Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1917-02-22


ment OF her engagement. At five o'clock,
when he left the Office, he found Joe
Drummond waiting outside on the
pavement.
Mother said you'd been UP to see
me couple Of times. I thought I'd
come around"
K. looked at his watch.
what do you say TO a Walk"
mot out in the country. I'm not as
muscular as you are. III go about town
for a half-hour or So"
Thus forestalled, K. found his sub
ject hard to lead up to. But here again
Joe met him more than halfway.
''Wel1, so on" he said, when they
found themselves in the park; I guess
I know what you are going to say"
I'm not going to preach, il you're
expecting that. Ordinarily, if a man
insists on making a fool Of himself, l
let him alone"
why make an exception Of me?"
cone reason is that I happen to like
you. The other reason is that, whether
you admit it or not, you are acting
like a young idiot, and are putting the
responsibility on the shoulders of
someone else"
"She is responsible, isn't she?'
Not in the least. How old are you,
Joe?"
''Twenty-three almost"
Exactly. You are a man, and you
are acting like a bad boy. It's dis
appointment to me. It's more than
that to Sidney"
Much she cares! She's going to
marry Wilson, isn't she?"
"There>is no announcement Of any
cnga cement"
"She is, and you know it. Well,
she'll be happy-not! If I'd go to her
tonight and tell her what 7 know,
she'd never see him again"
The idea, thus born in his over
wrought brain, obsessed him. He
turned to it again and again. LIE
hl0yne was uneasy. He was not GER
taiu that the boys statement had any
basis in fact. His single determina-
ton was to save Sidney from any
pain.
When Joe suddenly announced his
Inclination to go out into the country
utter all, he suspected a ruse to get
nd Of him, and insisted on going along.
Joe consented grudgingly.
Cars at BaiIey's garage" he said
sUilenIy. u don't know when I'll get
| back
"Ihat won't matter" KS tone was
cheerful. I'm not sleeping, anyhow"
That passed unnoticed until they
were on the highroad with the car
running smoothly between following
fields of wheat. Then:
$50 you've got it too! he said.
Were fine pair of fools. Wed both
be better eff if [ sent the car over a
bank"
He gave the wheel a reckless twist,
and LIE Moyne called him to time
#ternIy.
They had supper at the White
| Springs hotel-not on the terrace, but
in the little room where Carlotta and
Wilson had taken their first meal to-
! Gether. Joe submitted with bad grace,
but the meal cheered and steadied
him. X. found him more amenabIe to
reason, and, gaining his confidence.
learned Of his desire to leave the city.
TIN stuck here" he said. Tin the
only one, and mother yells blue MUIR
der when [ talk about it. want to go
TO Cuba. My uncle owns a farm down
there.'
Perhaps + can talk your mother
over. I've been there"
Joe was all interest. His dflated pu-
| pills became more normal, his restless
hands grew quiet. ks even voice, the
picture he drew of life on the island,
The stiffness Of the little hotel ia it's
| midWeek duIlness, seemed to quiet the
boys tortured nerves. He was nearer
to peace than he had been for many
days. R1It he smoked necessarily, light
ing one cigarette from another.
At ten o'clock he left K. and went
fer the car. He paused for a moment,
rather sheepishly, by ks chair.
TIN feeling a lot BETTER" he said. 81
! haven't got the band around my head.
You talk to mother"
That was the last K. saw of Joe
Drummond until the next day.