The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1913-08-28

Will MT IHdI NOuluH Walt iii ILOIn IL
ing? Look here, I'm desperate"
so am l" retorted Abbott Bob,
you've been to Springfield"
Robert Clinton snatchcd open the
yard-gate, muttering, That's my bust
ness"
Miss Noir sent you to unearth
secret"
OH" exclaimed Robert, in al al
tered tone. stopping in the gateway.
did she tell you about it,"
"No-but you've brought back that
secret. and you must not tell it tc
Miss Noir"
Not tell her? That's furry" Rob
ert produced a sound which he expect
ed to pass as laughter. SO that's
what you wanted to tell me. is it? DO
YOU know what the secret isl"
Il do not But you mustn't tell it,"
However, that's what I'm going &c
do, as soon as | reach that door
cake your hand Off, man, my hoods
ap by George, Can't you see my
biOed's un? It's a-bOiling. that's what
It's doing So all you want IS tc
ask me not to tell that secret?"
Not exactly all"
We'll, weil-quick, What else?"
To see that you don't tell it,"
How do you mean TO see that J
don't tell it,"
You will listen TO reason. Bob
said Abbott persuasively
No, | WON'T" cried Robert. Not
me! No, sir! I'm going to tell this
minute
You shall not" said Abbott, in
lower and more compelling tone His
manner was so absolute, that Robert
Clinton, who had forced his way al
most to the porch-steps. was slightly
moved
See here, Abbott-say! Fran knows
all about it. and you pretend to think
a good deal of her Well, it's to her
interests for the whole affair 20 be
laid open to the world"
II think so much of Fran" was the
low and earnest rejoinder, that If
were better fixed, I'd ask her to marry
me without a moments delay. And ]
think enough of her. not to ask her
to marry me. until have a good pc
sition. Now il was Fran who asked
me to see that you didn't betray the
secret And | think so much of her
that IIn going to see that you don't"
For moment Clinton was silent;
then he said in desperation Where
is your nice dark alley? Come on
then. let's get in it,"
When they were safe from interrup
ton. Clinton resumed: You tell ma
that Fan wants that secret kept? II
think she'd want it told everywhere
This secret is nothing at all bur the
wrong that was done Fran and her
mother. And since you are so frank
about how you like Fran, I'll follow
suit and say that | have asked Grace
NoiT to marry me, and | know IN
stand a better show by getting her
out of the hypnotic spell Of that mis-
cradle scoundrel who poses as bleat
ing sheep
Abbott Interrupted The wrouI
done Fran? How do you mean?"
Why, man, that-that hypocrite ir
wool, that weed that infests the
ground, that"
In short, Mr.. Gregory? But what
about the wrong done Franz"
Amt | telling you? That worm
eaten pillar OF the church that's made
me lose so much faith in religion that
| amt got enough left worth the post
age stamp to mail it back TO the re
yival meeting where it came from
For heavens sake, Bob tell me
what wrong Mr. Gregory did Fran"
Didn't he marry Frans mother
when he was college chap in Spring
field, and then desert her? Didn't he
marry again, although his first Wife
Fran's mOther-was living. and hadn't
been divorced? Don't he refuse 10 ac
knowledge Fran as his daughter. max
ing her pass herself off as the daugh
ter of some old college chumo That's
what he did, your choirleader! IL
like to see that baton OF his laid ever
his back; I'd like to lay it, myself