White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1928-04-06
CHAPTER IX-Continued

VIM MS 1aCuer IFOWueQ. hHoW
all about 1t! You've come here to
keep an appointment with this young
Woman!"
II was not aware of 1t !"
II tell you," his father Indignantly
insisted, you needn't try to humbug
me! l caught her in the very act of
waiting for you'll"
Marvin looked perplexed. swell,
If you did, why on earth should you
apparently be blaming me for that"
"When I show you what l have
here" But as his father snatched
from his breast pocket folded paper,
Nicely broke in:
"Now that you are here, Mr.. Mar
vim, will you be so kind as to drive
me to the nearest telegraph office?
I've got to wire some money to my
needy parents and it's pressing"
I'm at your service" Marvin, look
ing more and more bewildered, re-
sponded, taking her coat from hook
on the wall as she started to reach
for it, and holding 1t while she slipped
into it.
"B-but," his father stammered, flush
Ing very red, Miss Schwenckton!
Your promise! This paper you've
Signed"
"Yes?' she inquired "What about
it?"
"What about it! Your signed prom
Use to make no demands on my SON"
'But wouldn't suppose my asking
him to take me to the express office
to cable-telegraph to my family bit
Of money I've acquired-would come
under the demands referred to in
that paper, would it?'
"In the very hour of your signing
this paper and accepting that money
you dare to go off driving with my
SON! -
"What on earth?" asked Marvin,
their demeanOr and conversation not
only not bearing OUT his supposition,
but suggesting very different state
of things.
"Look at this!" his father ex-
claimed, thrusting the paper at him.
"Read that! And then decide wheth-
err you want to go off driving with that
grill"
Marvin, feeling dizzy, read the few
sentences on the paper signed amelia
Schwenckton."
"But what, in Gods name is it all
about? What sort of demands is she
swearing not to make on me" lie
stopped short, staggering idea flash
Ing upon him. "You must mean st.
Croix!' He turned to the girl. "Does
this rafnr to ST (,roiycn
II don't known
"You don't know !" cried Mr.. Creigh-
ton. "Why," he exclaimed, "are you
both trying to saddle st. Croix with
thing he has nothing to do with?
AS if I'd ever have to buy off a girl
from marrying him!"
care you buying off Miss Schwenck-
tion from marrying me?" laughed Mar
win, and as he spoke he tore the paper
into bits and scattered them on the
floor.
'What makes you think, Father,
that such desperate measures as this
are. necessary for my protection
against even so dangerous a person as
Miss Schwenckton?"
"And anyway" the girl spoke in,
'Tm resigning. Please find a teacher
Mr.. Marvin, for my school, will you?-
for I'm leaving tonight"
FEATHER! Why on earth are you
driving her away? There's absolutely
nothing between us and"
"Dangerous person is right, Mar.
vim, and no eXaggeration have just
given that girl five thousand dollars
for the signed promise which you SO
imprudently destroyed"
II don't believe it," cried Marvin
sharply.
''AIiss Schwenckton, will you show
him the roll of bills I've just given
you?"
''He might tear them up as he did
your piece of paper!" she demurred
showing no least embarrassment or
shame. cts not a bride, Mr.. Marvin,
she explained "it's loan, which
shall pay back as soon as I've earned
1t at Hollywood. Your father seemed
so anxious to believe that / was Turing
you to your ruin and so eager to buy
me off you that l hadn't the heart tc
disappoint him; especially as I'm il
desperate need of money. And 1T is
niceeof your father to give the Ameri
can screen chance to be elevated
So I'm off to Holywood!" And be
fore either Marvin or his father coulG
reply, she had seized her hat and fled
from the room.
Marvin made dash to follow, bu
his father terposed-slamming tht
door and standing against it.
"Dont make id fool of your
self, Marvin! Running after a cir
who takes bribe!'
mo worse than your giving her {
bribe!'' Marvin painted.
"You can thank me for saving yor
from being taken in by an unprin
cipled hussy"
.Stop calling her names You're
entirely wrong about her!"
hWhat would you call girl who
accepts five thousand sdollars to droI
you cold?"
1sYou heard her say she was borrow
ing it to go to Hollywood. She's per
fectly right, too. She needs 1t ant
you don't. You've too much money ant
she hasn't enough. You held it out tt
her and she grabbed it. don't blame
her What started you on such wilt
chase as this? What on earth put 1
into vour hnod that I was coIIrtint