The Lamar register., 1920-08-04

What" exclaimed Mcpherson, and
the others echoed his astonishment.
Il simply told her | wouldn't play
checkers with her." remarked Compton.
quietly.
DO you mean to tell me that You re-
fused TO play checkers with Aunt Mao
mi?" demanded Mcpherson -rrrnly
what Is wonderful ahuus thatf
asked the new citizen OF his question
ers.
Finally Mcpherson spoke up candid
ly and delivered this load from his
soul:
Bob. If you've turned that female
grenadier down on her checker game
you've shown more nerve than any OF
u.s."
You see" said Mcpherson, earnest
ly. ITS a put-up job. She don't want
her goOd-looking niece to have COM
pany."
1T is cruel" murmured Compton,
sympathetically. Suppose you defy
her"
That's Just what Im going TO do"
said Mcpherson, boldly.
lie Abulat W as
indorsed. and Marthss emancipation
was then and there proclaimed by
some half dozen loyal hearts and
true"
The next day business called Comp
ton away from Prairie Valley, and he
was detained q couple OF weeks. Not
long after he returned he called at
the Trueman home. and was led In by
a most Indignant maiden. He saw the
time of day and started TO back out.
Come in; I've something TO tell
you" said Miss Martha, In voice
indicating u strong effort al control.
while you were away Aunt Naomi
was gro ossly insulted by four OF your
friends" exclaimed Miss Martha
Compton started and then looked at
her IN amazement
They surely didn't"
But they did" she said. impetuous-
ly. They came out here to see US,
and when Aunt Naomi was good
enough 10 invite them TO play checkers
with her they decllned-positively de-
clinedl"
There are fully twenty to come yet.
and I'm satisfied all are going to act
In the same ungentlemanly way. It's
a conspiracy-that's what IL isr'
AZ many ss thatf' he hazarded.
Yes. as many as that; there were
twenty-four before"
''Twenty-four whstr'
He felt safe there. but when he
saw the red blood mounting TO her
temples he knew he had put his foot
In II.
Don't you know what ! meanr' =
"Er-you don't mean"
Yes. I do I" she admitted us prompt
Iy as II he had said admirers" "And
the whole thing will have to be gone
all over again."
"Y-e-s"
II don't believe you understand me
at ALL" she said, ia some di=dain.
Miss Martha" he said ''to be can
did with you, ] don't know what trou
ble's ahead OF you. but If you'll tell
me. and I can help you out any III
do It II It ruins mel"
Il don't know what you can do"
she remarked, discoursgedly; II
guess they'll ali come and the little
farce will be played WITH each one.
There's no help for IT,"
You mean there's twenty TO come
YETI"
The bright head nodded. resignedly.
II know a way to dI that" with ex.
cessive confidence.
She looked inQuiringly.
Yes. I do" he said, approaching her.
'I'll see Aunt Naomi and ask her to
let US get married"
He was very, very close to her now,
and she wasn't trying to get away.
As he took her hands she looked up at
him with a mischievous smile.
you forset-you wouldn't play
checkers with Aunt Naomi, either, sir. !"
~But I will I'll play with her morn
ing, noon and night. If that won't do,
] I'll shut down the works and play be-
tween times"
That's good Of you, Robert" whis
pered Martha. nuttering the white flag
| of surrender, but the truth Is. Aunt
| Naomi don't care much for checkers
and It was only at my urgence she
agreed to play with them when they
made me tired"
Then you're he-ah-the-'
stammering over the astounding dis
closure.
The sinner" she said. demurely.