The Holly chieftain., 1924-05-22

the main trouble"
See that in the dark, can you?" he
asked. with drawn grin. "Wen,
you're wrong. What you see is only a
by-Droduct of the biggest drunk ever
had, l guess it must have been.
wasn't there, except at the start till
after 1t was all over, but that's my
best judgment on it."
celebrating something, were you?"
she asked, keeping back the tears.
"You might say I was, in a way.
1t wasn't over having sold our fax,
though, nor borrowed the money to
pay for it. Not pound nor dollar.
But celebration Isn't bad word for
1t, at that"
They've really beaten US, then.
have they, JoeT'
ut wasn't they that beat me-" he said
at last. "They couldn't have done 1t.
1t was the other thing / guess you
know that, don't you? Didn't you see
anything queer when you came up to
Fargo in September Not about
them; about meY"
She nodded. whisky. you mean 2"
Then slowly and carefully Joe told
how things had seemed about to break
right for him In New York, only at
the last moment he had taken drink
and that had led to big drunk, at
the end of which he found himself in
Bellevue.
When he became master of himself
again he had wired Doctor Bennett.
who had gone east and brought him
back to Chicago He wound uE by
admitting that he had reached the end
Of his physical and mental powers and
that Jennie would have to take his
power of attorney and endeayor to
save what she could out of the wreck
He wound up, "You'll just have to
do the best you can, Jennie. I'm
through. For this round, at least"
She caught eagerly ut the hint in
that last phrase. Doctor Bennett, she
supposed, had the cure in charge.
'Oh, yes" he said. "Bennett's got a
place in mind where they've got sys-
TEN for treating my complaint Going
down there with Inc tomorrow. Turns
'em out as good as new, they say"
Presently he spoke again. "There's
one thing l was forgetting. I want
some money. About hundred and
fifty dollars in currency. Bring it
around tomorrow morning early, will
you? Bring it yourself and see that
] get it."
Evidently it was relief to him
that he'd succeeded In remembering
this. This concluded the business,
and now he relaxed. He didn't want
her to go. He wanted to talk Let
Jennie ring up the dining-room and
order herself some dinner He had his
own meals at nursery hours. Nursery
meals, too. But these weren't reasons
for starving her.
She didn't feel much like estil,x,
but she did as he asked, and was re-
warded by the pleasure he took in the
convivial atmosphere which her tray,
when 1t arrived, created. He Knocked
himself, but not bitterly "I neve,
though. I'd be asking lady to din.
ner with me like this" he observed.
She trinA nar,aarataIv fn think ef
something light-hearted to say, but
found herself speechless.
II know what you are thinking
about he went on, in darker tone.
You're thinking that II I'd taken your
advice, another time we had dinner
together, about letter wanted to
write to Pasadena, i wouldn't have
been wandering around the streets,
seeing red. Well, l give It to you.
You were right about that, Jennie"
She gathered up her courage and
plunged II don't think you'd say
that, Joe, II you could see Beatrice as
she is now"
You been seeing herr" he asked.
"Once in while. Not often. She
came into the office two or three