The Ontario Argus. (Ontario, Or.) 1???-1947, 1922-10-05
CHAMPION LIAR
BY MARY LOUISE CORNER

q, 1922, by Mcclure Newspaper syndicate
Milt is the champion liar of Merrl-
mac Mills. His superiority In this line
has 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 Nit, lying is an art,
If not actually a profession.
AS a 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 evade the truth proved
useful in number of different ways.
For instance, crate Of cold storage
eggs would be purchased. Mllt would
promptly advertise them as strictly
fresh" and levy his price accordingly.
He would sell them all.
Milt had sort of quick, crafty in
telligence. He realized that women
trusted him and it was through them
that he must reach the men. When
John Hlnckle dismissed him because
Of discrepancy in the cash register,
Milt swOre that he would get even II
IL 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.
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
Boston where he purchased supplies.
Hes gone to Boston," the woman
replied, curtly. did you want to see
him about a job2 If you did, there's
nothing doing"
A gentle laugh rippled out of Milt's
supple throat
"a job?" he repeated, with a depre-
catory smile. mo thanks. Doing
chores pays me well enough. Some
weeks / make as high as $780," That
was a fallacy, of course. Milt seldom
averaged more than $50 when he
worked-and he did not work very
often.
"What did you want to see John
about, then?" persisted Mrs. Hinckle.
"Oh, It doesn't matter" Mllt re-
sponded, evasively. "Come to think, ]
see him getting on the train this morn
ing That Blake woman was with
him" Mrs. Hlnckle 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 a chal.
lenge and Milt answered 1t with an en-
joyment that was typical Of him.
"Well," he explained, carefully, 81
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.
81 didn't expect you would" he
mocked, ambling off.
After that Merrimac Mills sneered
at Milt's "stories" and openly branded
tneln Tor WIHt tney were.
But Milt was one of those curious
beings who thrive on opposition,
There was good deal Of specula'
tion concerning Tillie, Mllt's young
and still pretty wife People won
dered why she had not left him long
ago.
"Tlllie's gone to spend the week
with my folks in Baltimore" he would
elucidate, ms he stood in the bunkroom
of the frehouse on Friday evening
watching poker game. 81 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
off 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
Title was, at that very moment, sit
ting In her shoddy home across the
river, mending Milt's socks.
One raw night In winter Mllt was
awakened by TITLES low moaning. He
found her condition to be dangerous
and hurrledly set out for Merrimac
Mills. Young Doctor Garret heard
Milt's frantic knocking and flung open
his bedroom window.
"What is it?" he called drowslly 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 | don't
propose 10 be dragged out of bed on
u night like this for the sake of a
practical jokel" The window slammed