Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-09-02
CHAPTER XIV.

II the barn and, finging a blank !
" ct over the wheeling horse, |
closed the door behind him !
and hurried into the house without |
even thinking 10 lay down his whip.
Opening the kitchen door and stop !
ping outside long enough to kick the
snow from his heavy boots, he strobe
into the kitchen aud confronted the
two girls. He looked at them sharply
before he spoke, scanning their flush
ed faces and tear stained eyes; then
he broke out savagely:
"Oh, you're both here; that's lucky
Now stan up and answer to me.
What's this hear at the Mills about
Patience common talk outside the
store?''
The time had come, then. and by
some strange fatality when Mark was
too far away to be OF service.
Tell me what you heard, father. and
can give you better answer, rat
ty replied, hedging to gain time ana
shaking inwardly.
.'3il Morrill, says his brother that
works in New Hampshire reports you
rs ridin' through the streets of Allen
town last Monday with young man
There seemed but one reply TO this,
SO Patty answered tremblingly: He
saws what's true. l was there
WHAT And it was plain from the
deacon's voice that he had really dis
believed the rumor. whirlwfnd OF
rage swept through him and SHOOK
him from head to foot.
.sDo Won mean TO stan there an own
ND 10 me that you was thirty miles
oway from home with a young man?'
he shouted.
IF YOU ask me a plain question I've
GOT TO tell YOU the truth, father.
was
How dare you carry on like that
and drag my name into scandal, you
worthless trollop, you? Who Went
along with you? I'll skin the hlde OH
| him. whoever t was
Patty remained mute at this threat,
hut Waitstill caught her hand ana
Nbisnered: Tell him all, dear. It's
got TO come ont. Be brave, ana III
stand by you
| ..Whv are you interferin' and putin
in your Kaleidoscope oar the deacon
said. turning TO Wa!tstiil. Inc siri
would never "a been there If you'd at
tended 70 vour business. She's nothin
hut a fool of n young FLY, an you're
an old cart horse. 1t was your )oo 10
look out for her, as your mother tolo
Won TO. Anybody might "a guessed
| she needed watchin'.
You shall not call my sister an Ola
cart horse. I'll not permit II. crieo
Patty, plucking up courage In her SIS
tors defense and. as usual, COMFORTING
herself a trifle more like n spitfire than
/ a true heroine of tragedy.
"Hush. Patty! Let him call me any
/ thing that he likes. 1t makes no dlf-
ference ut such n time
..Woitstil knew nothing of my going
away till this afternoon contlnued
Pottv. II kept it secret from her on
purnose because l was afraid she
would not approve. l went with MARX
Wilson, and-and l married MIN IN
\ey HAMPSHIRE because we couldn {
do il Mt home without everybody $
knowledge Now you know all!
DO Won mean 10 tell me you've gone
On. married that reckless, wuthiess,
horse trottin'. card playin sneak OF
Wilson boy. that's courted every girl IN
TOWN? Married the son OF man that
has ouarreled with me and lnsuiteu
mo i'm public? BY the Lord Harry IL
crocl, this whip over your shoulders
orca before I'm done with you. II
used II wears ago you might have been
an honest woman today instead OF -
FoxyvelI Baxter had wholly lost con-
troll of himself, and the temper, tha'
mad never been governed or held IN
cbock dashed itself into fury that
made him for the moment unaccounta'
BILE for his words or actions.
waitstin took step forward IN
front Of Patty. Put down that whip
father. or I'll take it from you and
break it across my knee" Her eyes
bIozed and she held her head high
"You've made me do the work or 9
man. and. thank God, I've got the
,,uscIa of one. Don't lift a finger tc
patty. or I'll defend her. l promise
Won, The dinner horn is In the side
entrv and two blasts will bring Uncle
: Rart mn the hill, but I'd rather no
call him unless you force me to.
The Deacon's grasp on the whip re
T ,o,od and he fell back a little in shee
! sstopisbuent at the bravado or tn
Girl ordinarily so quiet and self COZ
! tnfned. He was speechless for q se'
ond and then recovered breath enoue
~ shout TO the terrified Patty: II won
use the whip till hear whether you
GOT nny excuse for your scanoatou
Z behavior. Hear me tell you one thini
This little pleasure trip o yourn won
do you no good, for I'll break the ma
rage, I won't have Wilson In m
family IL 1 have TO empty a snoteu
> into him. but your lies and your 10y
: conduct are so beyond reason 1 can
e beI,eve-my ears. Whats your eKcus
l saulo