The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1920-01-09

possess. When she rescued HIN and
turned him homeward, however. the
Illogical thought began. IA
That night he was called to the tele-
phone. She thought 1t strange enough,
and the wonder deepened when be
turned from the phone and said to her.
Lets go for stroll, Rena."
She agreed willingly enough, for she
had come to enjoy the walks with
him-even to fancy that she was walk
Ing with sane and normal man whom
she more than pitied or liked.
When they reached the river road
and the light breeze brought to them
the fragrant perfume of the southern
flowers, he caught her hand suddenly
and drew 1t under his arm. She
| thought nothing Of the act, for 1t bad
long been familiar. But she was dunn
founded when he stopped suddenly and
| turned to her.
Hang it! / can't wait any longerw
he said as If to himself. Then
She found herself drawn by strong
| arms close to HMM a strong mans
grasp which she had never known.
She was frightened, but she kept con-
troll of herself.
Harvey, you mustn't do that.
Please, let me go. Well walk on to
the falls. Please"
The arms frightened. She turned her
face on his shoulder until she could
see his. He was smiling, and there
was some odd change in 1t. His voice
as he went on was full of emotion.
She trembled as she listened.
my sdear girl. forgot that Case
and l have been deceiving you. have
been making believe I was dippy. I
had to. The best friend of mine tried
to save a fine business from being
stolen from an old lady by a pair
Of crooks. In order to do 1t, he had to
embezzle funds. He broke the law.
The crooks nailed him. / was the one
man whose testimony could convict
this pal of mine. happened to be in
on the deal. We fixed it up to the end
that for time l was to be mentally
erratic. Case was called in, and the
rest was easy. That telephone message
told me that my friend had been able
to get evidence against the pair who
were playing for the old lady's bread
and butter. 1t may sound wild to you,
but under the circumstances it was
easy, really. The worst of 1t is have
been in love with you from the mo-
ment saw you. Now am not going to
release you until you tell me you love
me-or you do not! Which Is it?"
Her mind was in a turmoil. He did
seem at that moment beyond ques-
tiOn utterly sane-voice and manner
had completely changed. But the whole
story seemed unusual-yet two men
of chivalric type might do just what
they had done.
Suddenly she decided. She did love
him, as he had been, with a mothers
love; she could love him as a lover,
if-so she lifted her lips to his and
was swung in his strong arms bodily
from the path into his embrace. !,
II iclt HcT uItdtnitSS, udZeu, Out
even in her confusion she saw him,
with an exclamation, suddenly yank
his coat off and turn it right side out
The blare of an auto horn sounded
family. Craig looked up ands caught
her hand. Case has come. Come on,
Honey. l want to get even with him
for sassing me to my face in front
of you when I could not say word"
She remembered as they hurried
back the doctors pleasure i'm saying
just those things. Now she understood.
But she understood even better than
when she saw the two men clasp
hands i'm silence and heard Case say,
"Old chap, thought you and Haynes
were fools In way to play such a
game. but you've won. Congratula-
lions, Miss Thatcher 1 should offer
you an apology and an explana-
ton"
''Cut out the explanation, Doc; apo
lOgize to her and then to me and
both Of us!" sug-
Croi to- 1ro xx,;v1 hav