Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1913-11-27

proves what ! said, about her empty
ing her friends, about taking their Sc
crets from them even without their
knowing she's doing 1t. | said. to her,
sharp and quick, What have you been
saying about me, Miss Noir?' She
said-T understand from Professor
Ashton that you are not a young girl
at all, but a masquerader OF at least
eighteen years. L answered-Being
a masquerader Of at least t~hirty+ive,
you should have found that out, your.
SELF / hardly think she's thirty-iye;
1t wasn't q fair blow, but you have to
fight Indians In the brush. Then your
friend said, Professor Ashton informs
me that you are q circus-girl. Don't
you think you've strayed too far from
the tent% she asked. | said-'Oh,
brought the show with me; Professor
Ashton is my advance advertising
agent Then she said that If I'd
leave. Mr.. Gregory need never know
that I'm an impostor. But l told her
no tickets are going to be returned.
| said-'This show absolutely takes
place, rain or shine"
Fran" said Abbott in distress, Il
want to talk this overcome here in
the yard where you're not so con
spicuous."
"Show-girls ought to be conspicu-
GUS. No, sir, ! stay right here In the
glazing moonlight. 1t doesn't call for
darkness to tell me anything that is
on your mind, Professor"
Fran, you can't hold me responsible
for what Miss Grace guessed. l tell
you, she guessed everything. l was
trying to defend you-suddenly she
saw through 1t all. / don't know how
1t was-maybe Mrs. Gregory can ex-
plain, as she's a woman. You shall
not deem me capable of adding an
atom to your difficulties. You shall
feel that I'm your friend while we're
together and, after we part You must
believe me when l tell you that | need
your SMILE" His voice trembled with
sudden tenderness.
She looked at him searchingly, then
her face relaxed to the eve Of revo-
luton. who have you been trying
to get a glimpse of, all the times you
parade the street in front Of our
house?"
Abbott declared, "You!" In mute
appeal he held out his hand.
You're a weak brother, but here"
And she slipped her hand into his.
III she'd been in conversation with
me, ! wouldn't have let her have any
presentiments. 1t takes talent to keep
from telling what you know, but gen.
ius to keep the other fellow from
guessing. What / hate about it Is, that
the very next time you fall into her
hands, you'll be at her mercy. If I
told you a scheme I've been devising,
she'd take 1t from you in broad day
light. She can always prove she's
right, because she has the verse for
it-and to deny her is to deny Inspira-
ton. And IL she had her way-she
thinks I'm a sort Of dissipation
there'd be a national prohibition Of
Fran"
If there were a national prohibition
of Fran, I'd be the first to smuggle
you in somehow, little Nonpareil.
Isn't it something for me to have TAX
en- you on trust as l have, from the
very beginning"
His brown eyes we're SO earnest that
Fran stepped into the shadow. tits
more than something, Abbott. Your
trust is about all l have. It's Just
like me to be wanting more than 1
have. I'm going to confide in you
my scheme. Let's talk 1t over in whis-
pers." They put their heads together.
Tomorrow. Grace Noir is going to
the city with Bob Clinton to select mu-
sic for the choir-he doesn't know
any more about music than poor Uncle
lobe Fuller, but you see, he's still
alive. 1t win be the first day she's
been off the place since l came. While
she's away, l mean to make my grand
effort"
AT what, Little Wonder?"
AT driving her away for good. I'm
going to offer myself as secretary, and
with her out Of sight, I'm hoping to
win the day"
But she's been his secretary for five
years-is it reasonable he'd give her
up? And would 1t be honorable for
you to work against her in that way?
Besides, Fran, she is really necessary
to Mr.. Gregory's great charity enter
prises-"
THE more reason for getting rio Of
her"
CTo BE coNT1NuED)