The Detroit times., 1913-02-11
CHAPTER XIV.
(Contlnued.)

along the track for a matter OF hun
dred yards, when his feet found mar
row path which led on In the direc-
fion OF the light he had so confidently
declared was his old woman's. Then
presently as he shuifN forward. the
other seven houses OF the row or
which his was the eighth, eloaked In
utter darkness. took shadowy form
against the sky. The handy-man
stumbled into his unkempt front yard,
it's metes and bounds but indinerentiy
defined by the remnants OF what had
been picket fence; he made his way
10 the side door, which he threw open
without ceremony. AS he had surmis-
ed, his old woman was up. She was
seated by the table in the corner, en-
gagged In mending the ragged trousers
belonging to Joseph Montgomery,
Junior.
At sight OF Joe, senior, she scream
ed and flung them aside; then white
and shaking she came weakly to her
feet. The handy-man grinned genial
". He was not OF demonstratiye tenn
permanent.
"Joe!" cried Nellie. as she sprang
toward him. Dear Joel" and she
threw her arms about him.
"Oh, hell" said the handy-man.
Nellie was hanging Imply about
mis- neck and he was aware that she
had kissed him: he could not remem-
Der when before she had taken such
liberty. Mr.. Montgomery believed In
reasonable display OF affection. but
kissing seemed 10 him singularly
frivolous practice. se.'
"oh, my mani" sobbed Nellie.
"Oh. cheese IT, and let me loose
> don't like this to-dol Can't married
man come home without all this
fuss?"
Dear Joe, YOU'VE come back to me
and your babies" And the tears
streamed down her cheeks
IL don't need you TO tell me that
I got plenty sense enough 10 know
when I'm home" said Montgomery
not without bitterness.
II mourned you like you was passed
away, until your letter come" salo
Nellie, and the memory OF her suner
ings set her sobbing afresh.
"Oh, great hell" exclaimed Joe de-
jectedly. why can't you act cheerful?
What's the good Of takin' on, anyhow
III don't like tombstone talk"
'It was Just the shock Of seem yoJ
standin' there In the door like ! seer
you SO often!" said Nellie weakly.
IF that amt a woman for you.
miserable because she's happy. Say,
{ stop chokin' me; won't stand for
much more OF this nonsense, you
might know / don't like these to-
dos,"
.'You don't know what I've suffered,
joel"
That's a woman for you every time
always thinkin' OF herself! To hear
you talk any one would think I'd been
10 church picnic; look like I'd been
5 TO a picnic, don't 1? Yes, | do-ltke
hell!"
They said you would never come
back to me-" moaned Nellie.
who said THAR" asked Mr.. Mont
gomery aggressively.
"Everyb dy-the neighbors-
Shrimplin-they all said IT.
Amt told you never TO listen TO
gossip, and amt always done what's
right?" Intercepted the handy-man
severely.
Eyes, always. joe" said Nellie
Then you might know'd I'd come
back when | got plenty good and
ready. fooled 'em all. and I'm here
to stay-that is If you keep your
hands of me-"
"You mean Il. Joe?" asked Nellie.
what? About your keepin your
hands OF me? Yes. you bet / do"
And Montgomery by a not ungentle
effort released himself from HIS wife's
embrace. This act 80 restored his
self-respect that he grinned pleasantly
ut her.
Il don't know when been so happy, |
Joe-its awful nice TO have you
back" said Nellie. wiping her eyes on /
the corner Of her apron.
There's some sense in your sayin |
that" said the handy man. shaking his |
head. You ought to feel happy"
You don't ask after your children, |
Joe"
Don't II Well, maybe you don't |
give me no time to-" said Mr.. Mont |
Gomery, but without any special en- |
thusiasm, since the truth was that his |
interest In his numerous ofrsprings |
was most casual.
They're all well, and the littlest, |
Tom--the one you never seen-has got |
his first TOOTH" said Nellie.
Joe grunted at this information.
He'll have more by and by, won't
: her he said.
How you talk, OF course he Will"
He'd have devil OF time chow.
In his food II he didn't" observed the |
handy-man with a throaty chuckle.
And. Joe, / got the twenty dollars
you senti''
lis any of It left?" inquired Mr..
Montgomery, with sudden interest
The rent and things took Il all.
That was the noblest act you ever
done, Joe: II made me certain you
was thlnkin' OF us, and from the mo-
ment got that money / was sure you
would come back no matter what peo-
Die Baldi 49, a
"Humph said-Joe. s-there any
thing In the house At to eat? Be
cause II there is, I'll feed my face
right nowl"
do set down, Joe: I'll have some.
thing for you in a minute-why didn't
you tell me you was hungry?'
She was already rafting plates and
knives at the cupboard, and Joe took
The chair she had quilted when he
entered the house, stretching his legs
under his own table with a sense 81
deep satisfaction. He had not consid
cred Il worth his while TO visit the
kitchen sink. although his mode oil
life. as well as his mode OF travel FOL
DAYS past. had covered him with dust
and CRIME; nor did he take on his
ragged cap. II had always been hi
custom 10 wear-i # irr the privacy o
- A. -. - -. y