The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1924-01-04
BY HENRY KITCHELL WEBSTER


arouslng OF Joe's jungle sense OF some
thing amiss would be almost certainl,
disastrous.
The exact minute of their arrival dix
make difference, as things turnet
out, but whether for the better or the
worse Jennie was unable to decide
AS she slipped her car into the south
bound stream of traffic In the Sheri
dan road, block north of Joes apart
ment-building, he remarked, There
she Isl We're right ON timel That's
the roadster. three cars ahead of us
Funny she's letting Burns drive; get
ting bored with IT already, suppose. .
The big roadster was standing be-
fore Joe's doorway, in the curve of
the semielliptical drive, when Jennie
turned in, btp neither Beatrice nor the
chauffeur had made any move TO
alight. The top was down, and they
could see that he had spoken to her
and was tensely awaiting an answer.
She was slumped low in her seat, moth
ing visible of her but the top of her
small hat
That Joe had Instantly perceived
something wrong was evident. lie did
not hail. and IT was with the silent
swiftness of big cat that he left Jen-
MES car and made his way to the curb
side of the other. Burns head went
back at the apparltion Of him as from
the impact of blow. Then, as II he
had to overcome a certain rigidity, he
got down from under the wheel and
faced his employer. So far no one had
said word, but now Beatrice reused
herself.
rs that you, Dad, for a fact?" she
asked, sitting half erect. Il didn't
know you'd come home. Honest,
didn't. Thought thoughtful George
here was" "Stringing me" seemed |
to be what she was trying to say, but |
Its linguistic difficulties were too much |
for her. 1t was blazingly clear that
she was drunk.
Joe took Burns by the shoulders and |
pulled him round between himself and
the girl. The two faces, the bearded
one contorted by passion, the young,
one expressionless, were
not six inches apart.
Where have you been with her?
What have you been doing with herr"
bringing her home. sir. She'd gone
out not knowing you were coming.
When / got word Of 1t, / followed
where she'd gone and told her. And
she came back with me-"
IF there was any liquor on your
breath I'd kill you where you stand
That's the truth, is it?"
Eyes, sir. And / haven't had a drink
n eight weeks. That's true, too"
Jennie interposed with a suggestion
hat she help Joe get the girl up to
Ter room.
"She needs no help. Wait minute" ,
Re said, turning to where Beatrice sat,
Jumped in her seat. Look al me |
ow, and listen. Wherever you have
cen this afternoon you're sober now. |
want you to get up and walk NJ to '
our room and wait for me there" I
The girl arose and made her way, /
but fairly enough, and was r
wallowed by the elevator. Then Joe y
lrned to Jennie and told her to go 4
ONE and get her things and come t
ack prepared to stay with Beatrice g
)r some weeks, until he could come n
ack and look after her himself. Joe |,
lrned and followed Beatrice to the
partment and Jennie got into the big b
ir, and with George driving, went I
ick to her place.
On the way to get her things George
Id her what had happened. He had
'iven madly to dozen different
aces where she was In the habit of
ling. At last he found hotel serv-
It who had served party in which
eatrice was member. This man
Id him of overhearing them invite
e entire crowd out to their house, a
ace they had taken for the summer
the lake just north Of Glencoe, Of
ring them a lot of drinks.
George knew the place and he drove
ere instantly. He found the party
bathing. Going directly to Bea-
Ice. ne told her of her fathers mes
ge. The rest of the party told her
ey didn't believe her father was com
:, but George insisted and finally
inaged to get her up to the house
d waited outside while she dressed.
Even then his troubles were not
er, for Beatrice was a long time get
x ready. When she came out the
n continued to insist that the mes
&c was a mistake. One of them in
rticular, a fellow named Ware. was
, worst. He had tried to put me ..r
my place"
When we were ready TO start
ped Miss Greer into her place and an
s Ware slipped into the drivers to
It. Said she had asked him to drive NJ
r home What with the extra drinks as
~ had all taken after coming out sh
the water, ii was dangerous bust BJ
SIS. ! stepped around to his side Of nil
= car and grabbed his wrist, giving
a bad wrench. He squirmed out of a
: car and tried to hit me- That was BE
lat had been waiting for for me
,nths. de
I'd rather have had him sober, but me
was good enough. got in twice on hel
right eye, and think broke his