The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1918-09-27
The PlOtters
A SERIAL OF EAST AND WEST
Elizabeth Alarmed by ''Man-tO-Man"
Talk She Is Forced to Overhear, Is
COmfOrted by Assurances of
Mrs. Chaplin

anu no QTlnh- On0tT8LAnQs
Talak nodded. Il understand. You're
= good man. IN not forget"
We'll. good-by and good luck" Bat
Ter said. taking Elizsbeth's arm and
walking on.
The betrothed pair did not look
back. Had they done so they would
have seen Talak sink back to the
point at which he had laid down the
burden he carried, pick II mp. then, re-
turning to tho edge OF the WoodA,
stand. watching Butler and Elizabeth
as they disappeared over the crest Of
the hill
He Utters Threat.
He most beat me once-yes,@ the
half-witted creature muttered-
But he Is a good man I'll not
forget him And with an ugly
smart "rll not forget old Chaplin
He did not continue On the trail
through the woods. instead. he
sat down as IL weary. or waiting.
What time II IL, J6hnT' Eliza
beth asked as they reached the
farm gate at the back of the house
= Butler glanced again at his
watch and gave a low whistle
Its seven forty-five. and supper
was Supposed to be at six thirty
he told her. Fortunately, Mrs.
Chaplin IL . sweet-tempered soul"
she certainly Is, and will prob
ably give US q bite to eat and .
glaSs OF Iced tea sooner than let
US starye." Elizabeth smiled.
Yet she felt vaguely uncomfort-
able as she went up the steps t.
the back door. The buoyant joy 81
the afternoon seemed to have faded
suddenly, as the sunset glow was
fading from the western sky. She
shivered involuntarily.
why. DEAR CLIFFORD asked
whats wrong?"
She tried to laugh al d0nR
know" she admitted. except THAI
/ feel suddenly afraid"
~Of what7- he leased. "Of Mrs.
chapin's scolding, or Of gettfag
no supperZ
COZ neIther." she tried to speak
jestinGly. -Nor OF being sent to
bed as punishment"
Her tone was light. but her heart
was heavy. She was ashamed OF
her sudden change OF mood.
As the pair entered the hall
Amos Chaplin came out from the
well, Lizzie dear" the matron
queried. what happenedT'
1--WE went further into the woods
than we meant to. and got on a
very rough path trying to ind q
shortcut honla.' the girl explained.
That's too badi My-but you're
all tuckered out. I expect. Mrs
Chapiu sympathized. run upstairs
and wash. dearie. and I'll just so
out and fix a little supper for you
both"
VI am sorry we have put you to
THIS inconvenience, Mrs Chaplin
Butler apoIogized. at was really
through my stupidity that we got
lost l thought 1 knew the way bet
ter than did
A Man to Afan Talk.
During this interchange of re-
Amos Chaplin had stood, his
face set. his eyes stern. Now he
spoke.
"of course it's not Lizzie's fault
he said. shes not The kind OF .
girl to do thing like that. But
you might have seen to 1t that shs
got home earlier"
-Mr. Chaplin" Elisabeth began
But John checked her.
go on upstairs please, and let .
me talk to Mr.. Chaplin" he said
gently, but firmly.
As she did his bidding she heard
Amos speak again.
"Its / that want. to talk to you,
young man" he declared. There's
that / want to. say and
I may as well say 1t at once. Sup
pose we go in here" leading the
way into a > lalI room at the rear
Of the parlor.
The girl stopped at the head or
the stairs and looked back As she
did so Mrs. Chaplin paused in the
door of the kitchen. Their eyes
met, and the matron smiled reas-
suringly.
Never mind. dearie." she said.
softly. 'You get ready for supper
and I'll get the supper ready. Pas
just a little cranky. but let the men
talk 1t out between them That's
the best way. It don't concern us
And she went on through the din
ing room into the kitchen
Elizabeth hesitated for a mome1<,
then obeyed Mrs. Chapin's sugges-
ton. going into her own room and
closing the door behind her.
20 BE Continued.