Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1930-05-08
By Ronald MiNar

mercy is choked off. what happens?
You're cooked. that's all.
DO YOU mean to say I'd be better
off if I'd been diSloyal to Helen?"
asked Arthur with Scorn.
Bill grabbed Il handful of his thin
ming hair. -Disloyalty isn't a woman's
word. Arthur" he said. Ca. it weak
ness or susceptibility. If you like
something a wife can triumph over.
Can't YOU get that through your head?"
NO" said Arthur with dignity. I'm
afraid not
Then I'll have to rescue you in spite
of Yourself"
Don't trouble" said Arthur. rising
stifly. Il believe the problem is a bit
out OF your field
Bill stood up like an orator. mo.
Arthur. You can't stop me. For the
sake of Tyson Ridge / pledge myself
to Guido Sampson. All alone, l shall
set the pillars of our Phillistine temple
back upon their feet again."
Arthur went away, apologizing to
his ideals.
1t was not long after this that Arthur,
made sensitive by his woe, noticed a
subtle change in Tyson Ridges attitude.
Men began to talk across him with
grinning innuendo. Fol the first time,
also, he heard women's sly. roundabout,
and ito HIM highly mystifying allu-
sions.
Little by little it dawned on him that
he had become the subject of covert
gossip. He had expected the ignoming
of buzzingS based on his ostracism by
Helen, for the best of servants were
l-ooSe-tongued. But the thing that was
now going the rounds was some vague,
outrageous, imaginary scandal about
himself alone. He tried to nail down
and examine the flying quips and in
situations. They Whizzed by too fast
for him.
He had reached the point where he
didn't care for himself. What made
him desperate was the thought that
these sneaking rumors must be reach
ing Helen and fortifying her in her
stubborn misunderstanding, He tried
to draw her out enough to justify a
sweeping denllnciation Of the whisper
ing campaign. She refused the bait.
Arthur had virtually decided that,
having become an outcast against
whom all hands were raised, he might
as well bury his sorrow in a bachelor
apartment in town, when Bill Buck
ram telephoned him after dinner one
night to come over to his house. Urgent
business, be said.
Arthur's first impulse was to excus
himself. But it occurred to him that,
if the old reprobate was too coarse
grained to understand his delicate diff
ficulty with Helen. he might still feel
at home. in the field OF low scandal.
So he went, and discovered that this
was exactly what Bill wanted to dis
cuss.
I've known about this gossip for
| some time.n he said. And 1 feel.
Arthur, that the time has come to do
something about it, 1t is likely to have
a serious influence on your situation
with Helen, Let me mix you a drink
while l explain
Arthur relaxed. Weary and nerve
worn, he accepted the glass gratefully.
1T may be news to YOU said Bill.
setting down comfortably, that you
and Polly Wolverton are supposed to
be pretty friendly
Polly Wolyerton!"
Yes, Polly Wolverton," repeated Bill
unctuously. mot a bad start for the
,scandaleers to give an amateur, IS it?'
No wonder this announcement
drained Arthur's remaining drops Of
amazement. Polly was, without doubt,
Tyson Ridges most distinguished weak
ness. A model Of tactful beauty, she
had behind her, at the age Of twenty
eight, two brilliant marriages and two
divorces carried off with faultlesS taste.
Her name attached to any scandal at
once raised it to the level Of society
columns. The few among the many
applicants in Tyson Ridge who had
shared this honor regarded themselves
a group apart.
Who could have started q story
like that?" Arthur asked.
Let's not bother about that now
said Bill. THE thing to do about it
is to head it Oft"
Yes" said Arthur, but tell me how
Go and see Polly
You're raving, Bill" Arthur looked
frightened. That's nc way to stop a
scandal, is ito go and see the
woman
What else" asked Bill, "can you do
get out a formal announcement:
MI. Arthur Proctor solemnly denies
improper relations with Mrs. A. C.
Wolverton'? No, Arthur, she's the only
one who can Go anything about it,"
What can she do?"
;. Leave that to Polly. Remember,
this is a very unusual case. Let me
fill up your glass"
Thanks. Dc you suppose she's heard
!. this prepoSterous gossip"
"Of course. Shed be the first"
why can't she deny it, then, or dc
whatever she's going to do without my
going to see her?".
why should she? AS gossip goes ii
has much to recommend it,"
you mean she would deliberately
let a lie like this go Cn?"
UNLESS you go to see her and make
amends"
Amend for what?"
! For being the only man in Tyson
: Ridge who has never tried to make
love to her"
Good Lord" exclaimed Arthur
"Are all women crazy?"
I'm our Shoes" said Bill, "it's the
safest hypothesis"
What will 1 say to her?"
; Don't worry about that" said Bill
, "Just avoid being too direct about it
that's all. Don't let her see you shud-
dering under the suspicion Of being
her lover. Your cue is to be highly
/. 1attered but somewhat embarrassed hy