Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1917-04-06
CHAPTER xIII-continued.


"rve got something to tell you," she
said. "Don't have a fit, and don't
laugh. If you do, Tll-Tll jump out
of the window. I've got place in a
store. I'm going to be straight. Pal
mer."
''Good for you y
He meant it. She was q nice girl and
ne was fond of her. The other was a
dogs life. And he was not unselfish
about it. She could not belong to him.
He did not want her to belong to any
one else.
"One of the nurses In the hospital, a
Miss Page, has got me something to do
at Linton & Hofburg's. am going on
for the January white sale. Ii / make
good they will keep me"
He had put her aside without a
qualm and now he met her announce
ment with approval. He meant to let
her alone. They would have holiday
together, and then they would say
good-by. And she had not fooled him.
She still cared. He was getting off
well, all things considered. She might
have raised row.
"Good work !" he said. "You1l be a
lot happier. But that isn't any reason
why we shouldn't be friends, is it?
Just friends: mean that. would like
TO feel that can stop in now and then
and say how do you do..s'
81 promised Miss Page"
"Never mind Miss Page"
The mention Of Sidney's name
brought up in his mind Christine as he
had left her that morning. He scowled.
Things were not going well at home.
There was something wrong with
Christine. She used to be a good
sport, but she had never been the same
since the day of the wedding. He
thought her attitude toward him was
one of suspicion. It made him uncom-
Portable. But any attempt on his part
to fathom it only met with cold silence.
THAT had been her attitude that morn
ing.
"Tll tell you what wen do" he said.
0'We won't go to any Of the old places.
I've found a new roadhouse in the
country that's respectable enough to
suit anybody. Wen go out to Schwit-
ter's and get some dinner. I'll prom
ase to get you back early. How's thatT"
In the end she gave in. And on the
way out he lived up to the letter OF
their agreement. The situation ex-
hilarated him: Grace with her new
air of virtue, her new aloofness; his
comfortable car; Johnny ROsenfeld's
discreet back and alert ears.
The adventure had all the thrill of a
new conquest In it. He treated the
girl with Difference, did not insist when
she refused cigarette, felt glowingly
virtuous and exultant at the same time.
When the car drew up before the
Schwitter place, he slipped fve-dollaG
bill into Johnny Rosenfeld's not over
clean hand.
~ don't mind the ears" he said.
"Just watch your tongue, lad" And
Johnny stalled his engine In sheer sur
prise.
There's just enough of the Jew in
me-" said Johnny, "to know how to talk
a lot and say nothing, Mr.. Howe"
Johnny Resented at eighteen had
developed a philosophy of four words.
1t took the place of the Golden Rule,
the Ten Commandments, and the Cate
chism. 1t was: ''Mind your own busi-
ness"
True to his promise, Palmer wakened
the sleeping boy before nine o'clock.
Grace had eaten little and drunk moth
ing but Howe was slightly stimulated.
''Give her the once over" he told
Johnny, "and then go back and crawl
into the rugs again. I'll drive in"
Grace sat beside him. Taeir progress
was slow and rough over the country
roads, but when they reached the
state road Howe threw open the throt-
tie. He drove WELL The liquor was
ia his blood. He took chances aud got
away with them, laughing at the girls
gasps of dismay.
"Wait until get beyond Simkins-
ville,' he said "and I'll let her out.
You're going to travel tonight, honey.
The girl sat beside him with hex
eyes fixed ahead. He had been drink
Ing, and the warmth of the liquor war
I'm his voice. She was determined OF
one thing. She was going to make
him live up to the letter Of his prom'