The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1916-12-15

"Is THERE A MR.. WILSON HEBE7" sHn
ASKED IN AN UNCERTAIN VOICE.
sunburst Of its originality he beat his
leg and roared speechlessly, while
series of equally delighted but subduei
sounds behind him family stirred the
night.
Miss Helms eyes glimmered and
danced as, with her elbows Oh her
knees and her chin in her palms, she
watched Lame Mort shrewdly. "Did
you see what put in that paperT' she
asked.
He nodded. "Know 1t by heart"
"You see, I hadn't no intention Of
marryin' a man I'd never seen. Well,
I've got other clothes In here"-she
slapped the end of the telescope, and
the hoe jingled against the rake-"but
/ always wear mems clothes dom
farm work, so 1 jist kept 'em on to
come in, thinkin' that If Mr.. Wilson
was particular how his wife looked
he'd run away. But when l see you"
naively, II wished l had the other
buds on!'
Here she paused, and Lame Mort
was aware of an unusual commotion
in progress beneath his left ribs which
interfered curiously with his breath
ing, blurring his vision and dulling his
hearing.
"But he didn't walt to find out
whether I intended to marry him or
not" continued Miss Olga, the humor
in her eyes overlooking and attacking
the corners of her mouth. $50 l look
at 1t this way: I've done my part, and
he hain't done his, so l don't owe him
anything-do I?-my passage money,
mean"
Lame Mort scratched his head and
chased after one of the ideas which a
brilliant thought had but just dissi-
pated. The commotion In his left chest
was growing apaceuand increasing that
dullness Of hearing which shut out the
murmur Of dissent floating out Of the
obscure background.
mo, nor he finally burst out. "You
don't owe Goat da-darned cent on
that hundred"
"Then you know all about It," inter
rupted Miss Helm in relief. But I
want to be fair, and here's this that's
botherin' me-" She locked her hands
around her knees. 81 saved fifty Of
that by comm third class on an excur-
sion. Now, does that belong to him or
me? l wonder" she interrupted her
self hopefully, "how far he's run"
A voice behind them detached itself
from the general eager murmur and
answered unexpectedly: Fifty mile by
this time, jedgln' from the way he
hiked out. He won't never be back fer
damagesv'
This reply aroused Lame Mort to a
realizing sense of the divers interested
but shrouded ears, to escape the range
Of which he moved close to Miss Olga
and sat down on n keg of mackerel.
His late brilliant thought had taken
complete possession of him.
II can't see, Miss Heinz" he began
In so low tone that a wave of indig-
nation swept In on them from without
the circle of light can't see where
anybody's bein' cheated in this ex-
ceptin' -
"Who?" queried Miss Helm in alarm.
~ didn't know there was any one else
mixed up in It."
ITS the justice of the peace" sol
EMMY. Hes waitin' to marry you to
some one, and 1t amt right to disap-
point him." Lame Mort hesitated.
| choked, swallowed his heart. fishcd his
voice up from a resounding vacuum.
observed Miss Helms reddening cheek
and finished so boldly that his words
penetrated the outer darkness. "And
1t don't make a bit of difference to
him whether It's Goat or me-"
1T makes lot Of difference to me Z"
returned Miss Helm mildly, but promp,
ly. Where does the justice liveT'
She rose and reached for her bundle.
but Lame Mort calamity stayed her
hand, and a moment later the gloomy
background was resonant with n STAN.
pede of departing footsteps. The male
population Of Cody were speeding away
to prepare tho justice for tic change of
program.
The poorest way to face life Is to face
1 . axrtA L.