Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-05-19
RECfIElU{ID@E ELLIS
ILLUSTRATIONS BY
o.. WWIN .nERS

. soading. Abbott says that Miss Bull
Il having lots Of trouble with Franz
"See that, now!"
because Fran won't get her leo.
sons, being contrary
Il wish you could have sesn her
whistling at me. that night"
"Hold on. So this very evening
Miss Eull IL going to send her down
to Abbott's ONCE to be punished, or
dismissed. This very evening he wants
me to be over there while he takes
her in hand"
abbott is going to punish that
girl?" cried Miss Sapphire; going to
take her in handi What do you mean
by taking her IN hand? She Is too
old! Robert, you make me blush"
you amt a-blushing, Sapphire"
her brother assured her, sood-natured-
~. you're suffering from the hot
weather. Yes, he's TO punish her at
four O'Clock. and I'm to be present. to
stop all this confoun-I mean this I'M.
cody gossip"
you'd better wear your spectacles,
Bob, 90 you'll look old, and settled.
I'm not always sure Of you, either"
"Sapphira, If hadn't Joined the
church. I'd say" He threw up his
hand and clenched his fst AZ il he
had caught an oath and meant to hold
it tight. Then his honest face beamed.
"see here. I've got an idea. Suppose
you make 1t point to be sitting out
here on the veranda at about half-past
four, or FIVE. You'll see Fran come
sneaking out OF that door like
whipped kitten. She'll look everlast-
Abbott will stuff her full Of fractions
and geography, or make her stand in
a corner-but you'll see her wilted."
Miss Sapphire was highly grattfled.
Il wish you'd talked this reasonable
at first It's always what people don't
see that the most harm comes Of. I'll
give a little tea out here on the. We
randa. and the worst takers in town
will be in these chairs when you bring
Fran away from Abbott's Office. And,
I'll explain it all to 'em, and they'll
know Abbott is all right. just as I've
always known"
"Get Miss Grace to come" Bob said
sheepishly. "She doesn't like Fran,
and she'll be glad to know Abbott is
doing his duty by her. Later. Ill drop
in and have bite with you"
This. then. was Bob's idea" that
no stone might be left unturned to
hide the perfect innocence Of the So
perintendent. He had known Abbott
Ashton as bare-legged urchin run
ming on errands for his widowed moth.
er. He had watched him through stu.
dious years, had believed in his .fu.
ture carae:-and no, no bold adventuTs
ess, th6dgh adopted into Hamilton.
Gregory's home. should be allowed to
spoil Abbott's chances of success.
In his official character as chairman
of the board, Robert Clinton marched
with dignity into the superintendent
Office, meaning to bear away the wilt.
ed Fran before the eyes of woman.
Abbott Ashton saw him enter with
sense Of relief. The young man could
not understand why he had held
Fran's hand. that night on the foot
bridge. Not only had the sentiment
Of that hour passed away, but the in.
terview Fran had forced upon him at
the close of recent school-day, had
inspired him with actual hostility. 1t
seemed the irony Of fate that mere
child, q stranger, should, because OF
senseless gossip, endanger his chances
Of reappointment-a reappointment
which he felt certain was the best
possible means of Advancement. Why
had he held Fran's little hand? He
had never dreamed Of holding Grace's
-ah, there was hand, indeed!
"Has she been sent down" Bob
asked. in the hoarse undertone- Of
fellow-conspirator.
|. mo" Abbott was eager to prove
his innocence. 81 haven't seen sign
OF her, but I'm looking every minute
glad you're here"
Condolences we're impracticable, be.
cause of a tousled-headed, ink-stained
pupil who gloomed In corner.
"Why, hello. there. Jakey!" cried
Clinton, disconnected; he had hoped
that F'ran's subjugation might take
place without Witnesses "What ars
you doing here, hey?"
"Waitin' to be whipped" was the de
|6ant rejoinder."
"Tell the professor you're sorry 70,
what you've done, so you can rur
Falong." said the chairman Of the boart
epersuasively.
Nav, amt sorry" returned Jakey
hands In pockets. Then bethinking
himself-"But l amt done nothin.."
Abbott said rsgretfully, Hell have
10 be whipped"
Clinton nodded. and sat down sol.
EMMY, breathing hard. Abbott was
Testlessly pacing tho door. and Bob
was staring ct him unwinkingly, when
the door opened and In cams Fran.
Fan walked up to Abbott hesitat.
ingly. and spoke With the indistinct.
ness of awed humility. you are to
punish me-" she explained. "by max:
Ing me work out this original propo.
notwithstanding the book-"and you
are to keep me here till I get It,"
Abbott asked sternly, did Miss
Bull send me this messager
"she is, named that" Fran muir
INJURED, her eyes fastened ON the open
page.
From the yard came the shouts Of
children, breaking the bonds of learn.
ing for Z wider freedom Abbott, gar,
ing severely ON this alp Of . girl.
found her decidedly commonplace in