The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1926-12-10
published by special arrangement with
the Chicago TrIbune Syndicate),
IN TWO PARTs-PART TWO
THF story so FAR

AN AWO GARA0-LA n WV
THE STORY so FAR
Leonard Cliff and wife, Mabel, Of Lon
don unfortunately purchase a small to-
baccO shop in MelhamptOn, from its not
too honest owner, Sammy BOulger. There
were some irregularities in the sale and
the Cliffs find they have bee nswtndled
out of some one hundred pounds. Ihe
case being particularly pathetic due to
Mr.. Cliffs physical condition, the doc
tors having ordered him to leave Lon
don. Harry FOuld, a horse dealer and a
pOular young man about the village, be-
ing their first customer, becomes ac-
duainted with the newcomers. and i'm
mediately a filtration is started between
him and Mrs. Cliff. There is a good deal
of speculation among the villages as to
the possible outcome.
And now begin here
The men, however, were knowing upon
the subject. But for Harry FOulds' devotion
and his inches, it is probable that she
would have been the imaginary heroine of
many q little romance. AS it was, there was
seldom a moment during the day when the
~favOrite position at the cOunter-the one
furthest removed from and almost out Of
sight of the street-was not occupied by
of the male inhabitants of MelhamptOn, en-
gagged in a leiSurely and extremely pro-
tracted purchase of tobacco or cigarets.
AS for Cliff himself, he was seldom visi-
BILE. As his engaging assistant was careful
to tell all callers, they had made Melhamp-
ton their temporary home entirely on
account of his health, and for that reason
he was melted every day to take long
country walks, to lose himself upon the
mOOrs, and to leave the conduct of the
business entirely to his wife. The stock. by
some means or other, had become replen-
ished-perhapS Harry FOulds and Mr.. Tidd
the bank manager, were the only two who
knew hOw-and business, of it's sort, was
brisk enough for MabelS favOrS were dis
tributed with irritating impartiality a
o-nrCN hnn host ongfnrnnnc Gho nnnnnfnd
occasional presents Of flowers vegetables,
and even chocolates, with q delightful
friendlineSs, but when any hint was made
by the more buccaneering youth Of the
place as to some slight return for these
favOrs, her little sigh and reference to Len
ny's dangerous jealousy and his habit Of
dropping in at odd moments was usually
an ADEQUATE protection.
She had knack, however, Of conveying
with this intimatiOn a dim but flattering
suggestion that she was the sharer in her
victims su~fferings, and that he alOne, of
all the little army OF her admirers, might
some day hope, under more favorable cir
cumstances, for those slighter but pleasing
returns with which cOmpiacent feminity is
sometimes disposed to reward its v~Otaries.
In plain words, Mabel Cliff was, or ap-
peared to be, a flirt.
The only person who apparently received
a larger share of her faVOrs was Harry
FOulds. His entry into the shop was as a
rule, the signal for any one else to depart.
~ G@4 0SSA 8<(4 49, ~&.@LE
her for a drive after closing time, and he
was known, on more than one occasion, to
have passed into the little room behind the
shop for supper. The progress Of his amour
formed q never falling subject for gossip
in the bar parlOr at the Melhampton Arms
81 seed him. Granfer CrOcOmbe told then
all on one occasion. holding her hand last
Tuesday evening. He was driving along the
Noteworthy road, with the reins in his
right hand, and his other way underneath
the linen apron, holding hers, chat bt
certain. Like a couple of gawks they die
look" the old man chuckled, when they
seed me. I was sitting on Farmer Gro.
cOmbe'S stile, smoking a quiet pipe-like.
Yes, and with your eyes open for any
Bit of spoOning that might be going on,
Mr.. ScroggiRs observed, digging his neigh
Dor in the ribs. II know your little ways
Granfer."
Granfer was a trifle disconnected.
Some one must have an eye to tn
responsibility of the place." he declared
Il can tell e sometimes, when they see
me sitting there, they unlinks arms an
walks on like looms. TITS the maidens wha
be the most braZen," he went on reflective
ly: Like as not they'll look round an
wish 'un good evening" with the fellow
arms still around their waists, though the
bain't tOkened nor nowt like it. Times d
be changing, for sure. If there's many 0
'em takes heed OF this little tObaccOnist'
wench n her gOings on, there'u be rar
dOings in MelhamptOn before long"
STEADY on, Granfer," Tom Baker remOT
strated, leaning forward in his place. Nv
> heard nothing against the young wOma
. except that she and Harry FOulds are a b
friendly"
Happen you're buying your own Honey
dew at Cliffs these days." Granfer Gre
D cOmbe suggested, with a grin. "They d
say that it be rare sweet stuff"
There was a little litter Of laughter
] this sally, for it was well known that I'll
! irOnmOnger had become a regular custOmt
of the Cliffs. The latter endured a wolfe
= Of chaff goOdnaturedly-
Il see no harm in the young woman" ]
D confessed frankly. "and the young ms
/. being sick1y and struggling hard for
living, tbs but a reasonable act to patr
|. nize them"
you'll have Harry looking after 70
that's what you'll have" Granfer giggle
= There's one thing l will say about M
j FOulds," Mrs. DCwdswell ~interpOsed, wi
ing a glass upon her apron. Hes a Sc
: emner sort Of young man than he used
be, but he's quit that nasty habit of takiI
: one or two more glasses than were go'
: for him."
otis love-" Granfer assured her gle
fully. ut puts 'un off the liquor as W.
: as the food. o, surely Harry FOulds is
: a troublesome state?',
well, that's as it may be-" the landau
, declared. '"I know nothing Of the you
woman beyond what o gentlemen SO
and although / admit her clothes dol
- seem altogether modest to us that W
brought up round in these parts, she M
= be none the worse for that, really, S
being used to town fashions, and
country. Anyway, Harry FOulds is old G
= Ough to look fater himself"
4 But was he? Harry FOulds, sitting in I
dOgcart at the top Of WOllwOrthy Mo-
n conscious for the first time Of a fail
exquisite return Of the pressure OF ]
fingers, felt as though the heavens we
emptying themselves in fear and deligl
Impulse at, hat moment conquered
shynesS which, coupled with a sort
"