The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-02-16
2CanaaEIaaaA.A

you're q continuous shock, she
laughed. ''You do such big things"
"Thatss nothing he sheepish1y de-
a1ed. Viewers ticlkled stiff I got
harn a big job. He didn't want to sell,
though"
Molly Ionged for Fern.
81 thought the governor was going
10 Switzerland" she observed, won
Herring how things fell so conveniently
10 Sledge's hand.
Nav; Judge Lansdale's going
Eherw." he told her, looking modify
Ghaad at the road you'll take me
put TO the house before you go back,
wOzSt you, Molly?"
who's there? she inquired.
mike and the servants. They went
Wz5h the furniture
Sledge seemed to feel no need of a
Hoeher Grundy, and she realized, with
trace Of appreciation, that there was
6neness In him which made decency
4 matter of principle rather than Of
circumstances.
II don't mind the ride she laughed,
feeling suddenly triumphant After
all, she had won her battle with
EIedge and had reduced him to the
PUPPY consistency all men should be
k4 lAS1E LIVES 4A0 COAQtlCS1 was
tremendous one, she smilingly thought
as she looked at him and remembered
his reputation for high handed ruth
Iessness. Somehow, however, she had
not quite the glee in her victory to
which she was entitled.
He was SO obviously downcast that
she wanted to cheer him up, but she
could think of nothing to say which
would tighten the heavy gloom now
settling upon him. That failure In it,
self made her feel rather mean, and
she was not at all satisfied with her.
self when they finally drew up to the
porch of the magnificent Waiver man
sion.
Sledge alighted Immediately and held
out his hand.
ssYou fooled me before" he charged
s1Jut that's Off"
tits off, she assured him in his own
language. His big hand was warm
and a solid, substantial thing to hold
to. She was glad that he liked her
so well. It was safe and comfortab BILE
to know that.
Good wordsy' he approved. tsAIol-
Iy, you're a LADY, He. still held her
hand He looked at it foolishly. He
squared his shoulders with sudden de
fiance. He kissed it! sBack to Mar
Iey's, Billy!'' he directed and closed the
door Of the limousine.
Billy pulled away from the porch.
She waved her hand at SIedge as they
made the, turn. There was a new
droop to his shoulders as he stood
there on the stately big porch all alone
in his black Prince Albert, with a red
rose in his buttonhole, and his silk hat
in his hand. He seemed so forIorn, so
lonely, that Molly felt as if she were
leaving him on a desert island.
Around the corner of the house there
painfully hmped a once white bull ter
rier, with one eye gone and both ears
chewed to ribbons>a and scars crisscross-
ed I'm every direction. Slowly, tortu-
Dusly, but with steady determination,
he wabbled jerkily along the path and
MP the steps and rubbed his battered
old head against Sledge's leg; then lay
down with his chin on S1edge's foot.
Molly tapped half Historically on the
window in front of her and fumbled
franticaliy to get 1t open.
sDrive back" she called. al want
to see Boba''
grin as she alighted, and when she
SSOOfS>0 AG1J 0OW4 anu put ACE dI11
about his neck he laid his head against
her knee and whined.
''B1's crazy about you,'' said Sledge,
cry affectt0n. 81 got a big kennel out
here for him, but he's lonesome.
HkRfs place for Smash too"
'sOh, they'd fight she quickly pro
bested
Not now" he returned mournfully.
'sBob7 be1a licked
''Tb@a it will be safe for me to take
Bob home with me when I win him, y
Molly misehsevous1y suggested
sP8Nmh safe" Sledge bravely agreed
"You want to take him back. today?"
"Not right now I think, she quickly
replied, with a pang Of regret that she
had given him this needless hurt.
Governor Waivers former butler, q
gray haired Eng1ishman of torturine
dignity, came out on the porch.
81 beg your pardon, SIR he said to
sIedge
Sledge turned and looked him ovel
with disfavor.
"sWeII?'' he grunted.
.s'Mr. ReeIer is telephoning, sir. He
wishes to know if Miss Marley is
here"
'.ComeG on, Molly invited Sledge
trWe'n tell him. Do you like that but
1erT' he asked as they went in the
library.
"He is very efficient one, believe
she granted.
'sA1I right; I'll keep him. he decided
'T did think I'd fire him and get 8
wooden one. Honest, Molly. that guy
amt human
He picked up the telephone.
"Hello, Tommy Yes, you bet she's
here. No, nothin' doin'. Molly wins
SureI Here, Molly
Molly took the telephone, but instead
of the full voice of Tommy she heard
the eager one of Fern.
"Are you married yet, Molly?'' Fern
wanted to know.
ssNot yeti laughed Molly.
81 didn't think you would until Tom.
,eT. oh