The Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 191?-19??, 1919-09-13

anu ~ was uudDlt 70 ailOW the "a
dress to proceed to its conclusion.
II can't do itlD he burst out. .
can't take her for my mistress"
'What?"
tive come to tell you, I've cot t.
find something that's quicker. !
can't"
Old Frank got little red. Lets sit
down. he said. whats the trouble?"
George told him.
The old gentleman listened sympa-
thetically, only murmuring: swell,
well 7" from time to time, and nodding
acquiescence.
"You see she's set her mind on this
apartment" George explained. "She's
got some old cronies there, and I guess
she's been looking forward to the
games of bridge and the kind of harm
less gossip that goes on in such places.
Really, it's life she'd like better than
anything else-better than that she's
lived at home, l really believe. 1t
struck me she's just about got to have
II. and after all she could hardly have
anything less"
"This comes pretty heavily upon me,
you know" said old Frank. II got her
into that headlight company, and she
fooled me about her resources as much
as she did your Uncle George. was
never your fathers adviser, If you re-
member, and when the insurance was
turned over to her some other lawyer
arranged it-probably your fathers.
But it comes pretty heavily on me, and
feel certain responsibility"
''Not at all. I'm taking the RESPONSE
bility." And George smiled with one
corner of his mouth. "I'll tell you how
1t is, sir" He flushed, and, looking out
of the streaked and smoky window be-
side which he was sitting, spoke with
difficulty. 81 feel as if--as if perhaps
! had one or two pretty important
things in my life to make up for Well,
can't ! can't make them up toto
whom l would. It's struck me that,
as couldn't, might be little decent
to somebody else, ,perhaps-if / could
manage it! Inever have been particu-
larly decent to poor old Aunt Fanny"
"Oh, / don't know: / shouldn't say
that. A little youthful teasing-I
doubt if she's minded so much. 1t
seems to me she's had fairly COM
Portable life-up to now-if she was
disposed to take 1t that way"
''But up to now is the important
thing" George said. "Now is now
and you see / can't wait two years to
be admitted to the bar and begin to
practice I've got to start in at some
thing else that pays from the start,
and that's what I've come to you
about. have an idea, you see."
''Well, I'm glad Of that" said old
Frank, smiling. 81 can't think of any
thing just at this minute that pays
from the start"
'1 only know of one thing, myself"
''What is itF'
George flushed again, but managed
to laugh at his own embarrassment. 81
suppose I'm about as ignorant of bust
ness as anybody in the world" he said
But I've heard they pay very higl
wages to people in dangerous trades
I've always heard they did, and Tn
sure it must be true. I mean peOpl,
that handle touchy chemicals or higf
explostVes-men In dynamite factories
or who take things Of that sort about
the country In wagons, and shoot oil
wells. thought I'd see if you couldn't
tell me something more about 1t, or
else introduce me to some one who
could, and then thought I'd see if
couldn't get something Of the kind to
do as soon as possible. wanted to
get started today if could"
Old Frank gave him long stare. At
first this scrutiny was sharply incred-
ulous; then it was grave; finally it de-
veloped into threat of overwhelming
laughter; a forked vein in his fore
head became more visible and his eyes
seemed about to prOtrude.
But he controlled his impulse; and,
rising, took up his hat and Overcoat.
"All right" he said. IF you'll prom
Use not to get blown up, I'll go with
you to see if we can find the job"
Then, meaning what he said, but
amazed that he did mean it, he added:
''YOu certainly are the most practical
young man l ever met"