The Detroit times., 1913-01-03
Il Want to
Belong to
Somebody"
CHAPTER XVII.
lCOntinued)

Amt / telling you? That worm
eaten pillar OF the church that's
made me lose so much faith in re
ligion that l amt got enough left
worth the postage stamp TO mail II
pack to the revival meeting where Il
come from"
For heavens sake. Bob, tell me
what wrong Mr.. Gregory did Franz
Didn't he marry Fran's mother
when he was college chap in
Springfield. and then desert her?
Didn't he marry again, although his
arst wife-Fran's mother-was liv-
Ing, and hadn't been divorced
Don't he refuse to acknowledge
Fran as his daughter. making her
pass herself of as the daughter OF
some old college chum? That's what
be did, your choir leader I'd like
to see that baton OF his laid over his
back; I'd like TO lay II. myself"
II was impossible for Abbott 10
receive all this as a whole he took
lp the revelations one at a time. lis
II possible that Fran is Mr.. Greg
ory's daughter"
"Oh, she's his. all right; only
child OF his only legal wife-that's
why she came. thinking her father
would do the right thing, him that's
always praying to be guided Alright,
and baking whenever the halter's
pulled straight"
Then" Abbott stammered. Mrs
Gregory is :" -''
"Yap; is with a question mark
But there's one thing she isn't; she
Isn't the legal wife OF this pirate
what's always a-preying upon the
consciences OF folks that thinks
they're worse than him"
AS for Mr.. Gregory, Abbott be-
gan sternly--
Robert pursued the name with a
vigorous expletive, and growled,
One thing Mr.. Gregory has done for
me, he's opened the flood-gates that
have been so long dammed--yes, /
say damned say"
Bob" Abbott exclaimed, don't
you understand Fran's object In
keeping the secret? It's on account
OF Mrs. Gregory. If she finds IL out
that she's not legally married.
don't you see? or course IL would
be to Fran's nterests-bless her
heart! What a-what a Nonpareil"
faint natural" returned Clin-
ton, "for any girl TO consult the in
terests OF the woman that's sup
planted her mother. No. Fran's
afraid TO have IT told for fear she'd
be injured by your cut-glass para
gon, your religion-stuffed pillow
that calls itself a man"
Fran afraid? That's a joke! l
tell you. she's thinking only Of Mrs.
Gregory
I'm sorry for Mrs. Gregory,
Robert allowed, but Grace Noir Is
more to me than any other woman
IN earth. You don't see the point.
When i think of a girl like Grace
Noir living under the same roof with
that--that-"
"Mr. Gregory" Abbott supplied
And she so pure, SO high, so
much above us. ~. 1t makes
me crazy. And all the time she's
been breathing the same air, she's
thought him Moses in the Wilder
ness, and us nothing but the sticks.
Think OF her believing in that jelly
pulp, that steel engraving in a Fam
lily Bible, No, | mean to open her
eyes, and get her out OF his spider $
web"
81 see your point OF view
"You do IL you have eyes. Think
of that perfect angel-but just say
Grace Noir and you've called all the
virtues. And her in his housed
"You still believe in angels?" In
uuired Abbott gravely.
"Yap; and devils with lang-snrt=
of-curly hair, and pretty womanish
faces. and voices like molasses."
But Fran wants Mrs. Gregory
spared"
abbott. when I think OF Grace
Noir spending one more night under
the roof OF that burrowing mole
that crocodile with tears in his eyes
and the rest OF him nothing but
bone and gristle-"
Bob, IL I assure you that Miss
Noir will never spend another day
under bis roof, will you agree TO
keep this discovery to yourself?'
"You can't make no such assur-
ance. II she amt put wise to what
branch OF the animal kingdom he
twigs to, she'll not leave his roof.
Bob, II she leaves that house In
the morning, for ever, won't you
agree TO silence. for Mrs. Gregory's
sake-and because Fran asks IT."
"Fran's another angel, bless her
heart! But you can't work It,"
Leave 1t to me, Bob. I'll be
guided by the spur of the moment.
"I need bookkeeper at my
store" Robert said, Illuminating.
81 promise you that Miss Nolr VIII
soon be open TO offers.
bee here. Abbott. can't afford to
lose any chances on this thing. I'm
going into that house before this
night passes, and I'm going to see
the feathers fly. Mo- don't want
Mrs. Gregory to learn about IT. any
more than you or Fran; but I'll limit
the thing TO Grace"
shed tell. Mrs. Gregory"
Don't you say anything against
Grace Noir, Abbott. for though you
are my friend"
'T say nothing against her. | say
only that she's a woman"
We'll" clinton reluctantly agreed.
IT reckon she Is. I'll tell you what
I'll do. I'll go with you into that
VOLTS den. and I'll let you do all
the talking; and IL you can manage
things In half an hour-just 30 min
utes by my watch-so that Grace
leaves there tomorrow, III leave you