Omaha daily bee., 1922-02-26


so am L. said Matt. THAT'S how !
found the courage TO beat Il. this way"
you may call II that" said Nancy. but
II looks a biz yellow to me-"
well, I'll tell you a secret" said Malt. l
never could boast OF much real courage. I'm
pulse takes the place OF H. And let me tell
you that has won many a Distinguished
Service Cross. Have you heard how Mr,
Gates withstood the shock2'
He managed 10 stagEer through" said
Nancy. "but Sam had a close shave. He
came near being an exception 20 the rule
that Joy never kills, II came near being the
death OF Sam. You see. he was fool enough
TO tell Mr.. Gates the truth, instead Of the
mastery fiction which you invented" She
shot slanting look at Matt Now you
wouldn't have done that. would your
30. yes" said Matt. I'D have told him
The truth-oyer tho telephone. How about
Freddy Griscom7"
Hes gone of mad. You1l probably meet
him on your train. ] called him up and told
him that wished TO enter claim for my
share of the reward"
what did he say7"
II couldn't hear II all. Central cut him
on. But should say that we'd have 10 col
lect it through the courts"
well, that proves him piker. Sylvia
will be much happier with Sam. Everybody
likes Sam even II he Is a mite rough when
riled.'"
"Uncle Jerry looked perfectly well this
morning." said Nancy. "The prospect OF
fight seemed to have wonderful tonic effect.
I'm afraid that you inherit your quarrelsome
nature from your mothers side"
"Your own sweet disposition is not with
out its dash OF tabasco." said Matt. Now
May is kind and gentle. ! got an even better
slant Of her character last night. She por-
trayed two of the most endearing qualities
in a wife. First she gave me a kiss. then a
long drink. I needed BOTH"
You had already helped yourself to tn.
first with no particular consideration for the
feeling Of others, said Nancy.
Il sent you an apology for that by May"
Matt answered. "and 1 now repeat it.
II put it down to impulse" Nancy said,
land nerves and fatigue. / was pretty well
done up myself. But now that you're leav-
ing for good and we probably shall not meet
again. 1T does not matter much" There was
a peculiar timbre to her voice as she added.
we've said good many dlsagreeable things
to each other since the beginning OF this
ridiculous affair, and Of course we weren't
at all ourselves last night, so what if we
Just consider all that we've said to each other
and others stricken out Of the records?"
Matt shook his head. "No," said he, At
don't think I'll agree to that. I was right
enough last night after I got into the house
and sat down and had smoke and chance
to think things over"
"And a drink" said Nancy.
ct had only tasted the drink to refresh
my memory rather than my thirst when
told May what did. She suggested it would
be rather sporty Of me to tell it to you
myself and see what happened.
Nancy turned slowly and looked at him
with curious intentness in her eyes.
well, why didn't you," she asked, ain
stead Of turning tail and trying to bolt off
this way?"
Because felt sore and ashamed about
the way I've made fool OF myself since
landed in my sinking launch at the old
Putney place. The only thing about the
whole business that I'm not sorry for is
having squirted that squirt Of a secretary"
"You brought Sam and Sylvia together"
said Nancy.
YES" said Matt, but can't claim much
credit for that. About as much as a hunter
might il he tripped on vine and fell down
and his rifle went off and the bullet went
was anywhere about. AS matter Of fact,
that joyous event was the result Of my
doing my level best to tear Sylvia away from
him"
At this bitter moment the smoothly run.
ming car arrived at the Gates place "If
you don't mind" said Matt, "I'll let you out
at the gate and continue on my way"
:" I very much mind" said Nancy. "You
can let me out at the door,"
I'D rather not so in" said Matt.
Il fail to see that you have any prior
option on this car" said Nancy.
Uncle Jerry put it at my disposal" said
Matt. "Please don't interfere with his desire
to speed the parting guest. But il you insist
on being set down at the door I'll get out
here and wait Stop, Murphy"
Keep on, Murphy" said Nancy. Don't
stop"
Matt leaned forward. Murphy. tell you
to STOP"
Nancy leaned forward and sripped Muir
ply by the shoulder Keep right on" said
she.
"Stopw t
keep onr'
Under these commands and countermands
the car began to perform series Of buck
jumps which caused the bodies of Matt and
Nancy to jerk violently back and forth. The
bewildered Murphy, in trying to obey both,
effected sort of compromise. But probably
finding it impossible to please both and the
vote being a tie, he may have been in
f1uenced to some extent by his own judgment
in the matter, for while not fatty disobey.
ing Matt, as the disturbing stoppings and
startings testified, yet he kept on going,
jerked through the gates, and then, at
Nancy's final imperative Keep on, I tell
you" yielded to superior moral coercion and
held more steadily for the porte-cochere,
there to fetch up with a final Jolt which
could not have been good for tires or ma.
chinery.
There now, Misther Matt" said he, "and
phat was to do? 'Tfs Miss Nancy runnin'
the place just now, under authority Of the
master and Mrs. Taylor and were to dis.
obey her she would fire me-"
I surely would" said Nancy warmly.
All right" said Matt, with nervous look
at the front door, then please get out apd
let me beat it"
"But can't you help me eut?" snapped
Nancy.
Matt sprang down, then turned to assist
her, but Nancy took her time about it, and
as she fingered the big frame Of Uncle Jerry
loomed up in the front door.
Come In, nephew" he called harshly.
1--WE been talking to Hiram Gates about this
new tangled extingulsher of yours, and he's
decided to take an interest in it. He wants
to see It."