Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1917-09-20
CHAPTER XII.
James Theory.

3 q ooAC WIN COOh op lhC ulC
She had been listening with grow
ing excitement, her eyes fixed
piercingly upon William. He's
got a beard!' she cried, abiding not
to her brother, but to the tabled 1owan.
II heard Willie tell ole Mr.. Genesis
about it,"
at seems to lie heavily on your
mind" Mr.. Baxter said to William.
Il suppose you feel that in the face
of such an example your life between
the ages of thirteen and seventeen has
been virtually thrown away"
William had again relapsed, but he
reused himself feebly. "Sir?" he said.
"What is the matter with him?' Mr.
Baxter demanded. Half the time
lately he seems to be alternating and
only responds by a slight twitching
when poked with a stick. The other
half Of the time he either behaves like
l don't know what or talks about
children growing whiskers in Iowa.
Hasn't that girl left town yet?"
William left the table. Mrs. Baxter
looked distressed. AS for Mr.. Baxter,
he felt a little remorse undoubtedly,
but he was also puzzled. He referred
to his mystiication q little later as he
sat with his evening paper in the
library.
81 don't know what l said to that
tetchy boy to hurt him." be began in
an apologize tone. 81 don't see that
that there was anything too rough for
him to stand in a little sarcasm"
81 think he's married." said Jane.
"What".. And her parents united
their hilarity,
81 do think he's married." Jane in
sisted, unmoved. II think he's mar
ried With that Miss Pratt"
WELL" said her father, "he does
seem upset, and it may be that her
visit and the idea of whiskers, coming
so close together, is more than mere
coincidence, but l hardly think Willie
is married, Jane"
well, then" she returned thought
fully, "he's almost married. l know
that much, anyway"
what makes you think so?'
We'll, because. l kind of thought he
must be married, or anyways somep'n,
when he talked to Mr.. Genesis this
mornin'. He said he knew how some
people got married in Pennsylvania
an India, an he said they were only
seven or eight years old. He said so,
an l heard him. An he said there
were eleven people married that were
only seventeen, an this boy in Iowa
got a full beard an got married too.
An he said Mr.. Genesis was only six
teen when he was married. He talked
all about gettin' married when you're
seventeen years old, an he said how
people thought it was the best thing
could happen. So l just know he's al
most married"
"You haven't any other reason, have
you, Jane?' the mother asked.
"Yes'm," said Jane promptly. "An'
it's a more reason than any! Miss
Pratt calls you mamma as if you
were her mamma. She does it when
she talks to Willie"
"Jane!"
"Yes'm; l heard her. An Willie said,
I don't know what you'll think about
mother He said, Il don't know what
you'll think about mother to Miss
Pratt"
Mrs. Baxter looked a little startled.
and her husband frowned.
"Yes," went on Jane. IAN when they
were waikiki they stopped an talked
to me, an Miss Pratt said, It's our
little sister,"
"Did she really?" Mrs. Baxter asked
gravely.
"Why, you can ask Willie! She said
1t that funny way. Our little sissy
that's what she said. An Miss Pratt
said, 'Ev'rybody would love our little
sister If mamma washed her in soap
an water You can ask Willie"
"Hush, dear" said Mrs. Baxter. "All
this doesn't mean anything at all, espe-
cially such nonsense as Willie's think
ing Of being married. It's your bed
time"
well, but, mamma
"Come along, Janew
HE certainly seems in a queer
state" said Mr.. Baxter when his wife
returned.
At this his wife's tone became seri-
ous. do you think he would do as
crazy a thing as that?"
Mr.. Baxter laughed. "Well I don't
know what he'd do it on. I don't sup
pose he has more than a dollar in his
possession"
"Yes, he has," she returned quickly.
DAY before yesterday there was a
secondhand furniture man here, and I
was too busy to see him, but I wanted
the storeroom in the cellar cleared out,
and I told Willie he could have what
ever the man would pay him for the
junk in there If he'd watch to see that
he didn't take anything. They found
some old pieces that I'd forgotten un-
derneath things, and altogether the
man paid Willie $685."
"But, mercy me-" exclaimed Mr.. Bax-
ter, "the girl may be an idiot, but she
wouldn't u away and marry q boy