The Holly chieftain., 1924-05-22

cago."
Hasn't been coming to you for
money, has she? Jennie, if you've
given her any
shes never asked for any. I'm
going to tell sou something. Joe. l
guess ought to have done it long ago.
She sent bnck that thousand dollars
you gave George when you discharged
him. He insisted on it, she said She
sent a check for it in that letter you
had me tear up, unopened. But when
/ told her we'd torn up the letter, she
said let that settle it,"
He surprised Jennie by laughing at
this. That's like Trix." he remarked.
She had plenty more to say now, but
decided to wait and let the silence
work. After while he said, Il sup
pose she's got baby by now"
NO" she told him. NO signs of
one yet. But Trlx has developed a
lot in this last year. ! said she was
happily married. and I think she is,
but even If II doesn't work out any
too well, she won't be-smashed by 1t.
She's been studying hard; learning
whole lot of things. She's found
way of earning money, quite lot Of
money. It's a funny way. but she's
as proud of 1t as can be-"
She broke off there, thinking if she
waited she could make him ask, but
he did not speak. The silence sud-
denly took on the quality of granite.
She uttered, at last, forlorn
laugh. Trix won't ask about you,
either" she explained. "She is like
you, Joe. Getting more like you every
day Oh, it's crime, that's what
i. Is! When two people adore each
other the way you do" She turned
on him with an impetuous gesture of
appeal. Joe. she isn't far away.
She'll come to you like alike a bird
II you'll just let me send her a ten
word telegram"
His response to this was q veritable
knarl Of anger, like that of wounded
beast. "None Of that, Jennie. Drop
1t, and drop 1t quick. ASK her to
come and see me like this I'll see
her again some time. But it'll be when
Pm up; not when I'm down like this.
I'll be sitting on the world again some
day, Jennie, and then we'll see what
Trix has to say. She had her last
shot at me when was fiat on my back,
and what she did to me was aplenty.
Next time it's going to be different"
This brought him round to the old
refrain, his defeat by Williamson's
crowd and how 1t came about.
i've been wondering" he said,
what it was gave 'em the idea Of
selling out in the first place. sup
pose they must have got on, somehow,
back in August or so, tc the fact that
controlled the majority of the stock,
and that made 'em think about getting
from under. Well, they know how to
keep their faces, that bunch!
'They'd known it longer than that"
she told him. Since before the April
meeting"
He stared at her. "What makes you
think so?"
"Oh, Henry made It pretty plain
from something he said the other day."
She wished, uneasily, that she hadn't
started this, but it was too late to
stop now.
DO You mean Henry himself knew
about it them" he persisted. and she
nodded reluctant assent.
'Henry Craven" he repeated blank
ly. Henry Craven Why Jennie,
I'd have sworn knew everything that
went on behind that little mans eye
glasses. And he's known, you say,
ever since way back last winter what
that bunch was cooking for me? He
liked me, too. He liked both Of us.
And he never cared d-n for them.
I know he didn't"
Hes loyal, though" she said. "He's
the most-scrupulous man I've ever
known. His duty was to them, Of
course"
"They're a different breed, Jennie"
he said at last. They're a herd.
Locking horns and showing among
themselves until an outsider comes
along, and then they all face the same
WRV and MT dOWn their hoods srh>v