The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1914-03-27
An
Interference
By JOHN Y. LARNED

I'LL -r ~ J~AAN IL
whats the matter, Billy?"
Ny sister Beth asked me the ques-
ton one morning when I was sitting
on the porch looking dreamiiy on the
buds that were opening on the trees.
Nothing" l replied.
Eyes; there is."
Ceth and l were great chums. There
was not much more than a year be-
tween us, and I was used to giving her
my confidence about everything. l re-
solved to throw my burden upon her in
this case.
you know Alice Woodson''-
"Oh, a case of lovesickness."
I made no reply to this. was sorry
I had begun q confession.
go on, Billy: Beth added.
~ won't. You'll only poke fun at
me." %'E:
mot a bit Of it.. I'll help you. Don't
you know that l, being u girl, Know
Just how q girl should be treated to be
won?" ..~~ a
"You can't tell me how to win Alice.
In the first place, she's in love with
Fred Perkins; in the. second, she seems
to have some sort. of grudge against
me, and in the third -t'
That's enough. You needn't tell me
any more. Now, listen to me l knew
all about this before l asked what was
the matter with you. I've been watch
ing you and watching Alice. and I'm
convinced she's playing you" "
"What?:" 9 ~&.,""
"Playing you'd sort Of cat and mouse
business"
ooh, bosh! For a week past she has
treated me abominably and all the
while has been looking up with her
eyes at Fred like a.
Like a chick in a thunderstorm.
Will you do what l tell you to do?"
THAT depends upon what you tell
me-"
1.-THE next time you meet Alice pre-
tend to be thinking about something
else and don't see her"
"That will make matters worse" :.
Every well; If you won't take the
medicine l prescribe. go your own
road"
I concluded to try Bett's prescrip-
ton. The next time I saw Alice com
ting I pretended to be absorbed in some
thing else, and just before we were to
come together I turned off in another
|direction. That was In the morning.
In the afternoon ct the am day we
met again. I couldn't play the same
game twice in the same day, SO
looked at her. She looked at me, too,
or, rather. she stared at me with a'cold
blank. whitening stare that froze the
marrow in my bones. I went to Beth
and abused her for gettfag me into
such q. pickle.
..rY0u,reias weak as watered milk. I'm
sorry l tried TO do anything for you
IL couldn't love a man 4 could bluff
like that
'"What would you want him to dog
Crush me like a worm"
'How crush you?' &
"Wil you simply do nothing SO faI
las Affects concerned'a and leave the res
Ito meg
Since L felt entirely incapable Of
carrying on such q contest myself
agreed to this Fabian policy. During
1.-THE next few days I kept out of Allie.
WO0dson's way so far as / could
When I saw her coming toward me i
changed my course. Itried not to lsol
troubled or angry er anything in par
Iticuiar. Idid' my 'bestlto SHOW no espe
aeial emotion while waiting tor BETH IT.
tdo>something.
One day I met Alice face to face
She babe me good morning tn q tathe
huffy tone. I replied to her salutation
II car understand now she said
your recent unfriendlaaess to I'M,
hsince'I have learned the cause."
what causey'
H'Oh.. don't pretend ignorance. H.uset
Into think that yeu had 4 Mind Of you
1suwn."
"And you don't think 50 .now::"
you're the 6rst man I ever knew
who would permit his sister to rul
nim."
Il began to catch onto what was a
the, bottom OF this. i.eth had evidently
been:at work.
What do you mean by my >siste
running me?r
I'm not supposed to tell. bst' Il mad,
NO promise. Beth has told ne:all abou
It."
about whatg-
About your new fancy Mr. 'lgno
rance, or. rather, her fancy. Any one
can see that she Is trying ITO brint
it about herself. and with ssRch a pli
able brother dare say she VIII
I plucked mp a lot OF courage at this
Beth had evidently produced a revolu
si~A. #
Do you mean to say that mg sistel
mas been betra gine my conidep5e:"
Your confidence: Why. she toll
re. herseff. that She was bent "a. max
lag . match for you: She said 4shs
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