The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1925-05-15
The Double
Test
q. 1926. western Newspaper Union
By CRITTENDEN MARRIOTT

Siared at The exceptionally handsome
young woman who had come to the
door to meet him.
Mr.. Harvey in?" he demanded.
The girl studied him curiously. NO
She answered at last. 'sDad won't be
In till night. But I'm the business
manager Of this ranch. 'Spose you sit
down and talk to me-"
Thank yOu," he said, less gruffly
than before. I'm Mr.. Stormout," he
continued. I'm business man, here
on business, and | believe In putting
things plainly. My son, Jack, is infatu-
ated with you and wants to sacrifice all
his prospects by marrying you. | want
to buy him off and I'm prepared to pay
What's your price?
Once more the girl studied the man
You're gambling that | can deliver
the goods" She observed; "and I'll
, play that you are right, and lay my
cards on the table. I've done a good
deal to pull Jack out of the dregs.
Your son got here In an empty car
He had fled from New York because
a hotel when he was drunk. He was
bundle of dirty rags when q brake
man flung him out of the car and un-
der my horses feet. I'd ridden over
for the mail. Coming that way he
seemed to be special charge on me
SO told jim Harris, dads foreman
10 put him In the wagon and take him
TO the ranch and try to make some
thing out Of him. That was three years
ago. Three years | suppose you've
been hunting for him ever SINGER
Van Stormout grunted "You sup
pose wrong" he snorted He'd been
going to the dogs for three years be-
fore that; and l wiped him out of my
books. But when my younger son died
two months ago | started search. If
he's still u sot-"
He isn't. He hasn't touched
drop for more than two years But If
he had stayed a sot whose fault would
1t have been?"
Il can see that | owe you good
deal" repeated Stormout. but, my
reformation makes 1t all the more
necessary for him to marry his class?
The Stormouts are very old family
They go back to
ITO Adam l know! SO do the
Harveys But wait I'm not through
yet. About six weeks ago | saw some
OF your search propaganda in the Tue
son Star telling all about Jack and the
waiter and all That put 1t squarely
up to me and no time 10 lose 1t was
case of put up or shut up. So | threw
myself squarely at Jacks head"
You did what?" Van Stormout was
bewildered
Proposed to him | knew Jack had
been la love with me for at least two
years and | know that he'd never ask
me till he got that waiter off his mind :"
"Humph. Van Stormout's feelings
were sadly mixed. You didn't tell
him that
Il didn't tell him any truth, | lied
| told him that he had been identified
and that officers were on the way from
New York with extradition papers for
him. And | offered TO marry him and
start for one of those Central Ameri-
can dumps where there isn't any ex-
tradition. I've got plenty of money
not SO much as you have, l reckon, but
plenty; and | said I'd put up for the
two Of US Oh j sure did make love
TO him, all right. And ii would have
about killed me if he'd taken me at my
word. But | had to know, of course" :"
know whatY'
white. And he turned out white
Turned me down fiat. God bless him.
knew he was white; but-Lord How
| did love that boy. But l still had to
prove him the other way"
"Eh?"
Show him the primrose path, of
course. SO | told him that | had been
lying-that there weren't any officers
after him that he hadn't even stunned
that waiter, let alone killed him that
you had "a fat calf ready to kill if he'd
come home; and last | showed him the
story in the newspaper"
And them" Van Stormout was
breathless
Then he said that he preferred
chicken to fat veal any day and that
he meant TO marry me and stay here =;
and that you could go TO HI. | knew
he'd say something like that, but | was
scared TO death that he mightn't"
Van StormouI looked about him.
Here seems TO be pretty good
place after all, he observed Looks
lot better To me than it did when |
came hale IN hour ago. Probably it'll
make man of Jack in time"
IN tnne. He's man. already !"
Nellie's tones were indignant
Van Stormout snickered. I'm take
your word for it" he agreed, hastily.
"Shake'-he held out his hand.
Nellie took it, Sure thing, papa, .
she chuckled
Van Stormout chuckled, too. Not
yet" he cautioned. Perhaps later
when | think it's time"
Timer Humphl / see ii is time to
put you wise to a few things. Jack and
| were married yesterday. And Jack 5
J coming up the walk right behind you.
Shake again, papa-for keeps y
And Van Stormout shook.