The Elk Mountain pilot., 1921-11-17
PART TWO.

On her visitors departure. Florence
learns through a conversation between
idol of the greater part of the male popu.
lation of the place. but at present out of
town on visit. has apparently become
Crum, altogether unknown to the At
concerning the fortunate youth, Mr.. and
Mrs. Atwater concede that for all they
know he may be widower. or divorced.
with any number of children. etc. Flor
ence misses none of the remarks.
In her room that evening Florence
finds two brief notes used in the after
noon game of Truth and unfortunate
ly lost by Miss F'airchild. To that young
lady's query as to whether they did not
think they had pretty eyes. both Herbert
and Henry admitted they did. and had
affixed their signatures to the statement
Realizing that neither of the young gen.
tlemen would care to have it known
possession of pretty eyes" Florence per-
ceives what powerful weapon has been
placed in her hands. for among the
bin, gifted with a remarkable talent for
mimicry and an altogether malignant
disposition. The combination has made
him dreaded. and Florence realizes that
threat to put Wallie Torbin in possession
of the secret concerning their pretty
groyelng at her feet and probably lead
to her greatly desired participation in
their journalistic enterprise.
her knowledge of their awful secret they
make complete submission and Florence
becomes the undisputed master mind OF
In the next issue. with which the erst-
while proprietors of the sheet have little
items is related the engagement of Miss
Julia Atwater to Mr.. Crum, the gentle
man being referred to as widower. also
divorced, and with great many chill
dren."
Among the most ardent and hopeless
admirers of the beautiful Julia is youth
Of fba nf a
commonplace and uninteresting individual.
notable only among his fellow townsmen
of his affections. He is, however. Flor
ence's Ideal. and that young lady. desir-
Gus of breaking the news OF Julia's en- en-.
with copy of the Oriole containing the
announcement
PART THREE.
The Atwater family connection being
extensive and its position in the town
prominent, the news of Julia's engage
nent spreads rapidly. An outbreak of
result, particular apprehension being felt
concerning Noble Dill, conceded by all.
and openly referred rec to-, to BY some a; as the
Mr.. Joseph Atwater, to whose gift OF the
printing outfit to Herbert the whole trou-
BILE is traced feels himself a social out
cast and shuns the society of his fellows.
Florence's threat to dlvulge the guilty
secret of Herbert and Henry's admission
Walle Torbin is sufficient to seal their
lips as to her part in the tragedy. and
the whole blame is placed on the two
boys. Driven to desperation. however.
Herbert reveals E1orence's complicity,
not to say her complete responsibility in
the matter. his statement at first not be-
ing believed but later is seen to be the
truth. The luckless Herbert feels that
he would rather spend the rest of his
life running away from Wallie Torbin
than endure the reproaches of his fam
lily and the predictions of what would
probably be the untimely end of Noble
Dill
Stunned by the knowledge of Julias
hckleness. Noble Dill is conscious only OF
a keen desire to get away from every
thing that can remind him of the blight
that has fallen on his life. Al the rail-
road station, where his apparently aim
less mutterings and actions are the occa-
sion for unkind comment, he meets
Julia, returning Unexpectedly from her
visit The young lady perceives his state
of mind. with which she is not entirely
unfamiliar, and kindly invites him to her
home unaware of the tragedy of which
she is the center-- -