''What?" exploded Blake.
 Then he collapsed in the nearest chair and stared in blank helplessness at his son.
 Well" demanded Tom, instantly on the defensive.
 'It's-it's a bum joke" growled Blake. Maybe it'd go better with the benjo. Stop guying me, boy, and tell me who the girl really is."
 q told you," repeated Tim. N"She is Wanda Kelly"
 There was a dead pause. Blake at last broke it.
 "There's about forty-five million women in the United States" he nut tered dazediy, land out of that whole lot, you had to go and-and fall in love with"
 Whats your obiection?" bristled Tom. You don't even know her, yet
 q don't, hey?" retorted Blake.
 Then, checking the impulse to tell his son the story of his verbal tilt with Wanda, he added:
 Maybe I don't. But I know her kind. She's after a rich mans son. She's an easy-mark hunter. And she's found one all right, all right"
 That's absurd. You don't know"
 Absurd or not" snapped Blake, its got to stop short! I'm not going to let you throw yourself away on a girl like that. If it comes to a showdown, I'll withdraw my support from you. And then what can you do? Hey? An swer me that. Here I've given you the softest snap there is-a big salary for loafing around an office a few hours a week. How much could you make by your own law practice if once take my hand from under you? You haven't got an earning ability of a thousand dollars a year. And you know it. Suppose I try that; and seq i8 she's so blooming anxious, then, to marry you"
 T understand" said Tom bitterly But you're wrong. l didn't ask your consent. l just told you what my plans are That's all"
 It's enough, l guess"
 Look here, dad. You spoke just now of coming to a showdown. Also you claim I'm no good without your backing. If I can't make a liviAg or my own hook, it's high time for me to begin to learn how. If all the educa tion and money and training you've spent on me have fitted me for noth ing except to be a political catspaW for you. its time I started along e fresh line. You've outlined my posi- tion pretty clearly. And I'm going to make my own way-with the girl mean to marry"
 "Oh, you poor wall-eyed fool!" sigh | ed Blake.
 If I'm a fool" fared Tom, '1 In. herit it!"
 Of all the senseless come-backs ever heard" commented Blake dis gustedly, that's about the fiatest and silliest. However, we understand each other at last" ''G suppose" broke in Tom. with sulky contrition, q needn't have said that. I'm sorry"
 You needn't be. Maybe you were comeback after all. But, of course, it's tough for a man to see his only son throw himself away on a."
 Steady, dad! won't stand for that sort of talk about her. Not even from you"
 Whether I say it or not" grumbled Blake, you know what l think. So what's the difference?"
 When you change your mind" an swered Tom, fighting hotly for self control, you'll have less to take | back"
 He damned on his hat, flung open the door-and confronted a man and woman who were entering. The woman-tall, slender strikingly | handsome-darted forward to where Jim Blake stood scowling at his son. And at sight of her the scowl changed to a light that few men had seen-or suspected-in the grim old politician 8 face.
 Hello, Grace!" he exclaimed in de- light. Gee, but you come like bunch of sunshine after a Welsh-rabbit night mare! Stand still and let's look at you! No, don't waste time kissing Tom. He's got other people to kiss" Continued in next lssue.)