Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1917-01-25
Sorry, old man; I've made another

They left the hospital together.
Everywhere the younger man received
the homage of success. The elevator
man bowed and flung the doors open,
with a smile; the pharmacy clerk, the
doorkeeper, even the convaIescent pa
tient who vas polishing the great brass
dOorplate, rendered their tribute. Doc
tor Ed looked neither to right nor left.
Sidney, after her involuntary bath in
the river, lad gone into temporary
eclipse at the White Springs hotel. In
| the oven of the kitchen stove sat her
two small white shoes, stuffed with pa
per so that they might dry in shape.
Back in a detached laundry, a sympa-
thetic maid was ironing various soft
white garments, and singing as she
worked.
Sidney sat in a rocking chair in a
hot bedroom. She was carefully
swathed in a sheet from neck to toes,
except for her arms, and she was being
as phiIosophic as possible.
Someone tapped lightly at the door.
ITS LIE Moyne. Are you all right?"
Perfectly. How stupid it must be
for your
I'm doing very well. The maid will
soon be ready. What shall l order for
supper?"
Anything. I'm starving"
I think Your shoes have shrunk."
''Flatterer!" She laughed. Go away
An I
ettuce. Shall we have saIad2" l.
K. lie Noyne stood for a moment In
front of the closed door, for the mere
sound of her moving. beyond it. Things
had gone very far with the Pages
| r0omer that day in the country; not
so far as they were to go. but far
enough to let him see on the brink of
what misery he stood.
He could not go away. He had prom
ised her to stay: he was needed. He
thought he could have endured seeing
her marry Joe, had she cared for the
boy. That way, at least, lay safety for
her. The boy had fidelity and devotion
written large over him. But this new
COmpication-her romantic interest in
Wilson, the surgeons reciprocal inter-
est in her, wish what he knew of the
man-made him quail.
From the top of the narrow stair
case to the foot, and he had lived Il
years torment! At the foot, however,
he was startled out OF his reverie. Joe
DrummOnd stood there waiting for
him, his blue eyes recklessly ahght.
''You-you dog" said Joe.
There were people in the hotel par
lor. LIE Moyne took the frenzied boy
by the elbow and led him past the
door to the empty porch.
"Now," he said, eff you will keep
your voice down, I'll listen to what
you have to say"
you know what I've got to say"
This failing to draw from K. LIE
Moyne anything but his steady glance,
Joe jerked his arm free and clenched
his fist.
What did you bring her out here
for?"
Il do not know that I owe you any
explanation, but [ am willing to give
you one. [ brought her out here for a
trolley ride and a picnic luncheon"
He was sorry for the boy. Life not
having been all beer and skittles to
him, he knew that Joe was suffering,
and was marvelously patient with him.
''Where is she now?"
"She had the misfortune to fall in
the river. She is upstairs" And, see
In oh Cf -,
"If you care to make a tour of investi-
cation, you VIII find that I am entire
ly truthful. In the laundry q maid"
"She is engaged to me"-doggedly.
Everybody in the neighbOrhood knows
It, and yet you bring her out here for
picnic It's-it's damned rotten treat
ment."
His fist had uncIenched. Before K.
LIE Moyne's eyes his own fell. He felt
suddenly young and futile; his just
rage turned to clustering in his ears.
Il don't know where you came
FROM" he said, 'but around here de-
cent men cut out when girls en-
gagged"
81 see y
HudI > more, WudJ 90 we KNOW
about you? You may be all right, but
how do l know it? You get her into
trouble and I'll kill your
1t took courage, that speech, with K.
LIE Moyne towering five inches above
him and growing a little white about
the lips.
"Are you going to say all these things
to Sidney?"
4 am. And I am going to find out
why you were upstairs just now"
Perhaps never in his twenty-five
years had young Drummond been 50
near a thrashing. Fury that he was
ashamed of shook lie Moyne. For
very fear Of himself, he thrust his
hands in the pockets of his Norfolk
coat.
Very well" he said. 'You go to her
with just one of these ugly i1sinua-
tons, and III take mighty good care
that you are sorry for it. If you are
going 10 behave like a bad child, you
deserve a licking, and I'll give it to
you"
An overflow from the parlor poured
Out on the porch. lie MOyne had got
himself in hand somewhat. He was
still angry, but the look in Joe's eye
81, 41r,l l.. IL