Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1921-05-05
CHAPTER Two-contlnusd.

CHAPTER TWo-contlnued.
s.
ITS a fact. Susan told me. Mr..
Baker doesn't know the truth yet and
she doesn't dare to tell him. She's
scared stiff. Pauline went over to
Hazelmead last week to visit Emma
Stacy against his wishes. She met the
young man at dance. Susan got a
letter from Pauline last night making
clean breast of the matter. They
are married and stopping at hotel In
New York"
my lord I should think she would
be scared stiff" said Mrs. Bing.
II think there Is a good reason for
the stiffness of Susan" said Mrs. Sin
gleton, the wife of the Congregational
minister. I'VE all know that Mr.. Ba-
ker objected to these modern dances
and the way that Pauline dressed. He
used to say that 1t was walking on the
edge of a precipice."
There was breath Of silence In
which one could hear only a faint rus
tie like the stir of some invisible
spirit.
Mrs. Blng sighed. HE may be all
right" she said in low, calm voice.
"But the indications are not favor
able,' Mrs. Singleton remarked.
The gossip ceased abruptly, for the
girls were coming from the palm
room.
The next morning Mrs. Bing went
to see Susan Baker to offer sympathy
and helping hand. Mamie Bing was,
after all, good-hearted woman. By
this time, Mr.. Baker had been told.
He had kicked hole in the long look
ing-glass in Pauline's bedroom and
flung a pot Of rouge through the win
dow and scattered talcum powder all
over the place and torn a new silk
gown into rags and burned it in the
kitchen stove and left the house slam
ming the door behind him. Susan had
gone to bed and he had probably gone
to the club or somewhere. Perhaps
he would commit suicide. OF all this,
1t Is enough to say that for some hours
there was abundant occupation for the
tender sympathies of Mrs. ]. Patterson
Bing. Before she left, Mr.. Baker had
returned for luncheon and seemed
to be quite calm and self-possessed
when he greeted her in the hall below
stairs.
! On entering her home, about one
O'Clock, Mrs. Bing received letter
from the hand Of Martha.
Phyllis told me to give you this as
soon as you returned" said the girl.
| s".What does this mean" Mrs. Bing
whispered to herself, as she tore open
the envelope.
Her face grew pale and her hands
trembIed as she read the letter.
dearest Mamma" it began, fI am
going to Hazelmead for luncheon with
Gordon King. couldn't ask you be-
cause didn't know where you were.
We have waited an hour. / am sure
you wouldn't want me to miss having
a lovely time. shall be home before
five. Don't tell fatherI He hates
Gordon so. "Phyllis."
"The boy who insulted herl NV
GodP' Mrs. Bing exclaimed in a whis.
per. She hurried to the door of the
buffers pantry. Indignation was in
the sound of her footsteps.
"Marthal" she called.
Martha came.
''Tell James to bring the big car al
once. I'm going to Hazelmead."
without luncheon?" the girl asked
"Just give me sandwich and III
eat It in my hand"
II want you to hurry" she said {,
James as she entered the CLOWN,
limousine with the sandwich half con
sumed.
They drove at top speed over tn
smooth, state road to the mill CITY. A
half past two, Mrs. Bing alighted a
the fashionable Gray Goose inn wher
the best people had their lunches
parties. She found Phyllis and Cor
don in cozy alcove, slipping cogna
and smoking cigarettes, with an ic
tub and a champagne bottle besid
them. To tell the whole truth, II wa
timely arrival. Phyllis, with no M
tion Of the peril of It, was indeed ba,
ing "a lovely time"-the time of he
young life, in fact. For half an hou
she had been hanging on the edge Z
the giddy preclpice Of elopement. Sh
was within one sip Of a decision TO Ie
go.
Mrs. Bing was admirably cool. |
her manner there was little to ind
cate that she had seen the unusu,
and highly festive accessories. ST
sat down beside them and said: an
dear, was very lonely and thought
would come and look you up. Is vol
luncheon f1nished?"
"Yes," said Phyllis
"Then let US go and get into n
car. We'll drop Mr.. King at his home
When at last they were seated
the limousine, the angry lady lifts
the brakes in way of speaking.
81 am astonished that you would ,
to luncheon with this young man wi
has insulted you," she said.
Phyllis began to cry.
Turning to young Gordon King, Il
indignant lady added: 81 think y,
are a disreputable boy. You mu
never come to my house again
neverr'
He made no answer and left the c
without word at the door of L
King residence.
There were miles and miles
weeping on the way home. Phyl
had recovered her composure but [
gan again when her mother remarkt