The Holly chieftain., 1924-04-10

feur, and 1t always ends either in
Is my fault. in . way. Z WAS fool
to let you run with Elm the way you
did when you first came. didn't
wake up till it was most too late. But
I'm awake now. all Fight. There's no
argument on George Burns. He's out I"
dad" she began. but paused
moment to search her mind. She'd
never been so deeply serious in her
life. nor felt SO compelling a need to
dig out the truth. dad, I'm in love
with George. I-want him. I'm not
silly about him any more. / was at
first. like those girls in the papers.
But I've learned lot in these last
six months-and I always did know
more than you thought did. I didn't
want to fall in love with him. l was
frightened about 1t. But l couldn't
stop. So l don't see what else there
Is for me to do. II married some-
body else, that wasn't in love with,
1 don't know what l might do. And
If don't marry anybody Dad, you
must know how 1t is! I'm like you.
1 must be, because I'm not like moth
er bit. Dad. he's good! He's kind
and he's-square. He's never tried to
take any advantage. He's believed in
me-through everything. And he's
seen enough, goodness knows And
If you'd be-friendly to us and help
him little He isn't chauffeur
now and he isn't ever going to be
again."
She saw she was getting nowhere
with the plea. Her fathers face was
set. "Good!" she f1ared out. Hes
too good for me; that's the only trou-
BILE. He's the best man l know. He's
better than either of u.s."
Like fun he is |" said Joe. "I didn't
mean to spring this on you, but
guess it's time I did I'm going to
!. show up this bird. Go to the small
middle drawer in my desk and bring
me plain sealed envelop you'll find
there. Bring 1t in just as 1t is," he
called after her when without a word
she had gone on the errand. She
hated herself for being frightened, but
there was no Disgusting the fact that
she was. "Now. open It," he COM
manded when once more she stood be-
fore him. Look and see what's in
side.'
1t was cancelled check for thou
sand dollars. made out to George
Burns, and bearing her fathers sigma
ture. Turn 1t over and look at the
Endorsement" he added. "You know
his handwriting, I guess"
She obeyed him mechanically.
"What was this for?" she asked She
managed to make her voice ring cold
and hard enough, but she sat down
quickly in the chair she had recently
quilted.
Doesn't the date tell you any
thing?" he asked. 1t was back In Au-
gust. "Why, that's the day l fired
him. The day he brought you home
drunk. AS you say. he'd seen enough"
She repeated, word for word, her
former question, this time with a per-
emptory emphasis. "What was this
check for?"
1t stung him to an outburst of an
ger. "Why, II you want 1t straight, it
was the price he got for keeping his
mouth shut and for letting you alone"
"Blackmail2" she asked.
"Call 1t that If you like. That was
the understanding between us. He's
welshed on half of it, it seems.
Whether he has on the other or not l
don't know. Anyhow, there's your
paragon. And there's how much in
love with you he Is. Less than thou
sand dollars wOrth!"
She felt herself strangled, drown
ing, and she beat her way frantically
back to breathable air. II know
you're liar" she gasped, "and I be-
lieve you're lying about this" Then,
more to the purpose, as her intelli-
gence came to the rescue. "If that's
what he Is. why did you recommend
him for the air service? And why did
you go down to see him of and wish
him luck the day his mechanic told
you about me?"
The fierceness Of her attack had
won her moments breathing-space.
She folded the check and tucked II
into the bosom Of her dress.
what are you doing with that?
he demanded.
I'm going to show it to him tomor-
row; see what his side Of the story is.
Maybe he's what you say he Is. 1
don't know-about anybody, any more.
But want his own word for this"
With that she rose to leave him.
He struggled to sit erect, but dropped
back with an uncomfortable groan of
anguish.
Never mind about that" he told
her. But listen to this so there won't
be any mistake about It, Back last
April, some time, asked you to come
and be my daughter. I'd got along
without you all right till then. l can
get along without .ou now. And If
you see that dog again, even If it's
Anl, Itx, n To-,