The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1917-01-25
THE ALDERMAN's Q, (,
BY JOSEPH 7. kesceL.

vartably chuckied. "rhat,s VIM, ,,n,.
grub under my belt"
ooe summer day his clear brown
eyes shifted their gaze from a litter Of
papers on the desk before him tn an
open window. through which i gentle
breeze tlutteredl.
he threw both hands upward t,up..
uently and reached for the telephone.
ihanks very much, Alice" he con.
ciuded moment later. "I'll be down
shortly to take out the kidlie."
Within haIf-hour he steued tnto
one OF New York's railroad stations
by the hand he led a sturdy boy Of
seven. whose radiant face beamed in
anticipation of glorious outing.
Inc gateman's curt words tmnedi.
ately danpened the holiday spirit.
bars up against youngsters leav.
ing town without Board of Health Ger.
uncate. It's this infantile paralysis
scare" he added.
CrandalI suddenly stopped short,
His surprised eyes lighted upon tail,
graceful figure standing but few feet
distant. A little girl, about Billy's age,
affectfonately clutcled her hand.
"Betty!" he cried. bounding to her
side.
"Fredr Their hands clasped 10 q
warm pressure.
1.-THE last person In the world I ex.
pected to meet here" he cried heart.
lily. "Sit down for moment and tell
me about yourself aud the old folks
back at Creston."
Elizabeth Thurston's willing and
vivid recital brought back to his mem.
ory a complete picture. which flashed
through his mind like moving pun.
Drama.
He saw all over again how she had
blOssOmed into womanhoOd and had
returned his love. His case had been
we'll pleaded with her father. who re-
fused his consent to their marriage
right up to the day Crandall forsook
the little village. Even as If 1t were
yesterday did he remember his last
meeting with Betty and her words. II
must obey father."
Crundall let his gaze shift from Eliz-
abeth ThurstOn's animated counte-
nance to the little girl Nesting In her
lap.
"Your husband" he ventured, In an
effort to break the suspense. "where
is"
The girl blushed in embarrassment
and gasped: "Husband? Why. I'm
not married"
"The child. L." lie left his sen.
tence unfinished.
"The daughter Of my sister Kate,
who lives in New jersey" Betty
hastily explained, again glancing at
Billy.
"What-oh!" he exclaimed. "allow
me to present Master Billy Andrews.
my nephew. We figured glorious day
In the country, but had to change our
plans"
land Ellen and cannot 60 home
without a certificate" she returned.
II didn't know 1t was necessary until
we reached the station"
After a moments thoughtful study
his head popped up. 1--WE an alder
man friend" he broke out, "who should
help me get those certificates"
Cran<lall's stride was unusually brisk
ne he stepped into telephone booth
few minutes later. He was soon In
earnest conversation with someone
whom he Familiarity addressed as
"Jack."
"You Gun arrange it? Bully for you"
There was moments silence.
THANKS, jack" he said delightedly.
"Everything arranged. Betty" said
Crandall proudly. when he rejoined her.
mo trouble at all. Mr.. O'Hara will
have the certificates at his home by
noon.
"Ohl, I'm so glad. You've no idea
how I dread that disagreeable red
tape" she smilingly replied.
AS they settled into the tonneau OF
the automobile Frederick Crandalrs
right hand closed fondly over her small
left one. toying cautiously with the
third finger.
Fright on time." doomed a voice
from the toplnost step, as the autono-
bile came to stop In front OF the
alderman's house.
Elizabeth and Crandall Immediately
signed some papers under the direction
of a notary, to which Mrs. O'Hara and
her daughter inscribed their names AZ
witnesses.
Carefully Councilman o'Hara
I thu,nbed the worn pages of small
hook until his dancing black eyes TO-
cussed their gaze upon deeply-under-
stood paragraph. In a mumbling out
rich Irish brogue, which rendered nis
words entirely uninteIiigible. he began
to read. -.
stopping abruptly he cleared nis
throat and looked squarely at the g'r'.
"Elizabeth Marion Thurston' 40 you
take this man to be your law
A nervous "Oh!" escaped her. ana
.he quickly jerked her hand from Gran
dalls. ,,,.
"Betty," he oreathed. his pleading
eyes eagerly staring into her oa''''ns
countenance. His arm moved Slowly