The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1921-04-22
PART III-continued.

though they were passing in review
all the unchaperoned years since first
she made her debut as an independent |
tcullery-maid at Mrs. BIunkum's feed
house. II shall change nothing here" |
she concluded. when Randy-Mr. |
Randolph comes back, he shan't find |
his place cluttered with females"
Mr.. Milyuns turned on her gaze
that was complex with admiration and |
q realization that he was on the way
to biting off more than he could chew.
He decided to sidestep.
"Can you be in this afternoon?" he
asked.
"Oh, yes" said Pamela, invoIuntar-
lily glancing at the door and betraying
haIf-formed intention to watch that
portal night and day until death or
Mr.. Robert Heryey Randolph arrived;
"Pll be in. WhyT
Mrs. Milyuns and my daughter
Eileen will call on you at about FIVE"
explained Mr.. MiIyuns. Just one
more matter and / must CO." he con
tiuued. "YOur income amounts to
something over eight hundred dollars
month. l shall pay it in advance
until you get settled and have a
chance to catch UP"
"Please send me only half" said
Pamela, as she rose to say good-by.
Mr.. Milyuns took her hand, dropped
| 1t, and started toward the door; but
before he got there, he stopped and
turned.
my dear" he said, losing for the
moment his birdlike, chirpy pose, II
don't want you to think of me as just
| your banker. l knew your father and
| your mother, and their fathers and
mothers before them. l am fond, by
old usage, of every drop of blood that
runs in your veins. You won't forget
that, will your"
Pamela stared at him, swept toward
him, threw her arms round his neck,
Rugged him, dropped her face on his
shoulder and wept. Mr.. Borden Mil
yuns stood very erect, his bald head
held high, his pink cheeks pulled out.
and his eyelids blinking at the rate of
fifteen to the dozen in vain effort to
fan back an amazing lachrymatory III
undation.
"There, there" he said, patting Pam
ella on the back. "Who would have
thought it, you adorable, lonely little
girl?"
Pamela threw up her head and
smiled through the sudden summer
shower.
Il know 1t was ridiculous" she said,
"But couldn't help 1t. You made ME
like you all of sudden, and I'just had
to, because you've had bath aud you
look so clean inside and out" She
kissed him as she broke away.
Il see; / See," said the aStounded
Mr. Milyuns, and beat it.
At two minutes after five the door
bell rang again. In spite of the fact
that it was almost exactly the hour
which Mr.. Milyuns had set for the ar
rival of his wife and daughter, Pamela
couldn't help hoping-but in vain. 1t
was with slightly resigned air that
she received Mrs. and Miss Milyuns
instead of Mr.. Robert Randolph.
Mrs. Miyuns flew to her. set hands
| OH her shoulders, searched her race
with eager shrewd eyes, and said:
Borden indeed told me the truth
about you, my dear. May kiss you?
Pamela extended one cheek to the
salute while her eyes wandered of t.
size up the tall, blonde, cool younG
person that she surmised must answer
to the name of Eileen Milyuns. Being
the product of two shorts, how oil
! earth had she managed 10 grow Sc
: long? Her face was regularly beautt
full. as though 1t had been CAREFUL!
made to order like her clothes. She ap
peared as passive as Palmer snow
scape.
, After a little skirmishing for posi-
| ton. the three ladies seated them
j selves in triangle, into the center o
: which the well.trained Tomlinson RAJ
tea-wagun.
"Now" said Mrs. Milyuns, having
emptled aud put down her cup, "let
forget the sheer romance of the sitna
ton. nv dear, and get down 10 peaC
teal problems. The first of all things
as you must realize, Is Tue he'eSSts
getting you companion. Would yoI
care to be our guest in Madison svenn
until you cau pick one out2'
81 would put clothes amend OF
houseeat," murmured Eileen.
Her mother ignored the remark an
kept her eyes fixed ON Miss Thurnlon'
perpIexed face. That young lady SCENE
IN no lack of something to say bu
rather In search of words and tn
plunglng courage necessary TO the SAY
ing. She drew long breath and deiiN
cred herself of the following:
"Really, it's most awfully kind %
you, but, as ! told Mr.. MiiyuEs, Toa
iinson is such dear that | am golh
to continue hirl as my companion.
gTonlinsoD r." exclaimed Mrs. Mi