The Glenwood post., 1922-07-20
CHAMPION LIAR
BY MARY LOUISE CORNER

. Milt Is the champion liar of Merri-
mac Mills. His superiority In this line
mas never been challenged. There are
other prevaricators in the town, but
ranged beside the urban, accomplished
Milt, they appear as so many lisping
schoolboys. With Milt. lying is an art,
II not actually profession.
As boy Milt would not attend
school If he could possibly lie his way
out of 1t. Later, when he came to be
employed in Hinckle's general store,
his ability to evads the truth proved
useful in number of different ways.
For instance, crate Of cold storage
eggs would be purchased. Milt would
promptly advertise them as strictly
fresh" and levy his price accordingly.
He would sell them all.
Milt had q sort of quick, crafty in
telligence. He realized that women
trusted him and 1t was through them
that he must reach the men. When
John Hinckle dismissed him because
OF 4 discrepancy in the cash register,
Milt swore that he would get even II
1t took him the rest Of his life and he
straightway began to lay his plans.
On certain May morning he strolled
Into the general store. Mrs. Hinckle,
a thin, dark woman with Jealous
temper, was behind the counter.
Morning" said Milt, in his soft
drawl. where's John?' He knew
well enough that Hinckle had left that
morning for the wholesale house In
Boston where he purchased supplies.
"He's gone to Boston," the woman
replied, curtly. did you want to see
him about a job1 II you did, there's
nothing doing"
A gentle laugh ripplsd out Of Milts
supple throat.
"A Job1" he repeated, with 4 depre-
catory smile. mo thanks. Doing
chores pays me well enough. Some
weeks I make as high as $60" That
was fallacy, Of course. Milt seldom
averaged more than $40 when he
worked-and he did not work very
often.
"What did you want to see John
about, them" persisted Mrs. Hinckle.
"Oh. 1t doesn't matter" Milt re-
sponded, evasively. Come to think,
see him getting on the train this morn
ing. That Blake woman was with
him." Mrs. Hinckle stopped weighing
a bag of brown sugar and her little
black eyes sparkled dangerously.
"How do you know she was-with
him?" The question came as chal-
lenge and Milt answered it with an en-
1oyment that was typical of him.
"Well," he explained, carefully, II
heard her say to him when he was
helping her onto the train, This is the
first trip we've had together in ten
years, john And she was laughing.
sort of happy-like, when she said It,"
81 don't believe you," Mrs. Hinckle
informed him coldly. Milt smiled and
shrugged his shoulders.
"I didn't expect you would" he
Knocked, ambling off.
After that Merrimac Mills sneered
at Milt's ''stories" and openly branded
them for what they were.
But Milt was one of those curious
beings who thrive on opposition.
There was good deal Of specula-
ton concerning Tillie, Milt's young
and still pretty wife. People Won
dered why she had not left him long
ago.
"Tillie's gone to spend the week
with my folks in Baltimore" he would
elucidate as he stood in the bunkroom
Of the firehouse on Friday evening
watching poker game. "I kinder
thought the change Of air might do her
good. She'll have all the comforts Of
home, too. My folks-the Baltimore
Joneses, you know-are pretty well
of. Most likely, by now, Tillie is riding
up from the station in their town
car"
Through the blue haze of cigar
smoke. the men would grin at each
other over their cards as If they were
in secret understanding. They were
All Of them understood tacitly that
Tillie was, at that very moment, sit
ting in her shoddy home across the
river, mending Milt's socks.
One raw night in winter Milt was
awakened by Titles low moaning. He
and hurriedly set out for Merrimac
Mills. Young Doctor Garret heard
Milt's frantic knocking and flung open
his bedroom window.
"What is it?" he called drowsily to
the restless, dark figure on the snow.
covered steps. Milt explained.
"Your wife is in Baltimore" the doc,
tor answered coldly. you told me so
yourself this afternoon. And l don't
propose to be dragged out Of bed on
a night like this for the sake Of
practical joke !" The window slammed
down.
Milt stood there in the snow. quiver-
ing with anger and despair.
Desperate and half-crazed Milt bor-
rowed sleigh and drove to South
Merrimac, some three miles away,
where he secured a doctor. But when.