The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1924-01-18

shooting or in the divorce court. This
is my fault. In a way. Z WAS fool
to let you run With him the way you
| did when you first came. l didn't
| wake up till II was most too late. But
I'm awake now, all right. There's no
argument on George Burns. He's out y
Dad" she began. but paused a
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 l always did know
more than you, thought did. l didn't
want to fall in love with him. / was
frightened about 1t. But | couldn't
| stop. SO / don't see what else there
| Is for me to do. II l married some
body else, that | wasn't In love with,
don't know what / might do. And
II don't marry anybody Dad. you
must know how it is Pm like you.
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 knowsl And
II you'd be-friendly to US and help
him little He isn't a 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. "Goodl" she f1ared out. Hes
too good for me; that's the only trou-
BILE. He's the best man I know. He's
better than either of u.s."
Like fun he is !" said Joe. II didn't
mean to spring this ON you, but
guess It's time l did. I'm going to
show up this bird. Go to the small
middle drawer in my desk and bring
me a 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 vas 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 a cancelled check for a thou
sand dollars, made out to George
Burns, and bearing her fathers sigma
ture. Turn it over and look at the
Endorsement" he added. you know
his handwriting, l guess"
She obeyed him mechanically.
what was this for2" 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
thingT he asked. 1t was back in Au-
gust "Why, that's the day ! fred
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, If you want it straight, 1t
was the price he got for keeping his
mouth shut and for letting you alone"
"Blackmail?" she asked.
Call it 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 |
And there's how much in |
love with you he is. Less than a thou
sand dollars worth ~
She felt herself strangled, drown
ing, and she beat her way frantically |
back to breathable air. II know
you're a liar" she gasped, land / be-
Iieve you're lying about this" Then,
more TO the purpose. as her intelfi-
zence 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 off and wish
him luck the day his mechanic told
you about me?"
The f1erceness of her attack had
Won her a moments breathing-space.
She folded the check and tucked II
nto the bosom of her dress.
"What are you doing with thatT'
lie demanded.
I'm going to show 1t to him tomor-
ow; see what his side of the story is.
daybe he's what you say he is
ont know-about anybody, any more.
,ut | want his own word for this"
With that she rose to leave him.
lie struggled to sit erect, but dropped
ack with an uncomfortable groan of
nguish.
"Never mind about that he told
err. But listen to this so there won't
e any mistake about 1t. Back last
pril, some time, asked you to come
nd be my daughter. I'd got along
'ithout you all right till then. can
ct along without you now. And II /,
on see that dog again, even If it's
My to match his word against mine, =
No through. Perhaps you'd better ;
OF tell him so till after he's married
ou. 1t might make some difference :
him. ! mean 1t, Trix. That's a :
-omlse T. won't break. anyhow"
"Oh, we're at the end. all right, :,