Mexico Missouri message., 1913-11-13
GQeXoI0HT AsIa 81 EsssssssS'L.oc

] III MS VOICE. we ii SEM lOT MI, van
Alstyne That's the thing, of course
I'll send for-er-Jim."
Mr.. Van Alstyne's name is Sam, but
| nobody noticed.
"Mr. Van Alstyne!" repeated Miss
Patty in a dazed way.
| guessed 1t was about time to make
diversion, so knocked and walked
in with the tray, and they glared at
me.
I've brought your supper, Mr.. Car
ter" | began. Then | stopped and
stared. "Oh," / said.
Thank you" said Mr.. Pierce, very
uncomfortable. Just put 1t down any
where"
| stalked across the room and put
it on the table. Then | turned. I'm
sorry" said, but it's one OF the rules
of this house that guests don't come
to these rooms. They're strictly pri-
vate. 1t isn't my rule, hut If you will
step down to the parlor-"
Mr.. Pierce took a quick step toward
Miss Patty and looked down at her.
| "About--what happened downstairs
tonight" he stammered, with the UNI
happiest face / ever saw on a man,
1--we been ready n ,.ssock my fool
head off ever since. 1t was mistake
a"
MY letter, please" said Miss Patty,
looking back at him without a blink.
please don't look like that" he
begged II came in suddenly out Of
the darkness, and you"
My letter, pleased" she said again,
raising her eyebrows.
He gave up trying then. He held
out the letter and she took 1t and went
out with her head up and scorn in
the very way she trailed her skirt
over the door-sill. But I'm no fool; 1t
didn't need the way he touched the
door-knob where she had been hold
ing it, when he closed the door after
her. to tell me what allied him. He
was crazy about her from the minute
he saw her, and he hadn't change of
linen or a cent to his name. And she,
as you might say, on the ragged edge
of royalty, with queens and princes
sending her stomachers and tiaras un-
til she'd hardly need clothes. Well,
a cat may look at a king.
He went over to the fireplace where
was putting his coffee to keep 1t
hot. and looked down at me.
1--WE a suspicion, Minnie" he said,
that, to use a vulgar expression, I've
bitten off more than / can chew in
this little undertaking, and that I'm
in imminent danger OF choking to
death. Do you know anybody, friend
of Miss-er-Jennings, named Doro-
thy?"
She's got younger sister of that
name" | said, with q sort OF chill
going over me. She's in boarding
school now"
picking up the coffee-pot. 1T seems
that met her on the train somewhere
or other the day before yesterday and
ran off with her and married her!"
sat back on the rug speeches..
Don't tell me the way of the wicked is
hard; the wicked get all the fun there
Is out OF life, and as far as | can see,
it's the respectable 'in at ten o'clock
and up at seven" part of the wickeds
. |
does the worrying.
IF we could only keep it hidden for
few days!" | said. But, of course,
the papers will get 1t, and just now
with columns every day about Miss
Patty's clothes"
Her what?"
and all the princes of the blood
sending presents. and the king not ia.
voring 1t very much"
What are you talking about?"
About Miss jennings wedding.
Don't you read the newspaper"
He hadn't really known who she was
up to that minute. He put down the
tray and got up.
Il hadn't connected her with the
I the newspaper, Miss jennings" he
said, and lighted a cigarette over the
lamp. Something in his face startled
, me, | must say.
, You're not going to give up now?'
| asked. | got up and put my hand on
his arm, and | think he was shaking
IF you do, ill-Fll go out and drown
myself, head down, in the epring--"
r He had been going to run away
saw 1t then-but he put a hand over
, mine. Then he looked at the door
, where Miss Patty had gone out and
, gave himself a shake.
} 'Tll stay" he sid. Wen fight il
I out on this line If it takes all summer
, Minnie. After all, what's blue blood
/ to good red blood?"
I Which was almost what the bishoI
1 had said!
4 Mr. Moody took Indigestion thai
night-not but that he always had it
/. but this was worse-and Mrs. Moody
came to my room about two O'Clock
. and knocked at the door.
You'd better come" she said
| There's no doctor. and he's awfu
= bad"
We went down to Mr.. Mood g room
= and he was sitting up in bed with hil