The Washington times., 1918-09-18
The PlOtters
A SERIAL OF EAST AND WEST
Elizabeth Explains the Little Plot
COncOcted by Her Brother to
Beguile John Butler.
BH Viginia Terhune Van de Water
By Virginia Terhune Van de Water.

for a while II you cared more for
DR.. Wade than you admitted"
She laughed TREMENDOUSLY. How
funny1'
1T did not seem funny to me
then" he remarked gravely.
She changed the subject quickly.
81 want to explain the little plot
that Douglas and / had. For you
must want an explanation"
yes" he said, II would like an
explanation when IL suits you to
make II. JNst now. I am satisfied
with what l have been told. Yet
there are certain questions that are
already forcing themselves into my
mind"
"Of course there are she nodded
understandingIy. Most men would
be angry until they comprehendsd
the whole thing. Perhaps Cor that
matter, you will be angry"
"I could not be angry with you"
he said softly.
She ignored the feeling IN his
voice by turning his words into a
Jest.
Some people manage to get
very angry with me-" she rejoined
lightly. For Instance, Amos Cha
pin. He was furious with me q
while ago He waylaid me out in
the hall and asked me what i had
written to Douglas about che sale
OF the farm behaved as II
thought too little of the matter to
refer to It in my letter 20 my
brother. or to care
But you do carer Butler ques-
toned.
-carer- and the look Of pain on
her face showed more plainly than
her reply how she shrank from the
idea OF parting with the old home
at care terribly! why-this wrs
my grandfather's place. and Is the
only semblance Of a home that
have In the world 1t means less
to Douglas now. for he will prob
ably live at the West always.
used to think I would live with
him-but now I won't. Not" she
added hastily. that I am not de-
lighted that he is to marry and
have a home Of his own l am glad
for him and for your sister. But
I wish we could keep this old place
As II is, IL now looks as IL we would
have to allow Amos to buy it"
John Butler was silent for =
moment He was thinking rapidly.
Liberation. as II he was debating q
doubtful question
A Friend In Nneed
"I have just remembered he
said. that 1 have a friend who
might like to have a chance to buy
this farm. am sure he could give
DR.. Wade a better price for it than
Chaplin could"
"a friend OF yours" the girl
asked
Yes Would you mind very much
II this chap were to buy the prop
erty?"
Why" hesitatingly, 81 have had
no time to think about IL. | do not
know. But" with a bright smile,
of one thing I am certain. l would
rather have It owned by some one
who was a friend of yours-and,
therefore, a gentleman-than to
have it bought by some one whom
/ dislike and distruct as / do Amos
Chaplin. 1t would hurt less to know
1t was the property OF your friend
than a man like him." with a ges-
ture toward the door through which
Amos had recently passed. But,
you see, no time is to be lost. For
unless Douglas gets a better offer
he will probably close with this
one. To be frank. he feels it is
his duty to do So"
Conversation was checked BY the
ringing OF the supper bell. As its
Changing ceased Mrs. Chaplin called
from the hall: Lizzie. where are
you. dearic?'
Il am here" the girl answered.
starting toward the door. Her com
panion detained her long enough To
make a suggestion.
Suppose you do not ell the Cha ,
pins that know who you are until
we have had a chance for long
talk"
She nodded her assent
when will that be-" he asked.
What about n walk over 20 the
woods tomorrow afternoon"
VERY we'll" she agreed. 'I VIII
go with you tomorrow afternoon"
To BE Continucd.