Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1914-09-10
CHAPTER VIII.
A Side Line Love Episode.

YAMES CLUNEY closed the table
drawer, where he had been look
ing for the fourth time, with a
tremendous slam, and William
Carr jumped %nervously.
MI. Carr" Numbered Cluney, what
do you mean to %insinuatc by all this
cross q~uestioning"
oh, nothing-nothing.." replied MIR.
Carr hastily. only it seems to me as
If there must be a kleptomaniac in
the house" With this shot ut he
young man he went out.
James Cluney sank into u chair and
exploded: My Lord, he suspects me..
Well, | can't blame him. Hello, Will
loughby!" he went on as the doctor
came in. where's that detective?
Has he got his handouts With him?"
There's nobody in sight that looks
to me like a detective. What's the
matter with you?' he added as Cluney
jumped to his feet eXcitedly. You
seem to be in a nervous fever"
well, can you wonder? There's a
diamond bracelet has been stolen. |
suppose l took 1t. But l don't remem-
Der the slightest thing about it. on my
word Of honor. 1t was lost in this
room. Everybody is searching for it
everywhere. l have looked for it ev-
erywhere and can't find it anywhere
At the door they met Joan coming
in. who stared at him in surprise, for
he was wild looking enough to make
anybody stare.
HAS anybody found the braceIet?"
asked Joan.
"No!' shouted Cluney. But I'll find
it. l can find anything if I'm only
watched. You watch me! Wow! I'm
going outside to meet him. announced
Cluney graphically.
ITO meet whom?"
"Dr. Willoughby will tell you, Joan"
Then to Willoughby. "You explain to
her, won't you?'
II can't explain" declared the doctor.
Then make love to her!" howled
Cluney as he vanished.
"Now, Joan, you'll have to answer
me-" said Willoughby. II determined.
when came here, that l would have
an understanding with you--if l could
get it. Now, don't you wish it we're
our wedding day."
Don't ask impertinent questions. 1t
seems to me that you would hardly
have time for the ceremony ever If
you We're going to get married. Those
old patients Of yours are always taking
you away"
"Well, I'm Il doctor, and l must 90
when Pm called. 1t is sometimes a
case of life or death.' he added
gravely.
"Oh. Of course, 1 know that / didn't
mean exactly what l said. But / do
hope you won't be called away today
before the wedding breakfast"
$50 do l. Do you really want me to
stay?"
"Of course ] do. Oh, isn't it a lot of
fun, though: Don't you just love we'd
dings? she went on, with a coquet-
tishness that made it difficult for DR..
Willoughby not to take her in his arms
and carry her off to the hymeneal al
tar there and then.
"Do you love weddings" he coun-
tered, with a desperate effort at self
control.
81 should say So" replied Joan. I'm
as nervous as if I We're going to be
married myself"
and would you really be nervous if
you were going to be married your
self, Joan?"
Indeed. should. Wouldn't you be?'
ET c1,r,l1 l> -;lJ ,,SkI 10
that's what you mean." he answered.
sitting Il little closer to her.
There was Il pause. The doctor
couldn't think of anything else to say
just then, and Joan was turning some
thing over in her mind, as was evil
denced by her next remark:
"You and James Cluney have been
chums for Il long time. haven't you?"
Yes"
always together whenever your
profession and his business didn't in
terfere?"
Eyes. joan"
won't you be rather lonesome now
that he is going to be married?" she
whispered. and the lashes dropped
over her bright eyes. while the pink
came and went in her transparently
fair cheeks.
DR.. WilloughDy looked at her steadily
while he fumbled in his pockets and
finally brought out Il folded paper of
official looking aspect. He opened this
paper and spread it before her ere he
answered her question:
Yes, l shall be lonesome, as you say.
So this morning l went down town and
got Il marriage license"
Joan drew away from the paper as If
she were afraid Of it and gasped:
"A marriage license. Why, whatever