Judsonia weekly advance., 1921-02-10
CHAPTER Vll-Continued.


 Nobody sick, or anything?"
 'Yes. there is something wrong" aid Harris, trying vainly to conceal the bitterness in his voice. "Beulahs left us.'
 'Who, Beulah? can hardly be- ieve that Mr. Harris. It was only last night I was talking with her"
 Well, she's gone. Left through the night. Newell, I tell you, George we had a little disagreement, but I'd no notion she'd take is so much to heart. Of course you know about the trouble with Jim yesterday. Taking everything together-there won't be no blowing today" Harris had said more than he meant; he could feel the color mounting into his hair, and the bad English of his last words betrayed subtle recklessness rather than care lessness of speech.
 Don't you believe word of It," said George. 'T know Jim, and I know Beulah. and if anybody else hinted what you've said you'd want to use that rifle on them. Like enough Beu- lahs staying somewhere around the neighborhood, and she'll be back when she has time to think it over."
 That proves you don't know Beu- lah," said Allan. AS for Jim, was never able to get below that smile, and 1 saw more of him than you did, George"
 Well. I hope you find a way out" said George sincerely. Ut would have been like her to come over to our place. but she isn't there. Maybe you'll find her at Morrson's."
 That's possible" said Harris. "We1l go over there, anyway"
 But Morrisons knew no more of Beulah's whereabouts than did George, and inquiry at other homes in the neighborhood was equally futile. Har- ris shrank from carrying his search into the town, as he dreaded the pub licity that would be attached to it. But as the day wore on and the search continued fruteSs he finally found himself at Plainville. If Beulah and Jim were really married the Presby- terian minister would be likely to know something of the matter, and Rev. Andrew Guthrie was a man of sense and discernment.
 MT. Guthrie received his guest cordi- ally, albeit with some wonderment as to which member of the family might be sick, but deiCacy forbade a direct question. Now, in agricultural com munities it Is something of an Offense to approach any matter of importance by frontal attack. There must be the due amount of verbal skirmishing, re- connoitering and outflanking before the main purpose is revealed. COnse- quently Harris, for all his torture of suspense, spent some minutes in dis cussion of the weather. the crops, and the prospect of a labor shortage in harvest.
 '"Theyre all well at home, I hope?" said MT. Guthrie at length, feeling that the custom of the community had been sufficiently honored.
 "Yes all that's there," said Harris.
 All that's there? 1 didn't know any of your folks were away. Perhaps Mrs. Harris is down East? Pm sure a summer amid the orchards of her old home would be a delight to her and, of course, Mr. Harris, you are able to gratify yourself in these little matters now"
 Harris received these remarks with mixture of feelings. The minister's reference to his financial standing car ried with it a certain qualification, but it consorted poorly with his recent conversations with his wife and with his present mission.
 And Beulah," continued the minis ter, conscious that his first shot had gone wild. She's a fine young woman now. l see her in church occasionally. In fact, l was speaking with Mrs. Bur ton, the choir leader, day or so ago, and Beulahs name was mentioned be- tween us"
 Tt was about Beulah I came to see you," said Harris, with averted eyes. Then in a few words he gave his yer sion of what he knew and what he suspected.
 'I fear I can add nothing to your information" said MT. Guthrie. "They haven't been here, and, as you say, if Beuah contemplated marriage, l think she would have called on me. Trayers, too, l knew a little, and thought him q decent chap. But we must find the girl and talk this over quietly with her. Is there any place in town she would be likely to go to? What about Mrs. Goode's boarding house? l will just call up on the telephone. l can make inquiry without the necessity of any explanations"
 Inquiry at the house of Mrs. Goode brought strong ray of light out of the darkness Beulah had been there during the morning, and had explained that she was leaving on the west-bound train, which even now was drumming at the station. On learning this out a word Harris sprang into the bug gy, while Allan brought a sharp cut of the whip across the spirited horses. They reached the railway station half