The state herald., 1915-05-07

The Watermelon agreed Typical
Of the Street." he sneered. yah. It
fairly reeks with the filth of money.
your plan and mine"
my plan?" Bartlett flushed and
looked away. "Stung," said he hum
bly,. and crumpled the telegram in his
hand as he gazed moodily through the
open door to the village street. impo-
tent to refute the words OF the Wa
termelon.
The Watermelon nodded without
any undue elation. in fact. not think
ing at all about Bartlett, he was too
entirely absorbed In his own troubles.
81 suppose you are his partner
friend?" questioned Bartlett, after
moments painful readjusting OF ideas.
mo. am stranger. We met by
chance. as you might say. l am a
tramp"
"A tramp!" Bartlett's business cha
grin vanished before the rush OF his
paternal alarm and surprise. But.
by heavens. man. told Billy she
could marry you"
The horror in his tones angered the
Watermelon. The hot blood leaped
into his face and his hands clenched.
We'll, why not?" he demanded. II
am man II am a tramp"
Bah" sneered Bartlett A man ?
A COW. rather. an animal too lazy to
work. l suppose you stole your
clothes"
Both talked in low voices that the
clerk. who only restrained himself
from approaching by the exertion of
tremendous will power. might not
hear them. The Watermelon's face
was very white. and he spoke slowly.
carefully, as he retold of the episode
of the swimming.hole and the stolen
car. still leaning against the varied
assortment of dress goods. Il bor-
rowed these Clothes" he concluded.
ito keep you away from New York
for n week. THAT object may not
sound original to you. and 1t wasn't
You were the one who suggested It
to me through the telegraph clerk last
Sunday. You were stung, that's all.
| love Billy and she loves me. l hate
work, but for Billy ! will work and
am going to work. love her"
Does she know you are tramp."
Yes"
you haven't cent. suppose.
mo. but ! can earn some"
i've lost thousands through that
dirty trick of yours"
Yours. You originated It. you
know"
Bartlett leaned against the counter
beside the Watermelon and glared at
the floor. Neither thought to leave
the store, and even forgot the clerk.
who gazed at them dubiously from n
discreet distance and wondered how
many more kilograms they wanted
Bartlett knew Billy. Billy said that
she was going TO marry this man and
80 she would marry him-unless some
thing more effective than verbal op-
position we're used He had never ex.
erted any authority over Billy and
knew that 1t would be too late to be.
gin now. Billy would only laugh at
him. But after all. he was Biliy's IA.
ther. he loved the girl and had some
| 'athN " opJeSh w hti "htiihBc WIN
a tramp.
Who are your people?" asked Bart.
lett to gain time. He must make q
plan to separate Billy from the impe-
cunious suitor. Authority WAS use
less. He must use tact. fnesse.
MY father was minister" re
turned the Watermelon. Yours was
grocer. Billy told me Families
don't count in America"
Bartlett nodded agreement why
did you become n tramp7"
Through inclination. not the whis-
ky bottle Not that am above get
ting full once In while. cause |
amt Just. I'm not drunkard See :
took TO trampine because I hate
to work. II takes too much OF your
time. An Office is like a prison to
me, a man loses his soul when he
stays all day bent over u desk. De
sides. don't like work"
Lazy"
Yes" snapped the Watermelon.
but a man. ! love your Billy-my
Billy. and can work for her"
cTo DE coSTrSUEDJ
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