Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1917-09-26

Respondent debtors, felt himself sud
denly warmed and moved to be gentle
with this gracious young woman.
"Er-yes. Miss Richlander-er "a
disagreeable duty. you know. l want
ed 10 ask about this young man, Smith.
We don't know him very well here in
Brewster, and as he has considerable
business dealings with the bank. We
that is, / thought your father might
be able to tell us something about
his standing in his home town"
"And my father did tell your
'Well-yes; he-er--he says Smith
is IA grand rascal; a fugitive from
justice; and we thought" David Kin
zie, well hardened In all the processes
of dealing with men, was making diff
fieult weather of il with this all-toO-
beautiful young woman.
Miss Richlander's laugh was well re-
strained. She seemed to be struggling
earnestly to make 1t appear so.
"You business gentlemen are so fun
nyW she commented you know, of
course, Mr.. Kinzie, that this Mr.. Smith
and l are old friends: you've probably
seen US together enough to be sure Of
that. Hasn't it occurred TO you that
however well / might know the Mr..
Smith my father has written you
about. should hardly care to be seen
in public with himT
'Then there are two of them?" Kin
zie demanded.
The young woman was laughing
again. would that be so very won
derful?-with SO many Smiths In the
world?"
"But-er-the middle name, Miss
Richlander: that isn't so infern-so
very common, I'm sure"
1T is rather remarkable, isn't 1t?
But there are a good many Montagues
in our part of the world, too. The
man my father wrote you about al
ways signed himself j. Montague, as
IL he were a little ashamed of the
John"
'Then this Brewster Smith isn't the
one who is wanted in Lawrenceville
for embezzlement and attempted muir
der?"
Excuse me-" said the beauty. with
another very palpable attempt to
smother her amusement. IF you could
only know this other Smith. ]. Mon
tague, as 1 remember him, was a typi-
cal society man-the kind of man who
wears dress clothes even when he
dimes alone, and who wouldn't let his
beard grow overnight for a kings ran
som. But wait a moment. There is
a young gentleman here who came last
evening direct from Lawrenceville.
Let me send for him."
She rose ana pressed the bell push.
and when the floor boy came. he was
sent to the lobby to page Jibbey. Dur
ing the little wait, David Kinzie was
skillfully made TO talk about other
things. Jibbey was easily found, as it
appeared and he came at once. Miss
Richlander did the honors graciously.
mfr. Kinzie, this is Mr.. Tucker Jib-
hey, the son of one of our Lawrence
vile bankers. Tucker-Mr. KinZie I;
the president of the Brewster City Ma
tional." Then, before Kinzie could be-
gin: Tucker. I've sent for you in
self-defense. You know both Mr.. John
Smith, at present of Brewster, and also
]. Montague Smith, sometime of Law
renceville and now of goodness only
knows where. Mr.. Kinzie is trying to
make out that they are one and the
same"
Jibbey laughed broadly. He stood
in no awe of banks, bankers, or stub
bly, mustaches.
''I'll tell John, when see him again
and take chance on being able to
run faster than he cam" he chuckled
Ripping good joker
Then you know both menu" said
Kinzie, glancing at his watch end ris-
ing.
Like a book. They're no more
alike than black and white. Our man
here is from Cincinnati; isn't that
where you met him, Verda? / recol-
lect you didn't like him at first, be-
cause he wore a beard. They told me,
the last time was over In Cinci. that
he'd gone West somewhere. but they
didn't say where. He was the first
man / met when 1 Lit down here. Lit
tie world, isn't it. Mr.. Kinzie?"
David Kinzie was backing away,
watch in hand. Business was very
pressing. he said, and he mist get
back to his desk. He was very much
obliged to Miss Richlander. and was
only sorry that he had troubled her.
When her fatheI should return to
Brewster he would be glad TO meet
him, and so on and so on, TO an2 b.
yond the portieres which finally blot
ted him out, for the two who were left
in the Louis Quinze parlor.
SIS that about what you wanted me
to say" queried Jibbey. when the click
Of the elevator door latch told them
that Mr.. Kinzle was descending.
Tucker. there are times when you
are almost lovable," said the beauty
softly, with a hand on Jibbey's shout
der.
I'm glad it's what You wanted. he
cause it's what was going to say, any
way" returned the ne'er-do-weeI sober
Is, thus showing that he, too, had not
yet outlived the influence Of the over
night hand-gril,.
Since Brewster was a full-nedged
city. IT'S banks closed at three O'Clock.
Ten minutes after the hour which hap
pened also 10 be about the same length
Of time after Starbuck and Smith had
reached town, Mr. Crawford Stanton