The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1920-01-29
CHAPTER XIV.
- u

He went 70 his room. fhreW on his
coat. waistcoat. collar snd tie. letting
them lie where they chanced 10 fall.
and then, having violently envelOped
himself In a black velvet dressing
gown. continued this action by lying
down with a yehemence that brought
a whceze Of protest from Ills bed. His
repose was only a momentary sem
blance, however. for II lasted no long
er than the time II took him 10 grOan
"Rl1rnnr' between his teeth. Then be
Sat up. swung his feet 10 the floor rose
and began to pace Up and down the
large room.
He had just been consciously rude
10 his mother for the first time Ia his
life; for. with all his riding down Of
populace and .iffrnff. he had never be-
fore been either deliberately or Inn
pulsiveiy disregardful Of her. But
now he had done rough thing to her
and he did not repent: the rather be
was the more irritated with her. Aad
when he heard her presently 20 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 10 perceive that he
had any intention OF all.
There came q 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 n he
saw IL: the long and polished white
mooned pink shield on the end OF his
Aunt Fanny's right forehnger. But
George was In no mood for human
communications. and even when things
went well he had little pleasure In
Fanny's society. Therefore IL Il 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 II. came
quickly In. and closed II behind her.
Her look was that OF person who
had just seen something extraordinary
or heard thrilling news.
Now. what on earth do you wantT"
her chilling nephew demanded.
George" she said hurriedly. II saw
whnt you did when you couldn't speak
TO them. was sitting with Mrs. John
son at her front window. across the
street. end I saw II NIL"
"Well, what Of ltf'
You did rIghtw Fanny said with n
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 know your father would
thank you II he could see what you're
doing"
my Lord Z" George broke out nt her.
you mike me dizzy For heavens
sake quit the mysterious detective
business-at least do quit II around
mel Go and try II on somebody else,
II you like: but l don't want to hear
ftw
She began to- tremble. regarding him
with fixed gaze. "You don't care TO
nehr, tHcu, hne hhlu HuShlly, lilut L
approve OF what you're dolngf
Certainly not Since haven't the
faintest Idea what you think I'm do
Ing naturally l don't care whether
you approve OF II or not. All I'd like,
II you please. Is TO he alone. I'm not
giving tea here. this afternoon. II
you'll permit me TO mention III"
Fanny's gaze wavered; she began
10 blink; then suddenly she sank into
chair and wept silently. but with
terrible desolation.
"Oh. for the Lords sakel" he
moaned. "What in the world is wrong
with your"
you're always picking on me-" she
quavered wretchedly. her voice indls-
tlnct with the wetness that bubbled in
10 II from her tears. "You do--you
always pick on mel You've always
done it-0lways--ever since you were
little boyi Whenever anything goes
wrong with you, you take II out on
me You do! You always"
George flung TO heaven a gesture OF
despair; II seemed 90 him tho last
straw tht.t Fanny should have chosen
ibis particular ums 10 come and sob