The Dolores star., 1917-01-05


noticin' him all winter. fuasin' and
fussin' with them gears, and once'n q
whils I'd want to know what In time
b was tryin' 10 Do
''Chariie md most Of the Wort. - said
Lem. "It was his brains-
sAnd say. Mr.. Willett. haven't told
anybody yet: bat beginnin' today I and
Lem are partners. share and share
allie. We nxed up The papers, and he
gets half my farm and dairy business.
while get q half interest in this new
separator patent Of LENS. I'm goin'
to put up what moneys necessary to
start maxim q few Of these attach
ments. then. II It grows too fast for
me-
Mr.. willett's eyes twInkIed shrewdly.
III 1t grows too fast, you may let in
Q little outside capital, chr"
you said somethin'. Mr.. wfllett,"
continued Sam. Gosh! VIII you
listen to how fast those womenfolks
are talkin'f Can you beat itr'
you see." Mrs. Brown was explain
ing to Martha Thomas and Mrs, John
Willett, "of course anything that Fran
els recommended would be just about
right with Mary Alice"
1T would be about right with all Of
us," said Martha Thomas. s.Sam says
be heard someone say the other day
that Mr.. Stacey has turned over almost
the whole management of the store to
Francis since he's been made a part
ner-"
"Oh. that isn't quite true" said Mrs.
Willett. Francis has q lot to do with
what he calls the 'mercha ndisinR end
but Mr.. Stacey handles all the finances.
You couldn't expect anybody with
Francis experience. or lack of 1t, to-
Look here. Mary Alice" said Fran
els. "the two years are up" He held
his watch toward her, and she saw
that It marked exactly eight-nfteen.
The girl was sitting on 4 big leather
covered divan, Francis on one side Of
her. Charlie on the other.
Mary Alice caught q hand Of each
Of her companions and. with both her
own. held them close together; then
she suddenly bowed her head, and her
shoulders 1uivered with 4 little sob.
MARY Alice. Mary Alice" protested
Francis, don't do that, dear. Why,
what's the-what's the matterT
He cast an appealing, helpless look
at Charlie, whom he saw to be quite
as bewildered as himself. Mary Alice
looked up through mist of tears.
iT-just-couldn't help It," she said.
I'm so-hap-happy. oh. Francis.
Francis. knew you'd keep it. never
doubted you for q minute. Now can't
You see 1t has been-better? l.
There, your mothers looking at me.
Let's 60 out on the porch a few min
utes."
Come along. too. Charlie?' asked
Francis.
Charlie smiled slyly. "Do you really
want me" he asked.
WELL" replied Francis, 'of course
you're always welcome. but--don't you
think the night air might
yes" said Charlie, II guess it
might"
Francis and Mary Alice disappeared,
and Charlie Joined Mr.. Willett, his ia
Their and Lem. Those who saw him
satisfaction the almost entire absence
Of the hating awkwardness in his gait.
Long ago he had discarded his riotous
yellow wealth Of hair, and now one
saw the splendid proportions Of the
shapely head, with its broad, thought.
ful brow. His eyes, clear . blue,
Straightforward, frank, and usually
shining with a vigorous good will, held
you with a compelling light.
Charlie was sitting in the side yard,
working at some water-color sketches.
The summer wind f1uttered his sheets
as he worked. Hens pecked busily
about, uttering small, contented,
throaty sounds. Charlie looked I'D and
OF across the fields to where his friends
the mountains, delicately tinted in the
light Of the setting sun, stood, opaline,
sentinels of unchanging peace.
"Charlie-boy." called Martha from
the door. isn't that Mary Alice coming
up the hill?"
They watched the girl approach and
Charlie called a good morning Mary
Alice dropped down on the grass and
painted. She had small, plain wooden
box in her hand.
"Hullo, Mary Alice" said Charlie,
whats your great rush? What's that
In your hand-another wedding pres
entw
"1ts-it's for you," she said. "I-I
had letter from Doctor Billy, in
Belgium. and a present from him-the
dearest piece of embroidery-and this
was with it."
She passed the little box to Charlie,
while Martha and Sam looked ON.
mildly curious.
Just like that Doctor Billy" said
Martha. Hes always thinking of
something to please people. why.
Charlie-boy, it's a watch"
Sam took it and turned it over and
over. Then he snapped open the case.
Here's some writin'." he said. "It'a