The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-04-27
JOHN BRECKENRIDGE ELLIS


evening train, to see Robert Clinton
hastily emerge from the solitude he
had endured in the midst of many
Robert was in no pacific mood, and
when he found himself almost in the
arms of Abbott, his greeting was bois-
ferrous, because inpatient at. being
stopped Abbott, knowing that Rob-
ert was not ordinarily ELUSIVE, thought
He has the secretp
Robert shook hands without delay
ing progress toward the waiting hack
bearing Abbott along on the waves OF
greeting.
But surely you are not going to
ride Abbott expostulated.
"Business-very pressing-see you
later"
But | have business with you, Mr..
Clinton, that can't wait. Come, walk
with me to town and III explain; it'll
delay you only few minutes"
Like FESTIVE horse finding him
self restrained, Robert Clinton lifted a
leg without advancing. Oh, very
WE'LL" he agreed I'm fact, I've some
thing important for you, old fellow,
and I'll explain before before the
yes, before" he ended, turning his back
upon the hack with a smothered growl.
They penetrated the silent by-streets
of the outskirts of Littleburg. Robert
going as fast as he could drag his COM
panion, and Abbott walking as slowly
as he could hold back the other.
Lucky | was at the station" Abb
bott exclaimed, "since you've something
to tell me, Bob What is it?" In
thus addressing his old friend as
Bob" the young man was officially
declaring that their relationship as
teacher and school director was for
ever at an end, and they stood as man
to man.
Clinton spoke rapidly. with his won't
ed brusqueness: Guess you know I've
been knocking about the country for
the past three or four weeks-saw a
good many old friends-a fellow can't
go anywhere without meeting some
body he knows-curious, isn't IT Well,
I've got an opening for you. You
know how sorry | am because, we had
to plump another teacher on to your
job, but don't you worry if Fran did
hold your hand-and just keep your
hands in your pockets after this, when
there's danger-Say, I've got some
thing lots better for you than Littleburg.
School out in Oklahoma-rich-private
man behind it-he owns the whole
plant, and he's determined to run it to
suit the new ideas This rich man
chum of mine-went West, bought
land, sat on it. got up with his Jeans
full of money Wants you to come at
once"
Abbott was elated. What kind of
new ideas, Bob?" he asked joyously.
"Oh, that inpracticable nonsense Of
teaching life instead of books guess
it's as much an advance over the COM
mon thing, as teaching words instead
of a, b, c's. You know what | mean,
but I don't think / do. Don't worry
about it now-something terrible's on
my mind-just awful! | can't think
of anything else. What you want to
do is to scoot out to Tahlelah, Okla
homa, to this address-here's his card
tell 'em Bob sent you" He looked
at Abbott feverishly, as if almost hop
ing Abbott would bolt for Tahlelah
then and there. His broad red face
was set determinedly.
This news is Splendid Abbott de-
clared enthusiastically. Il had already
applied for country school; | was
afraid | had lost out whole year, on
account of-everything. must thank
you.
Abbott, I don't want to be thanked,
| haven't got time to be thanked. Yon-
der's Hamilton Gregory's. house and
that where I'm bound-good night"
But, Bob, l haven't told you my
business"
I'll hear it later, old fellow-dear
old fellow-I think heap of you, old
Abb But / must go now"
mo, you mustn't. Before you go
into that house, we must have a little
talk We can't talk here-people are
coming and going
81 don't want to talk here, bless
you! | want to go in that house. My
business is private and pressing" The
gate was but a few yards away; he
looked at it hxedly, but Abbott held
his hand upon the agitated arm
Bob, what | have to tell you can't
wait, and that's all about it. won't
keep you long; just turn down this
alley with me, for it's a matter of life
and death"
"Confound your life and death! My
business is life and death, too
At that moment, light was turned
On in Gregory's library, and Grace Noir
was seen to pass the window.
Abbott's hand frightened on the 9TH
er's arm, as he urged, Down that al.
ley, a nice dark place for talking,
Nice dark be hangedp growled
Robert. what business can you have
with me that wouldn't wait till morn
ng? Look here, Pm desperate
$50 am l." retorted Abbott. Bob,
you've been to Springfield"
Rober. Clinton snatched open the
vard-gate, muttering. That's my bust
ness"
Miss Noir sent you to unearth a
secret"
ooh" exclaimed Robert. in an al
erred tone, stopping in the gateway,
did she tell you about it,"
"No-but you've brought back that
secret, and you must not tell it to Miss
Noir."
Not tell her? That's funny Rob-
.rt produced a sound which he ex-
,ected to pass as laughter $50 that's
what you wanted to tell me, is it? Do
,ou know what the secret Isl"
II do not. But you mustn't tell it.
However. that's what I'm going to
10 as soon as | reach that door-take
Tour hand off, man. my blood's up, by
George! Can't you see my blood's up?
It's a-boiling, that's what it's doing
So all you want is to ask me not to
III xL,t ea-~at -