The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1914-02-26

you from being made the laughing
stock of the town."
do you mean to insinuate that
Jackson doesn't love me-"
Jackson doesn't love anyone except
good time. Why, he doesn't take
anything seriously, especially women.
To my knowledge he's been engaged
to thirty since he's been here in New
York"
"I-don't-believe you!'
He shrugged his shoulders. Every
well; go ahead; it's no affair of mine"
She agreed with this. you'll do
we'll to remember that. Attend to
your own business, Mr.. Wallace"
Excuse me-" he said apologetically,
I'm sorry spoke
AS he thus apologized, disguised,
worried, even frightened by the mud
die in which his friend had so involved
himself, entirely ignorant of the sorry
cause which had led Broadway to the
fatal step, that young man entered
from the hall, having effaced as many
traces as he could Of the wild night,
ing callers. AS he advanced he
hummed a stanza from some cabaret
favorite which ran, monotonously: II
love you; oh, love you"
At sight OF Mrs. Gerard he bright
ened and sprang toward her eagerly.
He was not the one to go back on a
bargain, or to make wry face over
necessary medicine.
Beatrice; My Beatrice!" he cried.
Wallace eyed them with disgust as
they few into each others arms.
Having released his Beatrice, my
Beatrice he turned to Wallace with
calm which Wallace could not but ad-
mire. The youngster certainly was
game! Good morning, Bob"
Wallace scorned him.
Broadway did not even vince, but
turned back to his Beatrice. And how
is my little banquet queen this morn
ing"
Il came here happy as lark" she
said complainingly, 'but now I'm ter
ribly upset.
why, what has happened to my lit
tie round of pleasure?' He smiled
serenely, worshipfully into her scarce
ly hidden wrinkles.
This man has been saying terrible
things to me-
Jackson whirled reproachfully upon
his friend. why, Bob! What have
you been saying to my little Beatrice?"
"Oh, don't!' implored the utterly
disguised Wallace.
'Tell me- Jackson begged in COM
forting tones Of the excited widow;
what has he been saying to you?"
Calling it ridiculous match, say
ing that l shouldn't take you serious
ly, intimating that you didn't really
love me, and
She was very close to tears, but
fought them back for the sake of
complexion which she feared might
not be waterproof.
Broadway went with an accusing
mien to Wallace. You said these
! things!"
YES" said that young person, IN.
ashamed, those and a great many
more"
Bob Wallace! I'm surprised!
Shame on you!"
Wallace scarcely was prepared for
this. "Now see here, Jackson, u
He did not complete the sentence,
but seized his old friend by the lapels
of his coat as if to bear him from the
room to some spot where, upworried
by the ladys presence, he could talk
or hammer sense into his head.
But Broadway would not have this.
He pulled away with emphasis. Don't
do that! Don't do that" he cried.
"You've-you've insulted my future
wife and demand apologies"
Were all his plans for paying up his
debts to be thus put at naught? Was
his first venture as financier to be
thus nullifed? He thought not!
You mean to say you're going to
be married?"
"Of course we're going to be mar
ried," Mrs. Gerard said very snappily.
"Of course we're going to be mar
ried," Broadway echoed with a quick
glance at her which Wallace thought
held something indicating apprehen.
sion
He stood aside with face all woe-be-
gone, worried and amazed. If this
thing-this unthinkable, unbelievable
insanity-was seriously planned by
his young friend, If he had actually
passed his word, why then, of course,
nothing more was to be said upon the
subject.
VERY we'll then; apologize" he
said dejectedly.
Not to me-" said Jackson grandly,
TO the lady"
Wallace went to her in humility of
attitude, but in revolt of soul. Mrs.
Gerard" Che never before had found it
difficult to avoid profanity in lady's
presence), Il offer a thousand apollo.
gies."
She was not convinced of his sin.
cerity, which was not in the least sur.
prising. after such impertinence