The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1916-06-10

THE
ct understand there's been some
complaint about the food he began
a twinkle in his eye that melted some
| Of rhe threatening glanCcs fastened
upon him Il have understood II was
had for some time. but | didn't realize
how bad food could be until | took
-" He wrinkled his face wryly and
the ice was broken.
From the back Of the crowd a man
| laughed II d second he was joined
by others and soon Monroe held them
in the palm of his hand.
Well it's going to get better and
! get better right away he declared.
! emphatiCally. IN go you one bet
ter than that. men. and tell YOU its
going 10 get good. Tonight you can
look forward to 4 real supper-a real
supper. understand
lie turned upon Payne, even as the
men were wildly cheering knowing
that now was the psychological mo-
meut to make his strongest play.
Get in my car, Lee he con
manded and don't waste any time
getting back here with a load Of grub
have it here for supper
II.
For once Julia Munroe was ready.
impatiently waiting the arrival of her
sweetheart. He had told her moth
;Dy ,F tho ransom for bic Domino, IN
town in the middle of the week, told
her nothing OF the row But he had
spoken of something which had made
her jump from the mass OF cushions
! against which she spent a gOOdly pOr-
ton Of her days and hustle into her
most becoming afternoon gown. Just
week remained before the date of
their wedding and she had delayed in
characteristic fashion procuring any
of the clothes she had spent so many
hours planning and dreaming out up
on the divan.
She plunged Immediately to the sub
jeCt, even before Payne's arms had
relaxed about the waist of her, looking
up into his face in TIE tantalizingly
Irresistible fashion which he, as well
as her father, always found 50 ire
Sistible
Now, there's no use telling me why
you came to town: there's no sense
trying to talk 10 me about food for
the men. Therell be plenty Of time
after you look over a few little things
in the shops with me
, But must have it there for sup.
peri tell you, Julia, the situation
became so serious there was nearly a
murderOus row at the fields
"Bother the fields" she exclaimed
petulantly. You're just like father
, oil. oil, oil morning, noon and night,
? until I've even ordered the cook To
, leave any of the hateful stuff out OF
, the cooking"
Payne laughed, despite himself
laughed and catching her about the
waist, drew her to him, trying to coax
the pretty, pouting face towards his
own.
All right he laughingly capitulat
ed. But on just one condition-that
We so to the grocery together
The irresistible music of her
laughter intoxicated him and. as they
swung into the car he wondered how
in the world he had ever for a mo
ment dreamed OF resisting her lure
In fact. as they wandered from shOI
to shop that afternoon, he felt more
and more the hero for the manfu
fight he had put up against hel
tempestuOus assaults.
And once as he looked at his watch
to his strained, guilty ear came d
sharp report, the report of revolver
He started and moved swiftly toward
Julia. placing his arm commandingly
upon her wrist. She turned the
witchery of her glance upon him and
for just an instant, the suspicion OF q
frown puckered her brow. 1t cleared
instantly then. with an exquisite, lit
tie whimper she came very close &c
him, looking up into his face with The
perpIexed and worried expression OF {
child
I'm simply famished," she ex
| NidlLi'N' 'uifis' gOu WIN Pei M
me to starve Lee Just a mouthfu
and then We can
Hungry, lie started as she
voiced his thought of the unappeaseC
hunger OF those men he had visualizeC
throughout the afternoon. NO really
Julia"
She had his arm in her two. tiny
hands. Intellectual hands they seemed
dainty and blue-veincd and almond
tipped at the fingers. And yet, lik
bands of steel, they drew him, DESPITE
t himself. despite everything within
himself that cried out aloud agains
their pressure.
h Ira Monroe settled back in his Of
p flee chair, idly staring at the hands
n of the big clock He had gone owe
IS the books for the first time in Il week
S had listened to Pat Grady's story 0
the fraCas that had come 50 near end
< ing fatally. And, as the old mans eye
n closed, slowly, very slowly his min
y travelled from the fields to his home il
Los Angeles.
IS A faint smile lowered about his lip
e as he thought Of his pctted daughter