The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1917-07-05
MISS KATIE'S SCHEME
BY OLIVER BROWN.


"We!l. did you have a nice timer"
Isabel anfastened her fur and I'm.
buttoned a glove before she answered:
"Ffne! I W lived before!"
The smile faded slowly from her
aunt's face and she scanned the girls
features a%nxiously. "Just what do
you mean by that, dear. What would
Tom say If he heard It'll"
II mean every word l say. II you
could only see how the P%attersons live
and what Jeans friends are like!
Why, Auntie, l never knew there were
such people in the world. And such
clothes, such jewels, I've v seen.
Diamonds and pearls as big as hazel
nuts, barrels of EN-"
Her aunt's eyes sought the hand
with Toms modest little diamond,
then she gave a cry Of dismay. "Where
Is your engagement ring, Isabel?"
"It's in my bag. Do you think l
was going to 1t for those people
to see? Jeans sister is engaged to
Donald McCrum, and her engagement
ring is worth q fortune. I wish you
could see It,"
Her aunt sighed. "Well, what are
you going to do about tt?"
Isabel was silent a minute. then. II
think, Aunt Katie, that it's best to
be honest. I'm going to tell Tom the
truth. | eve could be happy with a
poor man now"
Tom Custer had looked at the office
clock S o many times that afternoon
that Mr.. Merrick, the Junior partner,
said finally, "Girl away, TomT
Eyes, sir"
Coming home todayT
"Yes. sir"
II thought So"
Mr.. Merrick put on his hat. SIN
going home now, and you'd better
make it a holiday, too. and quit an
hour early. You'll want to get candy
and flowers and do the right thing. !
want to talk over things with you in
the morning"
Tom waited until the door closed.
then drew over the telephone. But
just as he gave the number the door
opened again. He looked around i'm
patiently. "Miss Cartwright! !" he ex.
claimed.
Aunt Katie nodded a greeting.
swat a minute, Tom. Don't call Isa-
bel just yet. I want to tell you some
thing first. You'll hate me forever,
but it's got to be done, and l guess !
can stand it If it's going to do any
good"
At dinner her niece was quiet. She
was wondering just what she would
say to Tom and how he would take it.
Eight o'clock came. Miss Katie saw
Isabel glance from her magazine to
the clock.
~-Half-past eight
'aThat Miss Smertz, the society edi.
tor Of the Herald, has bothered me
to death about you, so I gave her all
the information she wanted this norm.
ing. There's q piece In tonight, !
guess"
us that sol" Isabel was painfully
herself ''Then Tom does know I'm
home. I wonder why he hasn't called
up at least"
Ten o'clock, and no Tom. Isabel.
puzzled and w~eary-eyed, went upstairs.
not to sleep. but to toss wretchedly
most Of the night
She was up at daybreak and down
stairs waiting when the paper boy
came. She turned to the society page.
There was q five-line announcement
of her return Tom may not have seer
the other, but he would surely know
now. But what was that right under
it, "Mr. Thomas Custer, Of the firm
of Merrick & Merrick. left last night
on a business trip to Des Moines. He
expects to be gone a week."
The postman brought mail and there
was q letter from Tom. She tore 1t
open with feverish haste. Dear lisa
BEL" he wrote, II was sorry to have
to leave Just when you we're coming
home, but 1 couldn't very well help 1t.
My chance for uccess rests with the
Merricks. and l must please them first.
Money comes drst In the world. you
know: sentiment, after all. is a Sec
ondary thing, and know you will
understand. I know you had a pleas.
ant visit, and I hope to hear all about
It before long. Ahectionately. Tom"
Isabel crushed the letter into Q
ball and threw Il onto the table. SWELL.
] like that" sha cried furtouslx and
rushed 10 her own room crying
At the end Of two days Aunt KITE
remarked seriously: Say, Isabel, why
don't you send Tom his ring while
he's awayl = wouldn't b likely to
hurt him 20 much 70. bsS having .
good dine and hAs m1U Win b on
otiher tninsk Ms sznf had - At The
clvb thaf he0Otay1ng With 16me very
rich friends az ds 1en4cA and the9
are up tpthefy oIo b society,"