The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1915-03-20

who has shaved for years over q wash
board may, perhaps, be pardoned some
self1shness and considerable hardness
of character as we'll as of forearm
After all, the job of raising three chill
ming fair-sized corporation. At any
rate, it's harder work. One doesn't
have to 60 to bed and have the cor
poration and then feed 1t and clothe
it and send it to school. The children
of ones mind do not bring agony at
their birth and they are born full
grown.
Such reflections, however, did not
enter into poor little Gertrude's head.
She just couldn't understand. Her
mothers attitude agonized her. All
that she wanted in the world was
Jack. and now that she must lose him.
even her mother turned against her.
In her torment she told of him-told
that he wanted to marry her.
This gave her mothers diatribes
new turn. She demanded to know
whether or not her daughter was
fool. She asked Gertrude if she loved
Jack. When Gertrude admitted that
she did Mrs. Meyer started to put on
her hat.
She was going to lawyer, she said.
and either Jack would marry Gertrude
or Mr.. Scott would pay-handsomely.
In an agony, Gertrude promised that
she would 60 to Jack at once. She was
in the dilemma Of being either the cause
OF running his financial standing or
his mothers happiness and being made
She took her hat. YEARLY. and went
into the street and started for the
Scott residence.
Jack had come home. Calling up
detective agency, he told them to put
all their men on the job Of finding Ger
trude. He was describing her eyes to
an amused secret service man at the
other end of the line, when he looked
up into them. Gertrude had been
ushered in and stood before him.
He jumped from the telephone and
gathered her in his arms. She told
him the situation with her mother
but added that she didn't want to ruin
his life.
His Observation-Disclosures with
kisses, which were probably more ef-
fective than his words-flnally over.
came her prejudices against being the
cause of his downfall and the substi-
tuition Of Scott & Co. for Scott & Son.
He hid her in den of the drawing
room, and, searching for his mother,
told her that he was going to marry
the stenographer in her husbands Of
hce.
Jacks mother refused to meet Ger
trude for a long time; but she finally
gave in and Jack brought Gertrude
from her hiding place and his mother
took her into her arms and brought
her upstairs to her room to meet
Jacks sister, Jack tagging along, jubi.
liant.
Scott brought Stuart along with him
when he arrived. The first bit of in
formation they got was that Gertrude
and Jack were upstairs with Mrs.
Scott. Jerrold r. felt the world sink.
ing from under him. 1t was inconceiv-
able that the girl would not tell.
Stuart was grave. Jerrold R. was
frantic. He walked up and down the
room, utterly robbed Of self-control.
In the midst of this emotional cy-
clone on the part of Jerrold R.. Jack
came down the stairs. Jerrold R.
shouted at him before he had reached
the foot:
where's your mother7"
"Upstairs," answered Jack shortly.
where's the girl?'
"Gertrude? Upstairs with mother
Jack walked nonchalantly across the
room and looked out of the window.
Jerrold r. followed, forcing his STEP
son to turn around and listen to him.
otis a fine camel" he exploded.
"Now I want you to pay little atten.
ton to this! You could have had any.
thing if you had come out in the open
like a man; but l will not be black.
mailed!"
"Blackmailed!" Jack literally
Jumped at the word. What are you
two talking about?'
Jerrold r. walked up and down
the room, firing his words at Jack.
Don't forget this! It isn't me you're
fighting. It's your mother. Don't drive
me to 1t, or I'll walk out the front
door and this house will come tum-
bling down about your ears. I won't
be spanked into being good like q
naughty schoolboy!" He stopped and
glared at his stepson, drawing him
self up to his full height. II am Jer-
rold R. Scott, and don't you forget it!
This is my house and your mother
is my wife. Everything that goes here
will be done as wish! Now 60 up
stairs and tell your mother anything
you want to-"
Mrs. Scott had heard the last SEN
tence. She had just appeared at the
landing on the stairs.
What is there to tell met" she
asked, coming down the rest Of the
way.
This young man-your son" be-
gan Jerrold r., has taken the bit in
his teeth, just because won't let him
defy me and outrage mel"