The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1917-03-06

- ever Go on, and come back with
the bacon, or don't come back at all.
Frpneau would almost rather have
zone to the electric chair, but needs
e,ust when the devil drives. So he
too,y a big bouquet and big ledger
and p taxicab to the Stafford house.
Md whom should he meet as he
ros nshered in but Lois telling Pier
mont good-by. And what should Pier
nont say but, Il am going to tell you a.
rroat secret, Lois. Dick, here, is en-
GOOD TO Gloria. Don't tell anyone
Ibis had no more self-control than
20 tonple over. Freneau was disguised
.;tb her more than ever now. She
t,od enough presence of mind to blame
I hor collapse on the heat of the room
,ond her alarm for Gloria. And the
a~c7,ee suffced for old Stafford, but as
s1o left she gave the sadly shaken
rroooau a look that said, ooh, no, I
won't tell anyone, but I'll tell you
something
That was what her eyes said, while
hor Inns said: Congratulations to you
both. I'm sure you'll be very happy.
| Good-by.
17ronaau's heart iuttered still more
when he preached the subject of the
loan to Pierpont-broke to Pierpont
+bo ,,lDIeasant news that his new SON.
,n-1az-.5 Itrst act was to borrow money.
Ia nat ii on a business basis, but Pier
mont like most other millionaires,
hated to be sponged on, and he shook
bis head in answer to Freneau's propo-
sition.
Tronoau was in pitiable plight. He
mos about to stink away in despair,
when he happened to think to say:
"yon offered me a reward for the
resc5line of Gloria from the Indians.
refused the money then, so 1 thought
that now perhaps - we'll -
thought
s"Tbat's true" said Pierpont. "That
suggests a way out of it. Your propo-
sition does not appeal to my business
sense. but | can do this. I'll pay you
double the reward with compound in
+erest for five years. That will square
us up.
Freneau smiled with renewal OF
hone and Stafford wrote him an i'm
portant check.
Freneau thanked him, promised to
return the money, and left the bou-
q oupt for Gloria. AS he made his way
! out he met Royce just coming down
from Cloria's room. Freneau hated
the sight Of Royce for many reasons.
i've usually hate people we have
vronged. He managed to ask how
q Gloria was Royce said she was bet
ter, but not yet out Of danger. A GU
rious look came over his face as he
added
Look here Freneau, 1 don't like
you a bit, but Gloria loves you lot.
II don't see why, but she does. Won
en- are peculiar. Now, I'd rather
break my own heart than hers. She
wants you for a husband and if you'll
play fair and walk straight from now
on, III do nothing to interfere with
your plans. But If you play false with
her. Ill-well-there's nothing
q won't do to save her from you"
Freneau promised glibly that he
would be an ideal lover and model
of loyalty. Royce said: II hope So
without much hope, and YOU'D bet
ter" with rather too much empha
SIS Still, Freneau had the check in
his pocket, and he went back to his
Office with the bacon" Mulry made
him SO welcome that he forgot his
new troubles in the radiance of the
new business plans.
But his promise to Royce was pu
to the test at once, for that very aft
ernoon, when he reached his apart
81 ment Lois appeared there. She wa
heavily yelled, but Freneau's vale
seemed to know her. He backed GU
discreetly. When Lois threw off tn
shroud her face was terrible in it
resolution.
"you shan't marry Gloria, Dick" sh
said. You shant throw me over
not for her? You shan't marry he
OF all the people in the world
Freneau was tired of Lois and tire
OF interference. He forgot to be gel
tie He laughed.