The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-03-29
you were only twelve. Flow can !
part with ity'

part with it:'
III the middle of an animated dis
cussion about an old jade brace
let. the doOrbell rang. Mrs. John
eton, after waiting for some one
to answer 1t, suddenly realized that
she was the only some one avail.
able. and went down stairs.
Young John Slater stood waiting
impatiently. "lr. Dabbs. he asks
me TO give you this note into your
hands, and II there was any an
swer 10 wait"
Mrs. Johnston managed to indi-
cate that he might wait In the hall.
and went swiftly into the library.
shut the door ard held the letter
as though it was deadly explo-
sive. Presently she opened the
letter. Five one hundred dollar
bills fell out. Mrs. Johnston picked
them up, together with the note
which had been folded around the
bills. The note began without pre-
amble.
III you are the Polly Johnston
who married me in New Bruins
wick. some twenty years ago. you
will know why l am returning the
money. have felt worse than the
devil about II for more years than
I like to remember. For Gods sake
don't refuse me the chance to get
financially straight. won't In.
tride otherwise. without your per.
mission. If you are not my Polly
Johnston, send 1t hack and excuse
Claude Dabbs.'
Polly Johnston gave low whis-
tie. Its a godsend." she said aloud
~ she put the money In her desk.
She threw the note on the IRE.
watching It burn. and went into
the hall.
"Tell Mr.. Dabbs there Is no an
swer."
Young John went ont into the
night and Mrs. Johnston went up
to Mary. arranging her story ~
she climbed the stairs.
Mary, lingering the Jewels.
yawned little. She idly planned
several beginnings for the next
chapter of her life in Clover Hol-
low. They were all different. yet
each began with the mornings in
terview with the grocer's clerk. She
thought this was odd, but conclnd-
ed that poverty and the country
were narrowing her horizon. She
looked up as her mother entered
the room.
With sudden movement Of her
hand, Mrs. Johnston swept the
''for sale" jewels into the box.
I'VE won't have TO bother with
them yet awhile. I've had a tele-
gram from New York. We're to
50 there and negotiate a loan on
the land. want you with me, Of
course. Well have to take the
first train tomorrow. It's the Q 80,
think. Will you be feeling UP 10
that, Mary-girl?"
Il feel perfectly all right. Mother.
It's only a bit sudden, and can
never care about the city in this
weather. But I'll be ready"
"We1l stop on our way to the
station and get Mrs. Pulsifer to
come and look after the house.
Good night. dear. and II you dream
Of drowning. just call Mother"
Mary looked at her mother.
standing in the doorway ready to
snap the light out.
Lovely old thing" she called,
go and get your own beauty sleep.
I'll have pleasant dreams"
When the darkness EMBODIED her.
however, she made distinctly wry
face. How much. she wondered.
was she a business necessity in
this contemplated trip to New
York, and how much was It her
mothers plan NOT to let the next
chapter begin with the grocery
clerk?
In her own room, Mrs. Johnston
disrobed. her heart beating to the
tune Of one mOnOton0us chant.
which ran thus: mot yet. Claude
Dabbs. not yet shall you know
about Mary" Then she planned
her next move. which WAS to elm
mate Dabbs and his too engaging
nephew from Mary's life-and from
her own.
Claude D3bbs waited until he
knew there ~as no answer and no
return OF the money.
Then 1t MAS Polly.
He turned ont the light, but sec
ing that the library was still Occu
pied. looked in. Ned was sitting
1T the window. smoking. He looked
up ~ Claude came into the room
and said, well? ?"
lit looks AS IL it Has. Polly, II