Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1917-02-22
ting a nurIer.

hind his stately back. Secretly and in
its heart. it was proud Of him. With
a half dozen automobiles, and Chris
tine Howe putting on low neck in the
evenings. and now a butler. not to
mention Harriet Kennedy's Mimi, it
ceased to pride itself on its common
pIaceness, ignorant of the fact that IN
its very lack of affectatiOn had lain
its charm.
On the night that Joe shot Max VII.
son, Palmer was nOticeably restless.
He had seen Grace Trying that day for
the first time, but once, since the motor
accident The girl had q strange fas-
cination for him. The sight of her
walking sedately along in her shop
girls black dress had been enough to
set his pulses racing. When he saw
that she meant to pass him, he fell
into step beside her.
81 believe you were going to cut
me. Still in the store?"
Yes" And. after a seconds hest
tation: TN keeping straight, too"
DO you have to walk as fast as
this?"
I said I was in q hurry. Once a
week I get off a little early to go to
tie hospital. The Resented boy
The mOnstrous injustice of the thing
ercame her. Palmer and she walk
ing about. and the boy lying on his hot
bed She chozed.
"Wel?"
"He worries about his mother. If
you could give her some money, it
would help"
Money! I paid his board for two
months III the hospital"
When she did acknowledge this gen
erosity-amounting to forty-eight dol
lars-his irritation grew Her silence
was an accusation. She was too calm
in his presence, too cold. Where it
had pleased his pride to think that he
had given her up, he found that the
shoe was on the other foot.
At the entrance to a side street she
stopped.
Il turn off here"
"NGay I come and see you sometime?' p
mo, please"
That's flat, is it?"
at is, Palmer"
He swung around savageIy and left
her.
The next day he drew over a thou
sand dollars from the bank. A good
many of his debts he wanted to pay
in cash; there was no use putting
checks through, with discriminating in
dOrsements. Also, he liked the idea
of carrying a roll of money around.
The big fellows at the clubs always
had a wad and peeled off bills like skin
off an onion. He took a couple of
drinks to celebrate his approaching
immunity from debt.
At nine o'clock that night he found
Grace. She had moved to a cheap
apartment which she shared with two
other girls from the store. The others
were out. 1t was his lucky day, surely.
His drunkenness was of the mind,
mostly. His muscles were we'll con
trOlled. Tie lines from his nose to the
corners Of his mouth were slightly &C
centuated, his eyes open q trifIe wider
than usual That and a slight pale
ness Of the nostiils were the only evil
dences of his condition. But Grace
knew the signs.
"You can't come in"
"Of course I'm coming in"
She retreated before him, her eyes
watcnful. Men III his condition were
apt to be as quick with a blow as will.
a caress. But, having gained his point,
he was amiable
Get your things on and come out.
We can take in Il roof garden"
I've told you I'm not doing that sort
Of thing"
He was less steady than he had been.
The heat of the little fiat brought more
blood to his head. He wavered as he
stood just inside the door.
You must go back to your wife"
"She doesn't want me. She's in love
with fellow at the house."
Palmer, hush!"
Il only want to take you out for a
good time. I've got money. Look
here!'
He drew out a roll of bills and
showed it to her Her eyes opened
wide. She had never known him to
have much money.
Lots more where that comes from"
A new look flashed into her eyes, not
cupidity, but purpose.
She was instantly cunning.