The Tomahawk. [volume] (White Earth, Becker County, Minn.) 1903-192?, 1920-06-03


oh, just pretend you're-er-ny wife,
while Uncle James is here this morn
ing. After that I'll undeceive him. But
| if he'd only go over the works hrst
| and see what q first-rate proposition
it is, he'll forget this wife business
and loan the whereWithal."
Marjory debated within herself
Playing the part Of make-believe
| wife to the man you're in love with
might have it's tragic moments. But,
because she was in love with him-"Al
right" she said at last, ''for the sake
of the business I will"
"You're a brick, Miss Cowles!' he
grasped her hands gratefully. Then,
| as the color mounted slowly in his
| cheeks. Hell think Pm darned
lucky dog!" he added. 1t was the first
| personal note that had ever crept into
| the conversation.
Half an hour later Uncle James ar
rived---a tall individual with keen,
swapping eyes. He greeted his nephew
afectionately, then turned to the girl
! as Phillip said, little awkwardly:
"My--er-wife. She is putting her
shoulder to the wheel, too, for a
while"
The difficult moment was past and
| Uncle James was launched in descrip-
tons of his trip east. AS he rose to
| go after steadily refusing to talk bust
ness Uncle James uttered the fatal
words that heightened indefinitely the
conspirators' plan Of an hour.
"rm glad you did so well, Phillip,
because I'd rather made up my mind,
if your wife was one Of those extrava-
CANT creatures wearing her husbands
earnings on her back, I'd have nothing
to do with your business, no matter
how promising. But before we dis
cuss that intend to see the whole Of
New York and the two of you must
be my guests"
AS he went out, the two young peo-
pie looked at each other. Then "Stick
by me while longer" begged Phillip
miserably, and Marjory consented.
Followed busy evenings at theaters,
automobile rides up the Hudson, din
ners When they were riding Uncle
James usually insisted on occupying
the front seat with the chauffeur.
"Even old married people like to sit
by themselves and talk" he said In
diligently"
And Marjory, sitting snugly wrapped
up at Phillips side, watching the river.
! felt sometimes that she had stepped
into Il dream. While Phillip-well,
Phillip grew to long for the right to
reach out and grasp the slim hand
resting beneath the robes q few inches
away.
For Marjory in the hours Of COM
panionship, had shown herself to be
a wonderful comrade, eminently de-
sirable. In wondering how he could
afford marriage, if the business failed,
he sometimes forgot his feeling OF
guilt at the deception he was prac-
ticing on his uncle and his anxiety as
to the outcome.
Then one day, Uncle James wan
dered into the Office when Phillip was
out. Finding Marjory alone, he hest
tated, then sat down in his nephews
chair.
"Whats my nephew playing the
| fool for?" he demanded.
"What do you mean?" she asked,
| trying to speak calmly.
"Just this-he's no more married
than you are! I'll tell you how I
know. Reaching into his pocket, he
extracted the envelope Marjory recog-
nized as the one she had addressed.
Out Of it he took the letter and turned
it over On the back she saw her
handiwork, and delicate flush stole
over her face. 'Marjory Cowles-
Marjory Cowles Merrill-Mrs. Phillip
Merrill" She had picked up that
paper with it's scribblings to typewrite
the letter on!
"When I saw p. NJ. NJ. c.. at the
bottom of the letter, 1 put two and two
together. The girl in my nephew's Of
flee was in love with him, even as she
took down n letter indicating that he
was married! It made me a mite sus-
picious of that letter, and gave me an
excuse to come on.
"And now that have come-well,
he can have that money on one condi-
tion-that he makes good his bluff
and marries you right away. You
suit me down to the ground as my
| nephew's wife,"
Rising, he went slowly out, leaving
the girl speeches. and indignant.
Then the hot tears welled into her
eyes and she buried her face in her
arms on the desk. Nor did she hear
the door open softly. Suddenly, two
strong arms swept her to her feet and
held her close.
II met my uncle downstairs. He
said my Wife wanted me very badly.
But it's nothing, NIarjory darling, to
the way want my wife. When can
claim her, sweetheart?'
Marjory lifted her wet eyes, now
shining with happiness. "Any time