Polk County news. [volume] (Benton, Tenn.) 191?-1983, 1919-10-30

ny hailo. she eEteus recosutAln
the visitor. Come In. Delano."
"Hallo. Nary"
The wheel-man entered and sa
down. The girl closed the door.
The young woman sat down upon IN,
head OF couch.
Delano plunged into the object Of hi'
coming.
"One night Palmer and / were tear
ing around down here, you told us
something about your mother" He
nodded toward the old woman. what
was it-you had a chance to fix her
up with a home In the old town
wasn't that the idea?"
"Oh, that" the tall girl laughed
mlrthlessly with II pretense of careless
ness. THAT was just a pipe dream o
mine. You know-my married sisters
/ living in New Orleans. They've lit
tie place out of town-truck farm, l
/ reckcn.
Even IL | could Scrape the fare to-
| gether, mother couldn't make the trip
without some one along.
"She couldn't be trusted alone,
though it'd be a grand place for her
to be-"
81 know Delano's voice was
YEARLY impatient. Nov look here.
How soon can you get her ready to
travel-clOthes and all that?"
she's got a trunkful of clothes"
she said finally, good enough and all
she'll ever need"
There's a party going down that
way he said slowly, ''tonight-I think
Il young woman. I've no doubt she'd
take care Of your mother-we could
arrange tiff you'll line everything up
right away The young lady will I'M
derstand that it's a friend Of mine.
See?"
ITS almighty good Of you" she NUT
tered II wish there was some way I
could get back. but know well enough
there never will be-"
ooh, the deuce!" negatived Delano.
"As far as that's concerned. I'm ur-
der obligations to you, if you only
knew It,"
Fifteen minutes later he was speak
ing to a startled girl who sat huddled
on an uncomfortable iron bench under
meath frOwsy cottonwood. Delano
saw her shrink when he stopped by
her
I'm sure l don't know who is re-
sponsibIe for the rumor." he said, po-
lltely. but some one told me that
there was Southern lady at the hotel
who was leaving for New Orleans to-
night"
The girl struggled with her trem-
bling voice.
Observation-Disclosures" she said finally. |
"Ah! Well. it was a mistake then. !
I'm sorry You see, l have a-er-a
distant relative living here-a very old |
lady I've been wanting her to have
visit to a daughter in New Orleans, but
she is so intirm-deaf and almost blind
that she cannot make the journey
alone.
81 had thought of asking you to take
charge of her."
Il wish l could" began the girl
ITS too bad" went on DelanO in
an absent, disappointed mOnOlogue. Il
wish I could get some one. I'd be only
90 willing to pay all travelling ex-
1enseS and a reasonable amount in ad-
iton."
"O-o-oh--" the dark eyes were all
It once wistfully eager 'Td love to
the care of the lady, Mr.
VIZ"
"Delano. l have no card with me-"
Mr. DelanO, l am Miss Martelle.
You see" she stumbled, and then
vent on frankly: ..
Il came out here to take a position
hat--that didn't materialize-and :
here doesn't seem to be anything else
or me- II would mean lots for me to
,et back to New Orleans-that way. =.
fy home is not very far from there" }
"Now," remarked the listener, "ths
$ surely providential. Tell you what Z
II do. I'll pay all the travelling ex-
lenses and give you 5000 for your
rouble. VIII that be satisfactory"
But it wouldn't be worth that I
luch Mr.. Delano." she hesitated hon
silly.
Its worth 1t to me-to send the old
IDLY with some one | can be sure Of
ONE one who will take care of her. I
me thing more. c
"I'll bring your ward to you at the r
epot The train leaves at eight q
yenty. It's settled then" n
'Yes--yes-of course" I
~ must bid you good afternoon now.
lave a business engagement"
"Fd like you to know" The girl
lme close. 'Tm under very great OBJ
cations, and some time I'm going y
-"
Not at ALL" interrupted Delano cas-
ally. 81 am the one who should be
-ateful Until tonight then"
"Huh :" grunted Simon as the alb
,ntee came behind the roulette-wheel
, relieve him. "Lot o. worthless pups
got around here. Loaf about out
de all day. Reckon Pm due to hear
~ say, about now, that you're going
take a run down hometown