Shoshone journal., 1923-12-28


we couldn't keep him after that"
Good graciousp
"She used to be my fathers stenog-
rapher, and she was thrown a good
deal with Peters. 1t was quite natural
that he should fall in love with her.
She was a beautiful girl. with rather
your own shade Of hair. Peters Is a
man of volcanic passions, and, when,
after she had given him to understand
that his love was returned, she In
formed him one day that she was en-
gagged to a fellow at Ealing West, he
went right off his onion-I mean, he
became completely dlstraught. ! must
say that he concealed 1t very effect
lively at first. We had no inkling OF
his condition till he came in with the
pistol. And, after that well,
as l say, we had to dismiss him.
great pity, for he was a good clerk.
Still, 1t wouldn't do. 1t wasn't only
that he tried to shoot Miss Milliken.
That wouldn't have mattered so much,
as she left after he made his third
attempt, and got married. But the
thing became an obsession with him,
and we found that he had fixed idea
that every red-haired woman who came
into the Office was the girl who had
deceived him. You can see how awk-
ward that made It, Red hair is so
fashionable nowadays"
my hair is red" whispered Billie
pallidly.
Eyes, noticed 1t myself. told you
1t was much the same shade as Miss
Milliken's. It's rather fortunate that
happened to be here with you when
he came"
"But he may be lurking out there
stini"
81 expect he Is" said Sam carelessly.
''Yes, suppose he is. Would you like
me to go and send him away? All
right"
"But-but is it safeT'
Sam uttered a light laugh.
'I don't mind taking a risk or two
for your sake" he said, and sauntered
from the room, closing the door behind
him. Billie followed him with worship
ing eyes.
John Peters rose politely from the
chair in which he had seated himself
for more comfortable perusal of the
copy of Home Whispers which he had
brought with him to refresh his mind
in the event of the firm being too busy
to see him Immediately. He was par
ticularly interested in the series of
chats with Young Mothers.
"Hullo, Peters," said Sam. want
anything?"
every sorry to have disturbed you,
Mr.. Samuel 1 just looked in to say
goodby. l sail on Saturday, and my
time will be pretty fully taken up all
the week. / have to go down to the
country to get some final instructions
from the client whose important pa
pers 1 am taking over. I'm sorry to
have missed your father, Mr.. Samuel
Eyes, this is his golf day. I'll tell
him you looked In"
"Is there anything l can do before
1 goT'
"Do"
"Well-"-John Peters coughed tact
fuIly-'T see that you are engaged
with a client, Mr.. Samuel, and was
wondering if any little point of law
had arisen with which you did not fee
yourself quite capable of coping, in
which case / might perhaps be Of as
sistance."
"Oh, that lady," said Sam. "That
was Miss AIilliken's sister,"
Indeed? I didn't know Miss Mill
ken had a sister"
MOP" said Sam.
"She is not very like her in appear
ance"
mo. This one is the beauty of thu
family. | believe. A very bright, in
telligent girl. l was telling her abou
your revolver just before you came In
and she was most interested. It's I
pity you haven't got it with you now
to show her"
"Oh. but havel l have, Mr.. Sam
uell" said Peters opening a small
handbag and taking out hymn-book
half a pound of mixed chocolates,
tongue sandwich, and the pistol, in th'
order named. 81 was on my way u
the Rupert street range for htu'
practice. | should be glad to shov
ii to her."
"Well. wait here minute or two'
said Sam. "I'll have finished taking
business in a moment"
He returned TO the inner office.
"Well?" cried Billie.
"Eh? Oh, he's gone" said Sam.
persuaded him to go away. He wa
a little excited. poor fellow. And nov
let us return to what we were talkin
about. You say He broke OF
with an exclamation. and glanced a
his watch. "Good Heavens | had n
idea of the time. | promised 10 ru
up and see man in one of the Office
in the next court He wants 10 cor
suit me on some difficulty which ha
arisen with one Of his clients. Right
or wrongly he values my advice. Ca
you spare me for short whileT
shan't be more than ten minutes"
.fferfafnlv"