Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1922-08-25

tail, broke IN the range-r1Qer In
alarm. "We're plumb tickled to have
you here. Clay, he feels thataway
too"
II could keep house for you while /
stay" she suggested timidly. II know
how to coOk-and the place does need
cleaning"
"Sure it does. Say, wha's the matter
with you bein' Clay's sister, jes' got
in last night on the train? Tha's the
story Wen put up to the landlord if
| you'll gimme the word''
Johnnie told the story of the search
for her, with special emphasis on the
night Clay broke into three houses In
| answer to her advertisement.
II never wrote it. I never thought
of that. 1t must have been"
''It was that scalawag Durand,
y'betcha. amt still wearin' my pin
feathers none. He was sore because
| Clay had fixed his clock proper"
'Tve got no place to go, except back
homeland I've got no folks there but
a second cousin. She doesn't want me.
I don't know what to do. If had
woman friend-Some one to tell me
| what was best"
Johnnie slapped his hand on his
knee, struck by sudden inspiration.
"Say! Y'betcha, by jollies, I've got 'er
the very one! You're d-n-you're
sure whistlin'. We got lady friend,
Clay and me, the finest little pilgrim
in New York. She's sure there when
the gong strikes. You'd love her. I'll
fix it for copyright away. got to go
to her house this afternoon an do
some chores. I'll bet she comes right
over to see you"
Kitty was doubtful. maybe we bet
ter wait and speak to Mr.. Lindsay
| about it," she said.
emo, ma'am, you don't know Miss
Beatrice. She's the best friend. Why,
shouldn't wonder but that she and
Clay might get married one O. these
| days. He thinks lot of her."
"Ohw Kitty knew just little more
Of human nature than the puncher.
'Then wouldn't tell her about me If
I was you. She wouldn't like my bein'
| here"
"Sho! You don't know Miss Beatrice.
| She grades way up. I'll bet she likes
you fine"
| When Johnnie left to go to work
that afternoon he took with him a res
olution to lay the whole case before
Beatrice Whitford. She would fix
things all right. If there was one per-
son on earth Johnnie could bank ON
without fail it was his little boss.
| It was not until Johnnie had laid the
case before Miss Whitford and restat-
ed it under the impression that she
could not have understood that his con-
eager interest, a quick enthusiasm.
Instead, he found in his young mis-
tress spirit beyond his understand
ing. Her manner had touch Of cool
J disdain, almost of contempt, while she
| listened to his tale.
| She asked no questions and made
no comments. What he had to tell met
with chill silence. Johnnie's guileless
narrative had made clear to her that
Clay had brought Kitty home about
midnight, had mixed drink for her,
and had given her his own clothes to
replace her wet ones. Somehow the
cattleman's robe, pajamas and bedroom
slippers obtruded unduly from his
friends story. Even the Runt felt
this. He began to perceive himself a
helpless medium Of wrong Impressions
81 suppose you know that when the
manager Of your apartment house finds
out she's there he'll send her pack
ing" SO Beatrice summed up when
she spoke at last.
mo, ma'am, I reckon not. You see
we done told him she is Clay's sister
jes' got In from the West" the punch
er explained.
"Oh, see." The girls lip curled and
her clean-cut chin lifted trifle. "You
don't seem to have overlooked any
thing. No, don't think care to have
anything to do with your arrange
| ments."
| Beatrice turned and walked swiftly
into the house. A pulse Of anger was
beating in her soft throat. She felt
sense Of outrage. To Clay Lindsay she
had given herself generously in spirit.
She had risked something in introduc-
ing him to her friends. They might
have laughed at him for his slight so
cial lapses. They might have rejected
him for his lack Of background. They
had done neither. He was so genuine
ly a man that he had won his way In
stantly.
Pacing up and down her room, little
| fists clenched, her soul in passionate
turmoil. Beatrice went over it all again
as she had done through sleepless
night. She had given him so much,
and he had seemed TO give her even
| more. Hours filed with keen-edged
| delight jumped to her memory, hours
that had carried her away from the
falseness of social fribble to clean,
wind-swept, open spaces Of the mind.
And after this-after he had tacitly
recognized her claim on him-he had
insulted her before her friends by de-
sorting his guests to go off with this
II