Cleveland County herald., 1919-12-04
CHAPTER XIV.

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 He went to his room, threw off his coat, waiStcoat, collar and tie, letting them lie where they chanced to fall, and then, having violently enveloped himself in a black velvet dressing gown, continued this action by lying down with a yehemence that brought q wheeze of protest from his bed. His repose was only momentary sem blance, however, for it lasted no long CT than the time 1t took him to groan ''Riffraff!" between his teeth. Then he sat up, swung his feet to the floor, rose md 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 im- pulsively disregardful of her. But now he had done 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 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 knuckle but with the tip of finger nail, which was instantly clarified to Georges minds eye as plainly as if he saw it: 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 well 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 person who had just seen something extraordinary or heard thrilling news.
 "Now, what on earth do you want?" her chilling nephew demanded.
 George" she said hurriedly, q saw what you did when you couldn't speak to them. I was sitting with Mrs. John son at her front window, across the street, and saw it all"
 "Well, what of it?"
 You did right l" Fanny said with q vehemence not the less spirited be- cause she suppressed her voice almost to whisper. "You did exactly right! You're behaving splendidly about the whole thing, and l want to tell you I know your father would thank you if he could see what you're doing"
 My Lordi !" George broke out at her. You make me dizzy For heavens sake quit the mysterious detective business-at least do quit it around me! Go and try it on somebody else. if you like; but don't want to hear itv"
 She began to tremble. regarding him with a fixed gaze. You don't care to hear, then" she said huskily, that l approve of what you're doing?"
 Certainly not Since I haven't the faintest idea what you think I'm 'do- ing naturally I don't care whether you approve of it or not. All I'd like, If you please, is to be alone. I'm not giving tea here, this afternoon. if you'll permit me to mention itr'
 Fanny's gaze wavered; she began to blink; then suddenly she sank into chair and wept silently, but with a terrible desolation.
 'Oh, for the Lords sake!" he moaned. What in the world is wrong with you?"
 'You're always picking on me-" she quavered wretchedly, her voice indfs- tinct with the wetness that bubbled in- to it from her tears. You do-you always pick on me! You've always done it-always-ever since you were little boy! Whenever anything goes wrong with you, you take it out on me! You do! You always
 George flung to heaven gesture ot despair; it seemed to him the last straw tliat Fanny should have chosen this particular time to come and sol