Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1916-02-11

set me back the price of a house ana
lot
but, Mr.. Sledge can't accept this"
she earnestly assured him.
"Why not?" he demanded, studying
her heavily. You're to be my wife"
She was panic stricken more by hia
look than his words.
Its too large for ring. for one
thing" she evaded.
"Why?" he again rumbled.
She decided to leave out the question
of good taste.
you couldn't put a glove over it,"
she explained.
He looked at it reproachfully.
"Hunh. he commented. Its a
peach, though, amt it?"
Here was proposition on which she
could heartily agree.
ITS a beauty-a MARVEL" she enthu-
siastically told him, ashamed, in some
degree, that she so much admired the
live thing as it lay in her palm.
She handed it over to him, and as his
palm touched hers she felt the tingle
of him for the first time. 1t was as If
she had inadvertently touched an cleo
trio battery. and, she jerked back her
hand.
Between them they dropped the dia
mond. and it rolled under Ferns chair.
Tommy Reeler picked it up.
'Swel pebble. Ben" he approved
and poured it into Ferns hand, where
it lay glittering and glittering and gilt
tering and would not be still
"Oh. you darlingr' Fern murmured
to it. Where did this drop from?"
present for Molly" explained Sledge
modestly. TOO big for ring. Can't
pull glove over it. I'm goana have it
set in a necklace"
Three days later the necklace came
out, but by that time Molly had given
up all hope Of heading Sledge off. The
only thing she could do, she resolved,
in a hilarious conference with Fern.
would be to accept temporarily any
crafty extravaganza gift he showered
upon her. After the need for fooling
him was over she could send them
back. and this resolution. once having
been formed. the girls spent much
time in eager expectation Of what the
next surprise might be. Sledge was at
least making the game exciting. and
his perfectly mad, but equally earnest.
antics gave both Molly and Fern more
fun than they had ever known.
I1 the meantime. while Sledge and
10 ,hpo f,,l
were keeping the girls busy day and
night, the preparations for the secret
wedding went steadily on. as did the
business preparations Of Bert and
Frank Marley. Thanksgiving day APP
preached. and things began to focus
themselves in the Marley home. The
representative of the up state syndi-
cate came to town on schedule. He
spent three days in going over the
books Of the company and examining
into Marley's loans Also. he looked
up the matter of the franchises. The
company had been given originally
twenty year city charter. which had
been twice renewed for ten year Pc
RODS. it's present renewal having three
years to run.
1T looks like the regular thing" he
said to Marley I'm satisfied to give
you thirty-six straight through for
your stock. take up your loans and al
low you the difference in value: but.
before I do business. I'll have to see
Sledge about this franchise"
ut was part Of our understanding
that you were to stay away from him."
insisted Marley. IF your presence
and your errand here are known.
Sledge will do something destructive.
He has it in for me and will wipe me
right off the map"
HE might have it in for me, and I
have to see what he can do"
I'll make it $34 share. and you
see him afterward." offered Marley.
"Now. I'm bound to see him." de-
clared Mr. Goldman. who was wiry
little man. of great energy and de-
cisiveness. Don't you worry. He
won't connect me with you. I've been
In this game too long not to be able to
cover my tracks,"
Coldman's interview with Sledge
was brief. concise and satisfactory.
and he began by stating exactly who
he was and whom he represented.
Were looking fsE street car bar
gains" he explained. land we've been
advised that stock in the Ring City
street railway is well worth picking
up at its present price. Do You think
SOP
"Uh-hunh!" grunted Sledge. "None
for sale. though"
ut does seem to be scarce" admitted
Goldman. "Still. Wen take what we
can get If it looks good. unders: ind
there's some talk of consolidation
"Uh-hunl." grunted Sledge.
THAT would probably bring rt.s
stock up to Ear." judged Goldman.
Cant tell commented Sledge.
rs there any trouble about renewal
Of franchises?" inquired Goldman. pom
dering deeply upon whether Sledge was
remarkably frank or remarkably adept
in seeming so.
"Guess not" said Sledge. II got