The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1913-12-19

/ what they want 10 say, anu yet
daren't let either speak word
Mrs Keap, are you sure Culver
loves your"
Horribly! And he suspects the
truth. l saw him change the moment
he found me here" Roberta began
to weep; two limpid tears stole down
her cheeks, she groped for chair,
and Wally hastened to her assistance.
AS he supported her. she gave way
completely and bowed her head upon
his shoulder.
| It was in perfect keeping with the
luck of things that Miss Blake should
enter at the moment. She had come
with Jack and his sister to inquire
regarding the fitness Of her champion
and to nerve him for the contest, and
stood aghast Chaplin stepped for
| ward with look of suspicion, inquir-
ing:
whats going on here?"
Miss Blake spoke brightly, tinkling
ice in her voice.
There's no necessity for an expla-
nation is there? 1t seems time for
congratulations"
| "Oh, see here now! Mrs. Heaps
really engaged to Culver. you know"
| "Culver!"
| "Culver!"
Both the young ranchman and his
sister stared at the chaperon with
+, growing horror, while she undertook
to explain; but the blow had fallen
SO swiftly that her words were inco-
herent, and in the midst of them her
hostess turned and fed from the
| room.
Now don't begin to aviate, until
you understand the TRUTH" Speed con-
tinued. while she's engaged to that
broken-toed serpent, she doesn't love
him, do you see?" He smiled
| II do not see!"
ut was simply a habit Mrs. keap
had got into-I should say it was an
impulsive engagement that she has
repented Of"
mo doubt she was repenting when
we interrupted you," said Miss Blake,
bitterly.
Then Chaplin added, helplessly:
"But Culver is engaged to my sister
Jean!"
"Jean!" Mrs. Keap exposed her
tragic face. "Then-he deceived me!
Oh-h! What wretches men are!"
The widow commenced to sob.
| Outside came Miss Chapin's voice:
so here you are, Mr.. Covington!"
And the next moment she reappeared.
dragging the crippled champion be-
hind her Thrusting him toward Ro-
berta. she pouted: There, Mrs. Keap!
l give him back to you"
Perhaps you'd better go on with
your explanations" Chaplin suggested,
coldly, to Speed.
"How can l when you won't listen
to me? Hear ye! Hear ye! Culver
was engaged to marry Mrs. Keap. but
she discovered what reprobate he
is"
There was indistinguishable dissent
| of some sort from Mr.. Covington.
and she learned to detest him!"
Mrs. Keap likewise dissented in ac-
cents muff1ed.
''Well, she would have learned to
detest him in a short time, because
she's in love with Jack Chaplin; SO
| she came to old Doctor Speed in her
| troubles, and he promised to fix 1t all
| up. Now l guess you four can do the
rest of the explaining. If you ever
get in trouble, come to the match
| making kid. I'll square it."
They we're four happy young people,
and they lost no time in escaping
elsewhere. When they had gone.
their benefactor said to Miss Blake
Wouldn't you like to make that a
triple wedding? We might get club
| rates."
For answer Miss Blake hurried to
the door and was gone.
Over at the Centipede there was
great activity and yet a certain idle
| ness also, as If it had been holiday.
The men hung about in groups listen
| ing to the peripatetic phonograph. A
| dozen or more outsiders had ridden
over from the post-ofice to witness
| the contest. Out by the corral, which
stood close to the first break of the
foothills, Skinner was experimenting
the laying out of a course, selecting
d cLlCLIl vi iCfCl 6looho WI IL Sh4SoSh
and hard by the tread of countless
| hoofs.
Makes a pretty good track. eh?''
he said to Gallagher. Il wonder how
| fast this feller is? Ever heard?"
! They seem to think he's a whirlin'
ball of fire, but that don't worry you
none, does it," Gallagher bent his
lead-blue eyes upon the cook, who
shrugged carelessly, and Gallagher
smiled; he was forced to admit that
his man did not appear to be one cas-
| lily frightened. SINNERS face was
hard, his lips thin, his jaw was not
| that of weakling. He had dressed
| early, then wrapped a horse-blanket
about his shoulders, and now, casting
this aside, sprinted down the dirt
| track for few yards to test the foot
| ing, while Gallagher watched him with
satisfaction-a thing of steel and
wire, as tough, as agi'E and as spir.
| tied as a range-raised cow-pony. He
! was unshaven, his running-trunks
| were cut from a pair of overalls, held
up at the waist by section of win.
! dow-cord, and his chest was scantily
| covered by an undershirt from which
| the sleeves had been pulled But
when he returned to pick up his blan-
yet Gallagher noted approvingly that
he was not even breathing heavily.
With a knowledge confined mainly to
livestock, the foreman inquired:
"How's your laigs? l like to see
EN- hairy. hathaway; it's sign of
stren'th. l bet this college boy is as
pink as maiden's palm! He don't
/ lonl u me- like he could rIn >,