The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1916-03-16

hAoCAou ~ tuo OOOE where bQU
stopped. 1t was opened by . good,
looking man with a palette,o on his arm.
And as the girl disappeared into thu
room beyond he turned to Jim. Good
morning" said he pleasantly.
"Are-are you MI. Covington!"
"Yes. Won't you come in and cit
down? Do you smoker" He took some
cigars out Of q humidor and held them
out. Jim selected one with q hand
that shook, but made nc effort to light
It. He looked %nervously around at the
luxurious sitting room. slid the cigar
into his pocket and broke out. I'm
Jim Wallis from Coles Crossing. !
hear you're going to board at
Merckle's out u way. Is 1t trus?"
The artist took a couple of puffs %
his own cigar and knocked OF the
ashes. "Why, yes! l believe that's
the name.
"Well-" went on Jim, who was
gaining courage with returning hostil.
ity as he noted the strong, attractive
face. we'll set shoulders and easy mar.
ner Of the other. Il thought, Id let
you know that I'm engaged. to Carrie
Merckle and l won't have any fooltng."
The older man looked thoughtful.
"The girls in the movies Do SeSm to
have a penchant for velvet coats and
flowing ties. It's queer. isn't 1T Ii
Miss Carrie has the same tendency it
might be bad for you-that's true.
What would you s~uggest?"
Jim, Modified. sprang up and held
out his hand. Thanks. That's tho
talk. thought you would understand.
Couldn't we find you another place7"
mo. I'd rather 60 there. It Just
suits. But II l wear a smock-how
would that do? They are so Olsen.
chanting. And I could put ON spec.
tacles II you think it would help aud
wear q wig for that matter"
Until the time of departure, Jerome
Covington gave little or no thought to
Jim's petition. He promised easily-it
was not always 80 easy to make good.
However, as he was packing. Jim'a
visit came into his head. Cad. I'll do
it," said he to himself. 1T would be .
nuisance to have some silly girl sim.
pering always in the background any.
way" So he bought q loose smock. Q
wig and s%pectacles. Here's to hard
work and isolation!" he cried a. ha
finished packing.
There goes the new boarder ia
Merckle's!" said someone the next day
as the city express moved away and
q man got into q buggy beside Carrie.
Jim had seen and was satisfied. Even
he doubted the idaatity of his late &C.
q%uaintance.
Carrie fell Immediately and desperate
ly in love with the dreadful.lookins
newcomer. Her infatuation was Del.
fectly evident because she made no
secret of it. Jim moaned wretchedly.
Ills worst fears were realized III
she's swallowed him while with all
that truck on. what would she have
done to the real thing? l believe he's
squealed. He's fooled me. sEor.n4 girl
on Gods earth could care Sr a'R$low
like that. He looks more like q SHARE.
crow than a man. I'm going to ind
out the truth" So, seeking an oppor.
tunity, he collared his man one morn.
ing crossing q field to his fayor1te
haunt. =a /:
Jerome Covington heard him out,
then, looking cautiously In every dt.
rection, he whispered: "sh! Maybe
she's around. Do you know, Jim, I
can't understand It. l believe she's
krVy{p0 IN nool1o 1y0,v 4oo1o,o
Jim shook his head more puzzled
than ever. "She's not that kind Of girl
and there's no cause to make me
Jealous"
packed his bag and. still bespectacled
and bewigged, paid his bill and de.
parted.
The next day Jim got q note and an
Enclosure. Dear Jim," read tho note.
II think this explains all. l found II
among my papers when l got home. I
must have picked it up and forgot.
ten about it. Good luck and good
wishes. J.. c."
The Enclosure was as follows: Dear
Carrie, I am writing to tell you that
your beau came to see q man here
the other day when I was cleaning one
Of his rooms. OF course I couldn't
help hearing all they said. It seems
that Jim is afraid you might tall in
love with Mr.. Covington-he 10 70
good looking. So they've made It up
between them to fix him up as ugly 90
possible. Don't believe all you see.
I'm sending you his picture which I
got off a table. l think Jim.s- 1oolish.
for l know what kind of q girl you
are, and he looked to m like the right
sort. Write soon. Your loving cousin,
Jane Herd"
The wedding cards are out.
Copyright. 1916. by the Mcclure NoWAnAa
pr 6yndicAts.)
-" "E =.