Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1919-11-27

even discontinued stopping in the SD
ting room to tell his mother where No
was bound and to say goodnight. MIN
Kent did not demonstrate win ION
again for neglecting Mary.
She knew that her son could not Dc
managed that way. Aunt Annie's ups
we're compressed In a straight line most
of the time now. and she spoke seldom
TO Tom. The atmosphere OF the Kent
home had changed In some subtle man
ner Systematically Tom felt II, Dut
his infatuation for Deyette filled his
mind those days to the exclusion Vi
everything else except business lie
knew he must succeed in that IL ne
were TO stand any chance with Deyette.
So affairs stood when Tom stopped
| In the grocery store on his way home
from business one night to do an erranu
for his mother. Mr.. Bates, the pro-
prietor, waited on him.
As he tied up the package he leaned |
across the counter and spoke in tone F,
too low to be heard by any one else in
the store "Kent, YEA seem 70 be on
pretty good terms with the Sinclairs.-
Do you think they are all rieht-finan-
cially. I mean? They owe me pre'sy
big bin now. and I can't afford TO trust
them for much more.
, "why sure" replied Tom. lhey
? lust happen 10 be short OF ready caSh
, inst now. Mrs. Sinclair was telling
me about II the other evening she
| said the man who managed their estate
was seriously i'll and IL he didn't i'm
. prove soon she would have 10 20 10
= New York herself and look after
things"
Mr. Bates seemed ensured ana
Tom thought no more about the lh'l-
" dent until two nights later. Then Mrs.
" Sinclair brought up the matter OF lhr'r
circumstances again. concluding but
I don't see how | can 30. Really
haven't even money enough in hand 10
. pay my fare"
~ "Why. Mrs. Sinclair" exclaimed Tom
in an Injured tone, "why didn't you
ask me to help you out? nave oh'N
~ about hundred dollars with me-pu'
!. would that do you any good
eu surely would" answered Mrs. Sinclair
I'm voice which she strove not t'
~ make too eager. She thanked him pro
~, fusely. saying that now she Wouid p'
I" able TO take the first morning train
Soon after Deyette pleaded head
hu ache. so Tom left with the remarl
* that he would see her the next eve
~ ming. AS a matter of fact he neNe
u. saw either Of them again.
Returning home the next evenin
Tom found his supper on the table Il
usual When he had nearly hnishe
ne his mother asked him If he woul
mind raking mp the lawn. Tenn ~
hS sSered that he would do II In m
ne morning if she didn't mind. II tbougl
W perhaps. as you are not going to "
Sinclairs' You would do it this ev
| ming" Mrs. Kent persisted.
"Where did YOU get the idea th'
I'm not g0ins there MOTHER TO
|, asked.
\ # "Why. IT can't he possible, Tom
/ answered his mother, In her usual nj
Il voice. chat you. their best frlen
n don't know what is common knowled'
NN I'm the village today J"
Hill 81 don't know what you mea
INV ! mother"
|llj your friends. the Sinclairs. ie
LII town this morning. bag and baggage
MI and lust i'm time. They owe everybo
Hld here and this afternoon an officer q
o. peared To take them back to New No'
IA with n charge against them for so'
" crooked dealings there
~ Mrs. Kent delivered this start'l
~ information. then disappeared INTO 7
~ kitchen. Tom went straight 10
~ room and was not seen again u
~ night.
= Because the atmosphere % the NJ
" home vas pervaded by unsefish i'
n the Slncairs' name was never ni'
u toned there again in Toms presen'
= unless YOU except Aunt Annies
II mark year later, when Tom u
Il them that Mary Freeman had c.
senter to marry him at last:
MARY doesn't need shaded 'gt
Her character viii bear the light
day"