The Holly chieftain., 1924-03-27
Joseph Greer and His Daughter
CHAPTER vl-centinued.
II l.

"You never asked me to come
thought you would when you made NJ
your mind l was all right, and II
wait for that. But of course I'm OF
his side" Jennie went on. "As saiG
I'm fond Of him. All I've cared abou,
you WAS whether you were going tc
make him happy or miserable. That's
all I've had y chance to care about
because don't know you very well.
think could get to like you. IL we
ever had decent human chance
You're enough like him for that
"But In this last particular mess
was on your side. l did all could to
keep it from being mess. I met
your father at the train myself. and
lied to him about the reason why
which isn't thing like TO do with
people ! care about. / kept him awaT
from home as long as possibly could.
to give George Burns chance to
bring you back first. So l haven't
been an--enemy exactly"
The girls eyes were smoldering "If
you weren't an enemy. why did you
give George away?" she asked, sui
lenly.
THAT was my mistake" Jennie ad-
mitted. Il didn't think of 1t as Civ
Ing him away. l thought he'd done n
good Job and wanted him to get the
credit for it, When l saw how your
father was taking 1t. It was too late
10 stop"
"I should think ydu might have
known"
1t wasn't gracious reception of an
apology, but, there was note of
wavering In it that gave the older
woman an intlmation of victory. She
was content to say, THAT'S right, 1
suppose l must have" and wait.
'Oh, l haven't got anything against
you-espeeialy," Trix broke out at
last. "And l don't suppose it's your
fault that you're here. But-did you
ever have anybody watching you and
telling tales on you? Making that
their business? Well, you'd hate 1t,
too. And you'd hate anybody that did
II. And the nicer and smoother they
tried to be. the more you'd hate them.
l don't know why you've been letting
me alone. like you have; having me
give the orders and letting me go
wherever liked in the car
"But you think 1t was because l was
trying to get something on you, to
report to your father? Is that It?
Coed Lord! Talk about poisoning
wells, l don't mean you-nor your
father. either. But what situation I"
She took minute to think 1t over !;
blankiy at first, but then she began
to find her line. Look here, Trix,"
she said: well sign a treaty. I'll give
you my word not to write any letters
TO your father about you. or about any
thing that concerns you. You manage
the correspondence yourself. If we
come to final smash I'll write and
tell him why. but I'll show you the
letter before 1t goes. I'm the mean
time, I'm not spy. I'm not watching
YOU, and I'm not having you watched,
either. won't ask the new chauffeur
where you've been. That's the sort
of thing mean. Is that all right, as
far as 1t goesY
The girl had curled herself un In a
corner OF the davenport. her chin in
the crook of an elbow. There was
something compact about her poses.
even In relaxation. She looked quite
lot like young tom-cat. She said
nothing to Jennle's proposal for the
better part OF minute, and then 1t
was not an answer.
What do you want me to promise
on my side?" she asked.
"I can't think of anything want to
ask you to promise" Jennie had put
a faint stress on the word "ask," but
she didn't know whether 1t had reached
the girls ear or not.
After another silence Beatrice
asked, Does that include kilograms,
too?-that you won't send father about
me?"
Until she tackled on the supplement
tary question. Jennie hadn't the least
Idea what she WINS talking about. "Tel-
egrams?" she echoed. Then as the
meaning broke over her, "Oh!- Mer-
ciful heavens"
The surge of contemptuous disgust
at suspicion so mean. and mind
ungenerous enough to entertain 1t, was
openly revealed In her tone. Trix
looked round. met Jennies eyes. and
then lowered her own.
I'm sorry" she said. II beg your
pardon for asking that Only. what
are you doing It for? II you're that
kind ofsa person. why did you come
And II you desplse me like that and
and aren't going to teIlasn me. why do
you stay? know you hate it. You
said you did. And 1t seemed as If
there must be a trick about 1t, some
how"
Jennie's Mood veered suddenly round
to pity. "You poor child" she said
-you have had rotten time OF 1t.
haven't you? I'll try to tell you the
why Of 1t all. as far as I'm concerned
I came, as l said because your father
ft 4.