The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1922-09-09
CHAMPION LIAR
BY MARY LOUISE CORNER


has never been challenged. There are
other preyarcatOrs IN the town, but
ranged beside the urban, accomplished
Mlt, they appear us 80 many lIsping
schoobOys With Mn, lying Is an art,
II not actually II profession.
As boy Aillt would not attend
school II he could possibly lie his way
out Of Il. Later, when he came 70 be
employed IN lIlnckles general store,
his ability to eyade the truth proved
useful In number Of different ways.
For instance, II crate Of cold storage
eggs would be purchased. Mill would
promptly advertise them as strictly
fresh and levy his price accordingly.
lie would sell them all.
Alilt had a sort Of quick, crafty In
tellgence. lie 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
II took him the rest Of his life and he
stralghtway began to lay his plans.
On certain May morning he strolled
Into the general store. Mrs. Hinckle.
thin, dark woman wltl jealous
temper, was behind the counter
Morning" said Mlt, in his soft
drnwl. where's JohnY lie knew
well enough that Hlncltle had left that
morning for the wholesale house in
Boston where he purchased supplies.
Hes gone to Boston, the woman
replied CURLY. did you want to see
him about a job? If you did there's
nothing doing
A gentle laugh rlpped ont OF Mills
supple thront.
"A jobi' he repeated with a depre-
cntory smile. mo thanks. Doing
chores pays me well enough. Some
weeks ! make as high as 500 That
was 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
shout, them persisted Mrs. llInckle.
"Oh, II doesn't matter" Mllt re-
sponded, eylsiyely. 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.
"IIow do you know she wns-wlth
himT The question came as chal-
lenge and Alllt answered II with an en-
joyment 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-llke, when she said H."
81 don't believe you" Mrs. Hinckie
Informed him codly Alllt smiled and
shrugged his shoulders.
u didn't expect you would" he
Knocked. ambllng of.
After that Merrlmac Mills sneered
Mt MlIts "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 specuIn-
tion concerning Title Milts young
and still pretty wife. People won
dered why she had not left him long
ago.
"TIllle's gone TO spend the week
with my folks in Baltimore" he would
elucidate, as he stood in the bunkroom
of the frehouse on Friday evening
watching poker game, II kinder
thought the change Of air might do her
good. She'll have all the comforts VI
home, too My folks-the Baltimore
Joneses, you know-are pretty well
on. 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 II they were
IN secret understanding. They were.
All of them understood tacltly that
Title was. at that very moment. sit
ting in her shoddy home across the
river, mendlng Milts socks,
One raw night in winter Milt was
awakened by TITLES low moaning He
found her condition to be dangerous
and hurrledly set out for MerrImac
Mills. Young Doctor Carrot heard
Mlts frantic knocking and flung open
/ his bedroom window.
"What is it, he called drowsiy to
the restless, dark figure on the snow
covered steps. Milt explained.
"Your wife is in Baltimore the doc.
tor answered codly you told me 50
yourself this afternoon. And | don't
propose to be dragged ont of bed on
night like this for the sake of a
/ practical joke !" The window slammed
down.
Nlilt stood there In the snow, culver.
Ing with anger and despair
Desperate and halflcrazed Mlt Dor.
rowed sleigh and drove TO South
Merrhmac some three miles away
where he secured doctor But when
after their mad race against time they
reached Mlt's shack, Tillie was past
the need of medical science.
1t was many months before Merri
mae Mills saw Milt again Once fond OF
company he now sought isolation. Il
was even whispered about that Mill