Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1913-11-20
CHAPTER Iv.-contlnued.


I'VE were held UP by the snow" he
explained. we got a sleigh to come
over in, but we walked up the hill and
came here. ! don't mind saying that
my wlfe's people don't know about this
yet, and we're going to lay low until
we've cooked up some sort OF a
scheme to tell them" Then he came
over and put his hand on my shout
der.
Poor old Minnie!" he said; hon
est, I'm sorry. I've been hard child
TO raise, haven't /? But that's all
over. Minnie. I've got an incentive
now, and it's STEADY, old boy for me-
You and will run the place and run
1t right"
Il don't want to-" | retorted, hold.
ing my bedroom slippers to steam be.
fore the fire. I'm going to buy out
Timmon's candy store and live a quiet
life, Mr.. Dick. This place is making
me old"
Nonsense! We're going to work
together, and wen make this the bust.
est spot in seven counties. Dorothy
and have got It all planned out and
we've got some corking good ideas.
He put his hands in his pockets and
strutted up and down. ITS the day
OF advertising, you know. Minnie" he
said. You've got to have the goods,
and then you've got to let people know
you've got the goods. What would you
say to a shooting-gallery in the base
ment, under the reading-room?"
/ couldn't be light-hearted to save
my life. ..
Your sisters been wild all day"
told Mrs. Dick. she got your letter
to-day-yesterday-b l don't think
she's told your father yet"
What" she screeched, and caught
at the mantel.piece to hold herself
Not Pat!" she said, Mortified, "and
father! Here!"
Well. listened while they told me-
They hadn't had the faintest idea that
Mr.. Jennings and Miss Patty were
there at the sanatorium.
The idea was this. Minnie" said
Mr.. Dick. odd mean Mr.. Jennings
isis not well; he has q chronic in
disposition"
Disposition, call It," put in Mr..
Jennings daughter.
And he's apt to regard my running
away with Dorothy when | haven't a
penny as more Of an embarrassment
than an elopement."
"Fiddle!" exclaimed Mrs. Dick. 81
asked you to marry me, and now
they're here and have to spoil it ALL
The thought of her father and his
disposition suddenly overpowered her
and she put her yellow head on the
back Of chair and began to cry.
Il can't tell him" she sobbed "a
wrote TO Pat-why doesn't Pat tel
him? Maybe she will think OF somC
way TO break IT TO him. She can dc
a lot with father"
Il hope she can think of some way
to break another Richard Carter tC
the people OF the house" said tartly
Another Richard Carter!" they saiC
together. and then / told them abou
how We had waited and got desperate
and how we'd brought In Mr.. Pierce
al the last minute and that he wal
asleep now at the house. They roared
To save my life ! couldn't see tha
II was funny. But when / came TO the
part about Thoburn being there, anC
his having had a good look at Mr.
Pierce, and that he was waiting
around with his jaws open to snap VI
the place when it fell under the ham
mer. Mr. Dick stopped laughing anc
looked serious.
It's possible we can get by Tho
burn" ! said. You can slip in 10
night. we can get Mr.. Pierce out
Lord knows he'll be glad to go-ant
Miss Dorothy can 90 back to school
Then, later, when you've got thing
running and are making good"
I'm not going back to school," sh,
declared, but I'll 90 away; I'll no
stand in your way, Dicky." She tool
two steps toward the door and waitet
for him TO stop her.
Nonsense, Minnie" he exclaimet
ansrily and put his arm around her "
won't be separated from my wife w
could 20 10 the old sheltcr-house OF
the golf links" looking me square il
the eye. Il took the hint, and Mrs
Dicky never knew he had been hid
den there before.) Nobody ever goe
near it in winter" So ! put on m
clippers again and VIC started throug'
the SNOW across tho golf links. Nh
Dick carrying bundle OF Grewood
and leading the way with M lantern
We got into the GhcltcrhcUse By IN
crawling through tho window. an
vAcV we had lighted the fire and hua
~ tho lantern, II didn't seem SO blt
There were two rooms. aud ~. Die