Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1914-02-19
CHAPrER x1y-(continued,.

'Mr. Wiley!" She looked at him.
Mr.. Wiley sighed. Got a telegram
from Hen McFetridge yesterday. They
played to S. r. o. at Marshalltown.
And another one from Cedar Rapids
ays Biggest house here since go
looked at her with the first
burst Of enthusiasm she had seen this
morning-"Aurelie's a winner!"
The woman Of 80 was looking off to
the hills. wiley, I wouldn't publish
all the things you do about her in the
News. It's not good taste-all those
doesn't do you any good in your new
career" She had hesitated and looked
full at him. Uncle Michigan a gone
'The town says" again SHE paused
at his r%esentful wonder.
The town says WHAT"
THAT you must be rather in love
with Aurelie."
He was on his feet before her.
"Janet! They say that?"
We'll, you've run Oh in such enthus-
iasm about her. OF course it's just
your way"
MY way? 1 can't help what the town
says. The town made al outcast of
me much as it did of Aurelie in the
old days. But by George, Janet-this!"
She is the sort you would love,
Wiley. With all her courage the
brave fight, as you say she Is making
she is n Of h superlatively fem
mime sort-or at least what you men
stupidity imagine is the really feminine.
Appealing to your absurd chivalry, as
you call it,; but actually your vanity
clinglng to you and so giving you an
enlarged sense Of your strength, your
wisdom, your indispensableness to
womankind! Come now"-she smiled
good humoredly-'isn't that the type
of roma you like best?"
He faced her with a hurt laugh: she
had begun with a touch of bitterness
which her common sense subdued.
The parasite? Not the woman who
can help-and who dares demand
You men are all primitive in your ideas
Of women, Wiley" 6
Janet he answered slowly, you
don't understand. A child, misplaced.
hurt, proud, struggling for the bit of
good she sees-that is what l saw. in
Aurelie. l don't deny her appeal. I've
felt like taking her in my arms and
ought not to be in this business.
knocking about cheap hotels and in
such shows You ought to have a
home-a shelter-some one"
That is just it." h smiled imper-
sonally, and briefly. well, no matter,
birds We're calling to you this morning,
and not congress. 1t is spring, Wiley"
But Mr.. Curran was put out and
angry. He did not want her to divert
the matter with her serenity measuring
smile. "Janet!" he cried again. II
don't low her-no, MOI"
Mono! Merely attracted. AS you
are to bookposter girls and the mag
azine cover girls!" She laughed now.
ooh, well, the eternal masculine!"
Then she turned to him stubbornly:
But you are coming through this
G~h{ <IS~ ~ IT, 80 ,,~r1r
for US all"
Yes" he answered quietly. II will.
And you've hur me. Janet. But per-
haes you We're intending to-"
She left him with another banter. He
had a feeling that she was guessing
shrewdly at the struggle dimly grow
ing in his mind; he was trying to
ious self as a woman Of the time, and
his yielding to the common thrall of
men in his chit of a girl. And he
gave it up as a bad job, and turned to
his work. But he observed that he did
work the rest Of the day, savagely and
with effect. He would not listen to the
%bluebirds.
Bluebirds and spring ushered in full
June. With his shop and his outer ac-
tivities he was busted, but not too
busy to read the scrawly letters from
Aurelie which Uncle Mich brought.
Things had happened. The McFetridge
combination had transformed the
northwest and then booked into a Chi
cago stock house. Then it lost the
money garnered on one-night stands.
The city did not seem to recognize last
years winner Of the beauty contest.
The Chronicle, having worked it's sub
scription lists as far as might be on
the exploitation, was rather Indifferent
to Miss Lindstrom. Other reviews were
perfunctory. Morris Feldman said it
was Mr.. H%anbury's rotten" play. But
every one cheerfully admitted that,
even young Mr.. Hamburg, Of the Du-
buque Register.
exuberant letters. She was undaunt-
ed. She was expanding vivaciously,
throwing herself into work, living every
minute. Her first glimpse Of a city
fascinated her. She bewildered Uncle
Michigan with her adventures.
That limb OF a girl" commented
Aunt Abby, she ought to be home. It
40" aHo a1aaS Ae murm nn11s y Mr. Mr.. c Murrsi
Where Is Aurelie's homer"
"She ought to be gathered up and
taken care Oft"
YES" Mr.. Curran sighed. II think
so too, now"
The next they heard was Of a
wrangle between the McFetridges and
Morris Feldman. Then Mr.. Feldman
was out" and the house was dark
and h was boarding with Miss Nor
man who was a perfect DEAR" Then
the company reorganized with a lot Of
expensive scenery and a new play
which the angels" had procured. Then
they had a summer booking and Au-
relic vas to be leading lady!" Out
in the west again somewhere! So Au-
relic put 1t.
Mr.. Curran was struck dumb. Au-
relic a leading lady!" He could not
kick his Job press that day. THAT
girl" he unused, must just be running
that show and the twins and every
thing!"
Done goin' to occupy the land!"
chuckled Uncle Michigan.
One afternoon when the sugar trees
over the tow were sumn9er-heavy, and
from the uplands came the faint click
click of the first w and The
young corn was high across the black
bottoms. Mr.. Currsn, looking up from
his press, saw the Van Hart surrey at
his oor. It held two suit cases and a
bulldog the like Of which in jowl and
legs Rome, Ia, had never before seen.
And a broad-shouldered young
was descending. Mr.. Curran threw
proofs to the wind and seized his
hands.
Harlan! Back to the old town."
Fine! Going to stay, Wiley. Not
exactly at the head of my class, but /