Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1919-10-16
CHAPTER XIV.
ID

He went to his room, threw off his
coat, waistcoat, collar and tie, letting
them lie where they CHANGED to fall,
and then, having violently enveloped
himself in a black velvet dressing
gown, continued this action by lying
down with a vehemence that brought
a wheeze of protest from his bed. His
repose was only a momentary SEM
blance, however, for it lasted no long
er than the time it took him to groan
"Riffraff /" between his teeth. Then he
sat up, swung his feet to the floor, rose
and began to pace up and down the
large room.
He had just been consciously rude
to his mother for the first time in his
life; for, with all his riding down of
populace and %riffraff, he had never be-
fore been either deliberately or i'm
pulsively disregardful of her. But
now he had done a rough thing to her !;
and he did not repent; the rather he
was the more irritated with her. And
when he heard her presently go by his
door with a light step, singing cheer
fully to herself as she went to her
room, he perceived that she had mis-
taken his intention altogether, or, in
deed, had failed to perceive that he
had any intention at all.
There came a delicate, eager tap
ping at his door, not done with a
knuckle but with the tip Of a finger
nail, which was instantly clarified to
Georges minds eye as plainly as If he
saw 1t: the long and polished white
mooned pink shield on the end of his
Aunt Fanny's right forefinger. But
George was In no mood for human
communications, and even when things
went we'll he had little pleasure in
Fanny's society. Therefore it is not
surprising that at the sound of her
tapping, instead of bidding her enter,
he Immediately crossed the room with
the intention of locking the door to
keep her out.
Fanny was too eager and, opening
the door before he reached it, came
quickly in, and closed it behind her.
Her look was that of a person who
had just seen something extraordinary
or heard thrilling news.
snow, what on earth do you wantF'
her chilling nephew demanded.
George" she said hurriedly, II saw
what you did when you couldn't speak
to them. l was sitting with Mrs. John
son at her front window, across the
street, and 1 saw it ALL
well, what of 1T"
"You did right" Fanny said with
vehemence not the less spirited be
cause she suppressed her voice almos'
to a whisper. "You did exactly
right You're behaving splendid!
about the whole thing, and l want t.
tell you / know your father woult
thank you if he could see what you're
doing"
my Lord" George broke out at her
"You make me dizzyl For heaven
sake quit the mysterious detectiv'
business-at least do quit it arount
mel Go and try 1t on somebody else
If you like; but I don't want to hea
itp.
She began to tremble, regarding hir
with a fixed gaze. you don't care t
hear, then" she said huskily, shat
approve Of what you're doingT"
Certainly notl Since l haven't tn
faintest idea what you think I'm dc
ing naturally I don't care whethe
you approve of it or not. All I'd like
II you please, is to be alone. I'm nc
giving a tea here, this afternoon,
you'll permit me to mention I'll"
Fanny's gaze wavered; she bega
to blink; then suddenly she sank int
a chair and wept silently, but with
terrible ~desolatlon.
"Oh, for the Lords sakeF" /
moaned. "What in the world is wror
with your"
you're always picking on me-" 81
quavered ~wretchedly, her voice indi
tlnct with the wetness that dubbed i
to 1t from her tears. you do--yt
always pick on mel You've alwa!
done lt-always-ever since you we
a little boy Whenever anything go
wrong with you, you take 1t out {
mel You dol You always
George flung to heaven a gesture
despair; 1t seemed to him the la
straw that Fanny should have chos'
this particular time to come and q