Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1914-03-13

Il know all about you," said she.
You are a very wonderful person. of
course; you are delightful fellow at
a house-party, and a most suitable in
dividual generally, but you are not an
athlete, in spite of those beautiful
clothes in your trunk"
Who told you?"
| Culver Covington."
II didn't know you two were ac-
quainted"
Columbus has discovered our con-
tinent!" said Speed you are very
wise chaperon, and you must have a
corking memory for names. but even
a head-yeller is better than a glee-club
quarterback" He nodded toward the
bunk-house, whence they had come
"You haven't told anybody"
mot yet"
"'Yet,'" he quoted. 1.-THE futurity
implied in that word disturbs me.
Suppose you and keep it for little
secret? Secrets are very delightful
at house-parties."
Don't you consider your action de-
ceitful?"
"Not at all. My motto is We strive
to please"
Think of Helen"
That's it; l can't think of any,
thing else! She'S mad about athletics,
and had to do something to stand off
this weight-lifting tenor"
as 1t any wonder woman distrusts
every man she meets?" mused the
chaperon. Helen might forgive you,
| couldn't"
ooh, it's not that bad. know what
I'm doing"
you will cause these cowboys to
lose lot more money"
mot at all. When Culver arrives"
"Oh, that is what / want to talk
over with you," Mrs. Keap broke in.
nervously.
Then it isn't about the foot-race?
You are not angry?" Speed frightened
amazingly.
I'm not exactly angry; I'm sur
prised and grieved. OF course, / can't
forgive deceit dare say am more
particular than most people"
But you won't tell?" Mrs. Keap in
dicated in some subtle manner that
she was not above making terms.
whereupon her companion declared.
warmly: "Im yours for life! Ask
me for my watch. my right eye, any
thing! Ill give it to you!"
Il assure you sha'n't ask anything
so important as that, but l shall ask
favor"
Name it and 1t is yours!" Speed
wrung the hand she offered.
And perhaps l can do more than
keep silent-although don't see what
good it will do. Perhaps can help
your suit"
Gracious lady, all ask is that you
thrust out your foot and trip up
Berkeley Fresno whenever he starts
toward her. Put him out of the play,
and l shall be the happiest man in
the world"
Agreed"
Now. in what way can l serve
you?"
Mrs. Keap became embarrassed,
while the same shadowy trouble that
had been observed of late settled upon
her.
II simply hate to ask It," she said,
"but suppose must. There seems
to be no other way out Of It," Turn
ing to him suddenly, she said, in a
low. intense voice: lin in trou-
BILE, Mr.. Speed. such dreadful trou.
ble!"
"Oh. I'm so sorry!" he answered
her, with genuine solicitude. you
needn't have made any conditions. l
would have done anything could for
you."
That's very kind, for l don't like
our air Of conspiracy, but"-Mrs. Keap
was wringing her slender hands-"I
just can't tell the girls. You-you can
help me-"
Speed allowed her time to grow
calm, when she continued:
Il am engaged to be married"
"Felicitations!"
mot at all" said the young widow,
wretchedly. "That is the awful part
Of 1t. am engaged to two men!" She
turned her brown eyes full upon him;
they were strained and tragic.
Speed felt himself impelled to laugh
immoderately, but instead he OBJ
served, in tone to relieve her anx-
iety:
Nothing unusual in that; 1t has
been done before. Even I have been
prodigal with my affections. What can
do to relieve the congestion?"
please don't make light of It. It