Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1914-08-27
y the side of his friend and said

bofa by the side of his friend and said
hoothingly:
Keep cool, James. It's no crime.
It's a disease
Disease! Oh, what are you talk.
ing
Don't lose your temper" pleaded
W~illoughby. IF your nerves fail you'll
lose your power of will to regulate
your actions. Whatever you do, don't
mention this to Il soul. If they ever
learn that your uncle was a kleptoma-
Mac they'll watch you like hawks"
But, see here, doctor, this is ride
ulous. Why, you can't imagine for a
moment that l.
"There, there! Now, change the sub
ject." he begged.
Il can't change the subject. You
really believe I've inherited that con-
founded uncle's infirmity, though you
told me at my rooms that | was in no
danger"
We were talking about lying, then"
Willoughby reminded him quietly.
But never mind. Forget it, please.
AS Il medical man l know what is
best, and l tell you to forget it."
Forget it? One moment you tell
me Pm a kleptomaniac and the next
You prate to me that l must forget it.
l1a, ha. ha!."
Don't worry, old man. There's no
occasion for it. uere'-he took a bun
die of neatly folded papers held to-
Gether by a rubber band from his coat
pocket and gave them to Quincy
here's something to occupy your mind
your international steel bonds"
steel bonds?' growled Quincy. 81
don't want any steel bonds"
"Why you phoned me to get them
out of the vault and bring them to
you"
ooh. Lord. I'm so excited l forgot.
Yes, LIN going to give them to Madge
for a wedding present"
Mothers lost her ear trumpet"
Like a hollow voice from the tomb
came this awful announcement.
1t was Mr.. Carr speaking. lie had
entered the room unseen and was look
ing %vacantly around without paying
any attention to what the two young
men had been talking about.
"Oh, Lord groaned Cluney.
ut was Il beautiful jeweled ear
trumpet" Went on Mr.. Carr %fatuously.
james Cluney whispered in agoniZed
tones tn kti11nrphhy- hnn Won cI1n.
| pose
mo, no." replied Willoughby. in a
low voice. Don't worry"
Have either OF You seen it," asked
Mr.. Carr.
An ear trumpet" fenced DR.. Will
loughby. NO. r.
Mother thought this was it." eX-
planned Carr. holding up the piece OF
garden hose. But l can swear | put
this hose in this table drawer the last
time | was in this room"
He opened the drawer as he spoke
and pleasure. drew from it the missing
a trumpet.
why. here it is!' he exclaimed.
How did it get in therey"
The problem was too much for him,
so he did not try to work it out; but,
putting the piece of hose in the drawer
and laying the ear trumpet on the ia
BILE, he turned to Cluney and said:
James. Cluney-I mean Madge-
told me to tell YOU
"Oh. Mr.. Carr" interrupted Cluney
as he held III the packet Of bonds,
Twill you please put this in a safe
place for me till after the weddingy"
what is it," asked Mr.. Carr.
"a present for Madge."
"Oh, 1 see," said Carr as he took the
bonds and tipped them through his
fingers. international steel bonds,
ell? Why, l have il bundle of those
things in my safe now. Took them
from Douglas Jamison-you know him
las security for a loan. They don't
earn enough to pay interest. He's 60
ing to redeem them today, thank heav-
en-! No more speculative stock for
me-
but these aren't speculative" cor
rectcd Dr.. W%illoughby. "They are
bonds guaranteed to pay e per cent
The common stock is speculative. Per-
haps that's what you've taken as Sc
curity."
"Oh. that's so,' said Mr.. Carr, look
ing at the bonds again. These are
bonds, of course Here, put them in
the safe. James,"
He handed the packet Of bonds to
James Cluney and turned away as if
he did not want to be bothered with
them, while Cluney went to the safe
and tried to open the door.
1.-THE safe is locked. Mr.. Carr" he
said.
"Oh, SO it is. Id forgotten. Wait.
I'll give you the combination" He
took out Il notebook and consulted it
while he dictated.
Right" proclaimed Cluney as he
opened the safe door. Then. standing
up, the bonds in his hand. he said, 81
wish you'd put these bonds in the safe.
20 --sL 81