The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1923-12-28

tragedy. 1t was imperative that she
should humor him. And, while she was
humoring him, 1t suddenly occurred to
her, why not do it thoroughly.
MIR. Peters, she cried, you are
quite mistaken"
Il beg your pardon, said John Pc
ters, with not little asperity. Moth
ing of the kind!8
"You arel'
II assure you l am not Quickness
in the draw is essential
You have been misinformed."
We'll had it direct from the man
at the Rupert street range said Mr..
Peters stiffiy "And If you had ever
seen picture called Two-Gun Thomas
"Mr. Petersg cried Billie desper-
stely. He was making her head
swim with his meaningless rawlings.
"Mr. Peters, hear me am not mar
ried to man at Ealing WestW
Mr.. Peters betrayed no excitement
at the information. This girl seemed
for some reason to consider her situa-
zion an extraordinary one, but many
women, he was aware, were in a SINH
lar position. In fact. he could not at
the moment think of any of his femi-
nine acquaintance who were married
20 men at Ealing West.
"Indeed?" he said politely.
won't you believe me?" exclaimed
Billie wildly.
why, certainly, certainly" said
John Peters.
Thank Godr' said Billie. "I'm not
even engaged! It's all been a terrible
mistake!"
When two people in small room
are speaking on two distinct and diff
ferent subjects and neither knows
what on earth the other is driving at.
there is bound to be certain amount
OF. mental confusion: but at this point
John Peters, though still not wholly
equal to the intellectual pressure Of
the conversation, began to see faint
simmer Of light behind the clouds.
In nebulous kind of way he began
to understand that the girl had come
to consult the firm about breach-of-
promise action. Some unknown man
at Ealing West had been trifiing with
her heart-hardened lawyers clerk
as he was. that poignant cry, "Tm not
engaged" had touched Mr.. Peters
and she wished to start proceedings.
Mr.. Peters felt almost in his depth
again. He put the revolver in his,
pocket. and drew out notebook.
Il should be glad to hear the facts"
he said with professional courtesy.
"In the absence of the Guv'nor ~. :"
Il have told you the facts"
This man at Falling West" said Mr..
Peters, moistening the point of his
pencil, "he wrote you letters propos-
ing marriage?"
"No. no. mol"
AT any rate said Mr.. Peters, dis
appointed but hopeful, "he made love
to you before witnesses?"
Never! Never! There is no man
at Ealing West! There never was a
man at Ealing West!''
1t was at this point that John Pc
tiers began for the first time to enter
tain serious doubts of the girls mental
balance. The most elementary ac-
quaintance with the latest census was
enough to tell him that there were any
number of men at Ealing West. The
place was full of them Would sane
woman have made an assertion to the
contrary? He thought not, and he
was glad that he had the revolver with
him. She had done nothing as yet ac-
lively violent, but it was nice to feel
prepared. He took it out and laid
it nonchalantly in his lap.
The sight Of the weapon acted on
Billie electrically. She flung out her
hands. In gesture of passionate APP
peal, and played her last card.
Il love your she cried. She wished
be could have remembered his first
\lne. 1t would have rounded off the
tence neatly. In such moment
could hardly call him Mr.. Peters,
are the only man love-"
gracious goodnessI p calculated
fters, and nearly fell over back
To naturally shy man this
and wholly unexpected decla-
vas disconcerting: and the
V, moreover, engaged. He
olently. And vet, even in
ent of CONSERVATION, he
heck certain thrill. No
links he is as homely as
but John Peters had al
rIy near to correct esti-
arms, and 1t had always
that. in inducing his
I him, he had gone
egan to wonder If he
ther of a devil of
here must. he felt.
men going about
devotion like this
put six and half
krsation.