The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1915-08-13

speak on my side to T-ucene. Be 4
good pai. won't You. Andyy" He cIap
ped Andrew Familiarity on the Shout
der.
The Master Mind started hack u.
one would retreat from some noxiou,
pollution.
III you pIease!' he said. His toni
was dangerous.
Walter cringed abjectly. I'm sorry.
forgot" he stammered.
Without another look toward him the
Master Mind went out Of the room.
Lucene entered.
"You wished to speak to met" she In.
quired ind%iferently.
Il want to speak to you abou,
Helen"
1T Is absolutely useless. Walter
Lucene declared promptly. with weari.
ness In her voice. 1.-The idea Is absurd.
Helen Is only a child"
shes old enough to know what
she's doing. anyhow" Walter argued.
Lucene shook her head emphatically
That's just It," sue said. resolutely.
she isn't" She welcomed the coming
Of Mr.. and Mrs. Blount, which put an
end to this Intolerable tete-a-tete.
Mrs. Blount spoke to Lucene with q
half serious p%layfulness:
Hes such q naughty boy! Has he
been worrying you, dearieY" Suddenly
her greedy eyes fell on a bracelet that
the young wife was wearing for the
first time. "Oh, what a lovely brace.
let" she exclaimed. and now her tones
were wheedlingly soft and sweet. She
placed a hand on the ornament caress-
ingly. but the slender. skilled fingers
were busy.
Lucene, however. was In no mood to
be patient under the impositions Of this
woman. She drew her arm away
quickly.
NO. you shan't have it." she de.
clared spiritedly.
why. deariey" Mrs. Blount cooed
p%lacatingly. the heavy lids dropping
low over her big. slumbrous eyes. II
only wanted to-
Lucene was ruthIessly frank.
NOS I SCA JOu. AOu Nc Idhcu ILLUS
everything ! have already"
The husband fairly glared ut his wife.
you told me she gave EN- to you!'
he growled bitterly.
"And you did. didn't you. dearie?''
the wife persisted, alarmed.
But any hope of help from the girl
as an ally was dissipated on the in.
slant.
II did not!' Lucene exclaimed with
q vehemence rare In her.
The cold voice Of Andrew sounded
dominant through the room:
Mrs. Blount!'
All turned to face the speaker where
he stood just within the doorway, but
the woman he addressed turned much
more slowly than did the others.
Blount. nevertheless, made bold to
speak up manfully in behalf Of his
erring spouse.
"Oh. that'll be all right" he declared.
with an effort toward assurance.
Shell give them back, of course"
Andrew. however. made no answer
A"i lAii ll"ttCls uC was IN ollSCl ~
ing attention to the woman or her hus-
band. He was, instead. listening to
the dialogue between Walter and Lu.
Gene, for the young man had seized
this opportunity to continue his plead.
ing with the girl.
Say, if you'll do this for me-" he
was urging. I'll never bother you
again. Come on now! Won't you?"
NO." was the steadfast answer. Il
will not. During the last month you
have made my life miserable by forcing
me to get money for you from my hus-
band to save you from disgrace. and
incidentally myself. But you may
threaten me as much as you like-you
Shan't have Helen. No. MOI"
why not, I'd like to knowY" Walter
demanded blusterinsly.
The reply was explicit:
Because you're not fit
The contemptuous words caused the
thief's fury to pass all bounds.
"Oh, l amt eh!" he stormed. We'll
I'd have you know I'm just as lit for
Helen as you are for Wainwright. See?
And, If you don't help me. why. my
fine lady. I'll just
Andrews voice broke off the half
spoken threat.
That will do. Walter" he command
I'd. "Lucene Is right" y
The young man protested.
But l only want to marry Helen
1T is impossible" Andrew retorted.
Walter fared again.
80, that's the game. is it," he sneer
ed. "well l don't go tomorrow" the
thief cried. wrathfully.
Andrew turned blandly toward
Blount.
when you 20 out will you be 81
good as to send Parker here as YOU
son will wish to give some orders
about his packing. BY the way" nc
added carelessly. you and Mrs. Blount
also will be leaving tomorrow. Have
you by any chance an objection to
maker"
objection? MOI" Blount said Wig.
orously. Lord. we'll he tickled IA
death to 60 home"