Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1917-02-07
CHAPTER xIIl-continued.

said. Don't have a fit, and don't
laugh. If you do, Ill-rll jump out
of the window. I've got place in
store. I'm going to be straight, Pal
mer."
Good for you'll"
He meant 1t. She was a nice girl and
ne was fond of her. The other was
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.
zone 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. If l 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. you'll be
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"
Il promised Miss Page"
"Never mind Miss Page"
The mention of SidRey'S name
brought up in his Wind Christine as he
had left her .hat 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. 1t made him uncom-
Portable. But any attempt on his part
10 fathomit only met with cold silence.
That had been her attitude that morn
ing.
''I'n tell you what we'll do" he said.
''We won't go to any of the old places.
I've found new roadhouse in the
country that's respectable enough TO
suit anybody. Well go out to Schwit-
ter's and get some dinner. I'll prom
Use to get you back early. How's that?"
In the end she gave in. And on the
way out he lived up to the letter of
their agreement. The situation ex-
hiIarated 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 five-dollar
bill into Johnny Rosenfeld's not over
clean hand.
81 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
lot and say nothing, Mr.. Howe"
Johnny Rosenfeld at eighteen had
developed philosophy of four words.
1t took the place of the Golden Rule.
the Ten Commandments, and the Cate
chism. 1t was: mind your own bust
ness"
True to his promise, Palmer Weakened
the sleeping boy before nine O'Clock.
Grace had eaten little and drunk 9TH
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. Their 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
in his blood. He took chances and got
away with them, laughing at the girls
gasps of dismay.
'Wait until get beyond Slmkins-
viHe," he said. land I'll let her out.
You're going to travel tonight, honey"
The girl sat beside him with her
eyes fixed ahead. He had been drink
ing. and the warmth of the liquor was
tn his voice. She was determined on
one thing. She was going to make
him live Up to the letter of his prom
Use to go away at the house door; and
more and more she realized that it
would be difficult. His mood was reck-
less, masterful. Instead of laughing
when she drew back from a proffered
caress. he turned surly. Obstinate
lines that she remembered appeared |
S-or,, he r,ogt-ffe 20 tho oo~rarz 81 bse I
mouth. She was uneasy.
Finally she hit on plan TO make |
him stop somewhere in her neighbor- |
hood and let her get out of the car. !
She would not come back after that.
There was another car going toward |
the city. Now it passed them, and as |
8fter they passed Il. II became 8 con