The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1913-11-25

au iuthI
yes. books are." retorted Fran,
shaking back her hair, swinging her
foot, and twisting her body impatient,
ly. That's the only kind OF religion
know anything about-just books,
just doctrines; what you ought to be-
lieve and how you ought TO act-all
nicely printed and bound between GOV.
ers. Did you ever meet any religion
outside OF a book, moving up and
down. going about in the open?"
He answered in perfect confidence,
"Mr. Gregory lives his religion daily
the kind that helps people. that makes
the unfortunate happy"
Fran was not hopeful. We'll, I'VE
come all the way from New York 10
see him. I hope he can make me
happy. I'm certainly unfortunate
enough. I've got all the elements he
needs TO work on"
From New York;" He considered
the delicate form. tho youthful face.
and whistled. will you please tell
me where your home Is. Nonpareil! ?"
She waved her arm inclusively.
America. I wish Il were c%oncentrat.
ed In some spot. but It's Just spread
out thin under the Stars and Stripes.
My country's about all I have" She
broke OF with a catch in her voice
she tried 10 laugh. but It VAS no use.
Suddenly II came to Abbott Ashton
that he understood the language Of
moon. watching woods. meadow-lands.
eve the gathering rain-ctouds: all
spoke OF the universal brotherhood Of
man with nature: q brotherhood In.
GLIDING the most ambitious superin.
tendent OF schools and a homeless
Nonpareii: a brotherhood to be con
tirmed by the clasping OF sincere
hands. There was danger In such q
confirmation. for II carried Abbott be-
yond the limits that mark q superin.
tendent's confines.
A. he stood On the bridge. holding
Fran's hand in q warm and eympa.
thetic pressure. he was not unlike one
on p~icket-service who slips over the
trenches TO hold friendly parley with
the enemy. Abbott did not know there
was any danger In this brotheriy
handclasp: but that was because he
could not see q fleshy and elderly lady
slowly coming down the hill. As su.
perintendent. he should doubtless have
considered his responsibilities to the
public: he did consider them when the
lady. breathless and severe APP
preached the bridge, while every
pound OF her ample form cast It's
weight upon the seal OF her disapprov-
Ing. low-voiced and significant. Good
evening. Professor Ashton"
Fran whistled.
The lady heard. but she swept on
without once glancing back. There
was In her none OF that saline ten.
iency that made OF Lot q widower:
he lady desired 70 see no more.
Fran opened her eyes NJ Abbott 70
their widest extent. AZ she demurely
asked. How cold Is It? My Their.
mometer Is frozen
The young man did not betray un.
sasiness. though he was really
alarmed. for his knowledge of tho
heshy lady enabled him TO foresae
gathering clouds more sinister than
those overhead. The obvious thing
10 be done was 10 release the slender
hand: he did so rather hastily.
Have I got you into trouble?" Fran
asked, with her elfsh laugh. "If 80.
we'll be neighbors, for that's where l
live. Who was she?"
Miss Sapphire Clinton" he an.
swered as. by a common impulse, they
began walking toward Hamilton Greg.
ory's house. Bob Clinton's sister.
and my %landlady." The more Abbott
thought OF his adventure, the darker
Il grew; before they reached their des.
tination II had become a deep gray.
DO you meal the Brother Clinton
hat couldn't get through"
Yes He's the chairman Of
the School Board"
"Ah!" murmured Fran comprehend.
ingly. At Gregory's gate. she said.
Now you run back To the tent aud
I'll beard the lion by myself. know
Il has sharp teeth. but l guess 1t won't
bite me. Do you try TO get back to
the tent before the meetings over.
Show yourself there. Parade up and
down the aisles."
He laughed heartily. all the sorrier
for her because he found himself In
trouble.
1T was fun while It lasted. wasn't
III" Fran exclaimed. with q sudden
gurgle.
Part of II was" he admitted.
'Good.by. then. little Nonpareil."
He held out his hand.
mo. sir" cried Fran. clasping her
hands behind her, That's what got
you into trouble. Good-by. Run for
III"
CHAPTER w.