The Jasper news. [volume] (Jasper, Missouri) 1898-1924, 1918-07-04

This is ridiculous" Mrs. Dunn pro-
| claimed. every sane person knows,
though barbarians may not"-with n
venomous glare at the captain that
in engagements of the kind in which
my son has shared certain amount of
-er-financial-er- is, the bride Is
supposed to have some money. 1t is
expected. OF course it is! Love in a
cottage is-well, bit passe. My son
and | pity your niece from the bottom
of our hearts, but-there! Under the
circumstances the whole affair be-
comes impossible. Caroline, my dear,
I'm dreadfully sorry, dreadfully! love
you like my own child. And poor NAL
colin will be eartbroken-but-you
see."
Stephen, who had been Tuning and
REFRESHING his rage with difficulty dur
ing the scene, leaped forward with
brandished fist.
by gadr he shouted. "Mal Dunn,
you cad"-
His uncle pushed him back with a
sweep of his arm.
Steve" he ordered, I'm runnin this
ship" He gave quick glance at his
niece and then added, speaking rap
idly and addressing the head of the
Dunn family: II see, ma'am. Yes, yes.
see. Well, you've forgot one thing,
guess. If there's nothin' in marriage
but business, then an engagement Is
what l just called 1t, business con-
tract, and it can't be broke without the
consent of both sides. You wanted
Caroline's money; maybe she wants
yours now. If she does, and there's
such thing as law, why, perhaps she
can get it."
That's the TALK! cried stephen ex-
ultingly.
"Stop!" Caroline cried wildly. "Oh.
stop! Do you think-do you suppose l
would marry him now-now, aftA
I've seen what he is? Oh" with
shudder of disgust "when think what
l might have done l. Thank God that
the money has gone! I'm glad I'm
poor! I'm glad! l never want TO see
him or think of him again. Please,
please let me go! oh, take me home!
Captain Warren, please let me so
homer
Her uncle was at her side In a mo-
ment. Eyes, yes, dearie," he said, "I'n
take you home. Don't give way now!
| mp
He would have taken her arm, but
she shrank from him.
mot you," she begged. "Steve!'
The captains face clouded, but he
answered promptly.
"Of course-Steve" he agreed.
Steve, take your sister home. Mr..
| Sylvester's got carriage waitin', and
he'll go with you, don't doubt. Do as
l tell you, boy-and behave yourself.
Don't wait; go!''
He held the door open until the hys-
terical girl and her brother had de-
parted Then he turned to the Dunns.
well, ma'am," he said dryly, 81
don't knows there's anything more to
be said. All the questions seem to be
settled. Our acquaintance want so
awful long, but 1t was interestin'.
Known you has been, as the Teller
said, liberal education. Don't let me
keep you any longer. Good afternoon"
Then Mrs. Dunn bethought herself
of way to make their exit less awk-
ward and embarrassing.
MY heart" she said, gasping and
with clutch at her breast. my poor
heart! IL fear I'm going to have one
of my attacks. Malcolm, your arm
quick"
With an expression of intense but
patient suffering and leaning heavily
upon her sons arm she moved past
Captain Elisha and from the room.
That evening the captain stood In the
lower hall of the apartment house at
Central Park West undecided what to
do next. He wished more than any
thing else In the world to go to his
niece. He would have gone TO her be.
fore-had been dying to go to soothe
to comfort, to tell her of his love-but
he was afraid. His conscience trou-
bled him. Perhaps he had been too
brutal.
The elevator descended, the door OF
the cage opened, and Stephen himself
darted out. The captain caught him
as he passed.
Here, boy" he exclaimed where's
the fire? Where are you boundT
His nephew, brought thus unexpect-
edly to halt, stared at him.
"Oh, it's your he exclaimed.
"Rumph! I'm bound-I don't know
where I'm bound. I'm going to the
club, guess. or somewhere. Anyhow