The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1923-12-07

NO." she said thoughuuily'
don't believe l do"
She often made bets with Joe, an
not infrequently collected them, too
but never when that CLEAN In his ey
warned her that he was proposing
sure thing. Those hadn't been blln'
speculatIons of his about Annabel ant
her well-preserved widower. Some
how or other he'd managed to inform
himself Of the facts.
"You aren't going to contest the di
vorce, are your
"Of course not" he grumbled
what would contest 1t forf-- on
l haven't been putting detectives OF
her, If that's what you are getting at
Only, If you don't want to be walked
on In case like that, it's just as well
to have something to bargain with.
had Nathan get In touch with law
yer, a perfectly respectable chap, out
In Pasadena, and asked him to look
up the main facts, just SO I'd know
where / stood. There is widower,
all right, retired Chautauqua lee
turer with a weak throat. He's got a
little lemon grove just outside Pasa-
dena."
He got up with spring, chucked
the butt of his cigar into the fireplace,
and flexed his arms. well. he's well
come to Annabel. And she's welcome
to him, as long as she doesn't try to
get rough with me-"
you mean If Annabel doesn't try
to gouge you for too much alimony"
Jennie asked.
NO" he said, II wasn't thinking of
that. / was thinking of the grounds
for divorce she puts in her bill. FL
look bad enough at the best, but /
won't be made to look any worse than
necessary"
Why in the world, Jennie wondered,
should he care how he looked. 1t was
plain that he did care tremendously.
Then came the real idea, the luminous
surmise.
"Joe," she asked him suddenly, did
Annabel have a baby?"
Il should think you might have seen
that long ago." he grumbled.
"a boy or a grip she asked, when
her mind had got into its stride again.
"Sayi If 1t had been a boy" said
Joe. "Td have gone back. I'd never
have left a son of mine to be brought
up by-Fannlngs. Being girl, 1t
seemed to belong to them more. But
at that almost went back. as l told
vou."
Jennie reused herself at the end Of |
/ long reflective silence to remark that |
he child must, by now. be pretty near
crown up.
"She's nineteen" he answered. I've
lever known her exact birthday. I've
llways known about how old she was,
hough," he added. Her names
Beatrice"
Don't you know at all what she's
ike? Haven't you any sort of picture
f her?"
"Picturel Lord, mol 1 told that
'asadena lawyer to try to get me one.
tut he hasn't succeeded; at least 1t
asn't turned up yet. Why. suppose
he must be good deal like Annabel.
he's sure to have been brought I'D
Ike that. Innocent. Well, that's the
ray to bring up girl, all right Do
on know those old-fashioned bouquets
nat are coming in style again, with
aper frill around them? / expect
le's good deal like that"
Looking up at him, near to tears
18th sudden sympathy, she saw his
ice darken. 1t was so startling a
lange that she cried out, "Joel What .
it?"
"Can you see," he asked, ''how that
lid has been brought up to think
bout me? They will have used me
, the bad man to frighten her with. !
our father will get you. If you're
lughty girl, Beatrice = l can hear
d Ma Tanning say 1t. But where i
lex is at that id widower, googling
the kid, paving her. telling her he's
r daddy now, holding her on his '
lee. Not If know myself
There you are, Jenniel Now we're :.
'wn to brass lacks. If anybody's go :
g to be that child's father, I am.
lats what wanted to put up to you :
night"
You mean." she asked, after she :.
d lighted a cigaret to give herself =
e appearance, at least, of calm re- :
elton, that you want to take her
'ay from her mother altogether and :,
ing her out here to live with your"
You've got It," he said. 90
It's crazy idea, joe" she then 8,
rst out desperately. But 1t can't be d
ne. Even If you did get her to come -
you, which don't believe you could, q,
at would you do with her when she :.
S here? She couldn't live alone in g
s fiat with you away half the time ~
d, anyway, the sort Of life you g.
e."
On the sort of life / live" he or
whats that got TO do bs
h her? It's never had anything to II
with you, has it? There'll never n,
any parties in this fat. Jennie. Not II,
long as she makes her home In it," ,s,
She couldn't live here alone In II, az
how. Not with you away half the no
e."
I xx-o,,fd,,s+ fr.- r~oo.. ~