Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-05-29

Abbott Interrupted: 1.-THE wrong
done Fran: 9c~ Dc ycu mea2!'
"Why, man, thas-that hypocr1ts N
wool. that weed that infests the
ground. that"
I'm short Mr.. Gregory But what
about tho wrong done Franz
"Ain't telling youf That worm.
eaten pillar Of the church that's made
me lose SO much faith In religion that
I amt got enough left worth the post
age stamp to mail It back TO the re.
vival meeting where It came from :"
FOR heavens sake. Bob, toll me
what wrong Mr.. Gregory did Franz"
Didn't he marry Fran's mother
when he was college chap In Spring.
deld. and then desert her? Didn't be
marry again, although his first vile
Fran's mother-was living, and hadn't
been divorced? Don't he refuse to &C.
knowledge Fran as his daughter, max.
ing her pass herself OF as the daugh-
ter Of some old college chum? That's
what he did, your choirfeader! I'D
like to see that baton Of his laid over
his back; I'd Hike to lay 1t. myself"
It was impossible for Abbott to re.
ceive all this as whole; he took up
the revelations one at time. us 1t
possible that Fran Is Mr.. Gregory'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 balk-
ing whenever the halter's pulled
straight"
"Then," Abbott stammered, "Mrs.
Gregory fs :"
"Yap; is with 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 began
sternly-
Robert pursued the name with a
vigorous expletive, and growled. zone
thing, Mr.. Gregory has done for me,
he's opened the food-gates that have
been so long dammed-yes, l 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 it out-that she's
not legally married-don't you see?
OF course it would be to Fran's in.
terests-bless her heart! What a.
what Nonpareil!"
"'Tain't natural" returned Clinton,
for any girl to consult the interests
of woman that's supplanted her
mother. No, Fran's afraid to have it
told for fear she'd be injured by your
cut-glass paragon, your religion-stuffed
pillow that calls itself man"
Fran afraid? That's joke! tell
you, she's thinking only of Mr.. Greg
ory."
I'm sorry for Mrs. Gregory" Rob
ert allowed. 'but Grace Noir Is more
to me than any other woman on earth.
You don't see the point When think
Of girl like Grace Noir living under
the same roof with that-that-"
INT. Gregory" Abbott supplied.
And she so pure. so high, SO much
above us. It makes me craSy.
And all the time she's been breathing
the same air, she's thought him Q
Moses In the Wilderness. and US moth.
ing but the sticks. Think Of her be-
leving in that jelly pulp, that steel
engraving In Family Bible! No,
mean to open her eyes. and get her
out of his spiders Web"
Il see your point Of view"
"You do If you have eyes. Think
Of that perfect angel-but just say
Grace Noir and you've called all the
virtues. And her in his house!-"
You still believe in angels?" in.
Quired ..bbott gravely.
"Yap: and devils with long sort-of.
curly hair, Ind pretty womanish faces.
and voices like molasses."
d But Fran wants Mrs. Gregory
spared"
abbot, when think Of Grace Noir
spending one more night under the
roof Of that burrowing mole, that croc-
odile with tears in his eyes and the
rest Of him nothing but bone and
gristle-"
Bob, If assure you that Miss
Noir will never spend another day
under his roof, will you agree to
keep this discovery to yourself?"
"You can't make no such assurance.
II she amt put wise to what branch
Of the animal kingdom he twiEs 10.
she'll not leave his roof"
Bob, If 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 it to me, Bob. I'll be guided
by the spur Of the moment"
II need bookkeeper at my store, /"
Robert said, Illuminating.
II promise you that Miss Noir will
soon be open to Offers"
"See here. Abbott, can't afford to
lose any chances on this thing. I'm
going to see the feathers ny. No-I