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About The Coos Bay times. (Marshfield, Or.) 1906-1957 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 13, 1915)
jS- . A 1-v- 1J3lft ;&&.. r . . Stories of Adventures In Love One--Or How Many? By Will Seaton MnffiHLaMm mmTgiwiiiiMliliirTii71f"7llliiiiiiiiiiiii'iiiiiiM HiaaJHHHHMHtf -jsjBjssjsjsjsjssjBjBjsj8jsBjsjsjBsjsn ' '""" "7t.7 HIS claim of Sandy Phillips and "Kreck" M c G o c wasn't tt bananaa, but It whs the only tiulm worth work Ins when the mob that hud stumpi'dcd to Camp Crock drifted awny after IL few flnllrlmiR ft wi Kftnffllmnnt fritltlAim 1ti)f Whi. IllK "thO tWn.miltl flltlfll" mnnnrnl,. of all they surveyed In tho solemn soli tudes of the Cunip Creep country. Kreck hold that working tho c!ulm was more restful than "fighting bump ers an' brakemon," whllo Sandy found tho vocutlon moro lucrative than ped dling "A Million Methods of Making Money" to tho credulous but unsopou latlvo rustic. Knch duy tho two purt nors luborlnusly wrested a varying modicum of goldon grulns from tho determined clutch of mother mirth: each cvonlng they sought recreutlon through tho medium of. a disabled dock of grimy cards. Inasmuch, however, as ouc clause of tho unwritten contract of partner ship stipulated that the Joint accumu lation should remain undivided until tho exhaustion of tho claim, and ns the pnbbleB of Cump Creep which served as "chips" possessed but a flat vuluo not recognized by tho world of finance, tho fascination of draw-poker grad ually waned, and tho monotony of Barmecldul Jack-pots ovanttially prilled the senses of tho two-man outfit. Then It was thut Frock and Saudv, with a. view to future predatory cam paigns among tho fledging guniMoia of other camps, collaborated in per fecting every shifty trick picked up from their respective and adventur ous itineraries, and then it wns that Kreck Freck of tho vurlogntcd ruin plexion and obtrusive ears dlarm' ered Mr, Isaac Duffer, of Stevens' Cor ners, Missouri, Tho glory might have been SuudyV. had it not boen Frock's turn to muho the usual 20-mllo trip to Spltler'H Station In quest of necessary mippllca. Moreover, Frcck seemed preferred by Frovidonce us Its Instrument, for that very morning ho had confidently prophesied that an era of prosperity was about to dawn upon tho two-man outfit. "When a man has a dream liko that, it mesne somothln'," ho had solmnly declared, as ho dug lifa boot-heels In to the flanks of tho reluctant mulo and yanked Its head toward Spltler's. "Na'ral as life, It was Sandy, Shlny ecd augel fled over Camp Creek, m ERCIVAL BRKCDB was tall and broad of shoulder, and bad piercing bluck eyes and a greut curly mauo of black hair, Mary Jane had al ways doled on black hair, She bad always re gretted that Jon Cowan's hair ws straight and tho col or of burnt taffy. Perclval'B deep voice flljcd the church full of tha death-throea of the Assy riuns. It gave Mary Jano soma de lightful creeps. So miicii Interest did Bh take in the recital thot Joe Cowan had to ask her three tlmoB If she liked the now necktie be was wearlug. Joa waa Mary's fiance. Sho unwil lingly and unwittingly compared him with Perclvu), She wished bo was mora like Porclval, Joe was Bhortund Btout and wore glasses, big rouud glasses that made him look like a fish at times. Mary Jane and Joe had been "going together" since they wore school clir. dren, She had accepted him rather in tho course of events, and principally because ho was bo set on having her do so, and sho hated to give him puln. But Romance! Romance had never bten considered. Tbe next day was Tuesday. After Mary Jane hud got the family Ironing off her bunds, sho remembered thut she bad Miss Sophlu Brecde's copy of "East l.ynne." She took the book home. Incidentally she was Intro duced to Pcrclvul. He told her that ho wap "rusticating" a few weeks with Ills utiut, the Miss Brccdn in question. Sho told li I in how blio had enjoyed IiIr rendering of tho woes of Sennach erib tho provlous night, upon which he volunteered to read some of Miss He man's poems to her. He was studying for the bar. Mary June had uo doubt nls voice and cnmmandlng presence. ould carry him far In thut proles hlon. How dtffcieut he wus, In his attl tudo toward life, from Joe 09"s fu thei owned a meut market, uud Joe was qijlto content to plod along In the paternal footsteps, No ambUloii what ever for higher things. Mary Jano listened to Peichuls bar-ambitions and to his renderings of Miss Hernans until late in live after noon, so late that Miss Breede insisted on serving tea. and after tea IWihul accompanied her home v The Miss Breede resldeuco wax on First street and the Jenkins domicile Wl?S UMMHBMH mm showerln' down crackly stars an' gold tons an' twenties till me un' you nn' th' mulo had to duck out fcr shelter. Mind whut I say, Sandy we'ro goln' to strlko It rich, an' It won't be long, nuthcr. Into Sundy's puzzled conjectures, over, there crept uo connection bo tveen tho prediction and tho arrival, that ovcnlng, of Mr. suae Duffer, mounted on the mule, until tho foot sore Frcck seized tho first opportuni ty for cnllghtcncmcnt. "That thero's th' angel of my dream, Sandy," Frock Jubilantly annouiiLcd, when the now acquisition to the soclul circle of Cump Creek had wundorod out of car-shot to slaro through his WE green goggles at tho working para phernalia of tho two-man outfit. "Jest In from Mlusoury, huntin' fcr health an' diversion. I 'lowed he needn't go any furder'n Cump Clock. We're long on health, au' oh fcr nmuscnient " Frock closed one eye, und lth u long and mottled linger tapped the dlsubled dock of cards. Sundy licked his lips "and scru tinized the distant guest with cold und calculating eyes. "Has he got th' prlco of th' amuse ment?" he asked dubiously. "Do I look liko a man who'd toll n pauper out hpro to gorgo hlssolf on 40-bucon?" retorted Freck. "Ho Just hclrcd $20,000 Sandy! We're to make It right with Spltlcr fcr puttlu' ua on." "Looks to mo like A. backwoods school teacher," observed tho doubting Sandy. "Ho was Sludyln' now to br u preacher. When hn got his stuff ho laid off fcr a vacation. Spltlcr tint to know his folks out In Mlsuoury. Ho'e up In book lcarnln' nil tight, but, Sandy, when It comes to real wisdom that toiler don't know u Jack-lose from a Jnck-rublt." Freck's angel wus pained cxtrcmoly, that evening, upon learning most casu ally thut tho usual crepuscular amuse ment was being foregone nut of (In ference o his presence, ami he begged with apologetic Insistence thut ho bs not permitted to Intctforo with tho habits of his hospitable hosts;, qftcr. which he retired, to bo lulled to slum ber by the weird muslo of untamed ocallsts of gorge und gulch und tho soft clinking of Cum'i Creep pebbles on tho deal table. Next ovcnlng hla conduct was equally repiehenslblc, and a feeling of Indignant disappoint ment begun to stir In tho manly bos oms of the two-muu outfit. Un llio third ovenlug Mr. Buffer not up and took notice, and the spirits of the two- A Small Steel gjlililjli went quite around tho town to rover tho distance, and were an hour iu muklng the trip. Perclvnl showed keon penetration of Mary Juiio'b chuructor. She folt II In cumbent lo toll him, ut pulling, Hint alio felt ho understood her better than uomo who had known her fiv years, Mie invitca him lo cull booh, Porclvul culled tho next afternoon, Hn brought her a box of candy. 1 1 1 v often hud Joe over brought her boxes of candy? It was u pleasant ufternooti, and Mary June bhared tho Jenkins from porch hammock with her visitor. Joe was out soliciting iiutut orders, aud waved eheurlly us ha drove by. Mary Jane waved back a trifle constrained ly. . "Friend of yours?" Pcrclpal usked nonchalantly. "Yes," sho uiiswcrcd, and changed the subject. The afternoon passed very pleasunt ly and quickly. Sho accopted Mr. Brcedo'a Invitation to go horsoback rldlng tho next day. How often had Joa over taken her horseback-riding? Joo called that evening after eup per. Tho conversation dragged along wearily until nine, wheu he went home. Ho usually stayed until leu, Tho next day's ride was a success, Porclval -how easy It was to think of him as Perclval -wore puttees, There wb only ono other mau in Co darvlllo who made u practice of wear ing puttees, and ho wob u retired col li go professor of English antecedents, Mary Jane rodq very happily by the puttecd Perclval. How leonine lie looked when he held his hut In one Lund and brushed back his hair from his temples w Ith the other. Mary Jane contrived the rldo so thut neither Iu gulng nor coming uhutild thoy puss the Cowan meat markut. Porclvul recited on the homo ward way, Ho oven putiscd for five minutes uud wth a stub of a pencil compvscd un ode which Mury Juno wus certain was much belter thun some she had rcud In the muguzlnes. hhe ulso showed further Insight us a clmructer reader. Ho told her that she tiuderestlmutrd herself. How much better ho understood her than Joe over hud! Suuduy uftornoon Joo called He came In the open buggy In which he solicited meat orders He took It as a mutter of course that Mary Jane would enjoy riding with hlrd Sh hud often gone with delight, but tow she viewed tho prospect with distaste How common tho rig looked' h had no lettering on It, but ita brrw el low wheels and unspeakably A tun man outfit rose corresponding!). On the fourth evening Mr. Buffer shyly Intimated that If It wore not for occasioning too great 11 draft upon tho patience of his host ho would not bo avarsc to acquiring n smntt'Ming knowledge of their novel and Innocent game. Being interrogated respecting his aptness, Mr. Buffer, with becom ing modesty, rovcalcd the flattering fact thut ho and Squire Dobbu had onco tied for tho checker champion ship of StcvciiB' Corners, and on iroas cxamlnutlon finally confessed with ev ident reluctance that In the halcon days of reckless und unrestrained youth ho had been accounted pretty fair at euchre. Whereupon Mr. Mttff cr was equipped with his proportion of pebbles and allowed to "set in." Be fore retiring that night Mr. Buffer had demonstrated his aptness by winning all the "chips," as well as (ho offtiBivo plaudits of Ills goulal Instructors. "We'll bait Hi tra it lectio tonight, Sandy, un' see If he sniffs," Frcck suggested, next morning, as tho two departed to their dally toll, followed b their guest, who halted at tntcnals to inhale tho mountain air, so healing to impaired lungs. "Better throw It wide open," urgod tho Impatient Sandy. "There's no tcllln' how soon he'll take a notion to move on, an' It's mighty racklti' 1 1 th' nerves to dig all day for u pinch of dust with $20,000 grlnnln' at you all night." '"Haste makes waste,' Sandy," ob served the cautious Freck. "If wo open th' trap gradual, glvln' Ikey his own time to crawl In, he'll leave Camp Creek with nothln' on his person but thorn goggles." It wan yot curly in the ovcnlng when Frock, as ho swept up hln fourth con secutive collection of pebbles, dropped it scornful Imputation upou his part ner's pokoresque prowess, whereup on tho offended Sandy hotly offered, provided Mr. Buffer would kindly stuy out, to ubrogato tho restricting ebniso of tho contract, aud to back his Judg ment Willi n little "real stuff." 'J Ills challenge being promptly accepted, a short season of swift and laconic re .ptirteo was closed by tho trunsfor of Tr moderate quantity of "real stulf" to FreckV side of tho tabic, to tho mani fest and wldc-mouthod delight of the observant Mr. Buffer. Tho trap being thus baited, the unwary victim not only sniffed, but Initiated thut It bo opened, notwithstanding tho friendly admonitions of the twu-man oulfl', In fact, Mr. Buffer, In his cnthiiuly,u.i, bpcumc almost offensively uggrcsslvo, the umtiscnicut from being cropmcu- clval tuklug a lady riding In ouch a vehicle Joo wsb surprised when sho u ga tlvud IiIb proposition, Sho profesaed u henduuho. "Probably too much horaoback-rld- , lug yesterday," Joo said, and the Initio was on. "How dare you?" Mury June replied, In Into melodramatic style. joo replied that the whole town was talking abut her euro Inga-on. and he wan tired of It. und ulie could choose between tho two, and it lot of things were suld iu u very abort timo that neither meant, and In less limn a half-hour after his arrival Joo was driving blindly away, with u corluln diamond ring iu his pocket wulch Mary June had been wearing for him for goodness knows how many mouths. Mary Jane cried for u few minutes. Then sho bethought herself of the w Iu-dow-slgnul. "I'll show him," she said to hcrbclf. She trailed one end of an uprou out of the window, and then bathed her eyes and checks to remove tho redness. Tho signal brought InMaut results. Mary Juno hud scarcely completed her freshening operations when sho heard the front gate slam and Pcrelvul's heels click merrily down the gravel walk. OVER THE PHONE GAIN the telephone rang and Alice quickly jumped up from tho typewrit er and fairly flow over to the phone. Surely this was u call from Jack, for hadn't he told her he would undoubt edly bo home Thurs day? All excited, ahc took down the re- t elver and In her sweetest tones seld, "Hello!" The message was short, but oh, o nice The voice on the other end of tho wlro said. "la this you, dear? ,'tiBt hot a minute to call you; will be over tonight at eight and will tell you all. By the way, I have got something pret ty nice here for you " Alice could not work any more, so she quickly put her things away and flipped merlly homewhard, humming to herself, wondering what Jack had for her The town clock struck eight, but no Jack had yet arrived Alice paced up B (Wk-SrWtJ lar became nocturnal, aud when the unlucky Frcck was flnully seized w Ith a severe uttuck of cold feet the giccn goggleB of tho triumphant Buffer wero glowing with clutlun In the light of tho flickering lump. It may bo hero noted, as a baromet rical Indication of tho constantly lis lug spirits of the two-man outfit, thut on tho first two evenings, of Mr. Duf fer's sojourn he was respectfully ud dressed aa "Mr. Buffer," on tho third evening as "Isuuc." on tho fourth us "Ikoy,' and on tho fifth us "Goggles." To tho stritngor, ono of tho moat Rllrk Ing ldlonyncrnsl8 of tho frco and un fettered west Is Its delightful disre gard of conventionalities. In tho min ny cllmo of the cactus and coyoto the cold barriers of social formalities molt uway tinder the genial glow of m uni versal cumuradcrle. When Mr. Buffer had departed next morning to porform his ubluttunr. In the nearby streum, Sundy looked up fiom over the pan of Bputlcrlng bucon on the box stovn In the little uhnck ami smiled cheerfully. "Frcck," he oald. "lie's coming fust. Maybe wo can turn lit trick tonight." "Freck paused in hla occupation of pointing a bluntcd-plck and cocked tils frowsy head Judicially. "We glvo him mo3t too much Hue last night. Strikes mo it would be safer to reel In about half whut ho got, an' then give him more. Wlf.i proper play we'd oiler laud his entlro roll about We'nsd'y night. Howgom ever. If he should plunge" "Frcck" Interrupted Sandy, "If ho should pluiiga wn couldn't get our.' no tion with them utlcky cards." "We couldn't, an' that'll n fad," Freck assented craoly. "Twice last night I fell down on that middle linger flip. It's a wonder Goggles didn't notice It. A feller can't tell nothln' from his fuco when it's plumb hid by that fool grin an' thorn denied blinders." "Ono of uo bettor trot over to fplt lor's un' get u new deck," Handy utig geatcd. as ho lifted tho pun from tho stove. "An wo ought to runh In our dual. Ouscles mlGhl kick on our val uation" "Sh-Bh-sh!" hissed Frcck softly, "horo he Ib." Mr. Bufler stepped through vho .loor less cntranco and sniffed enersotlcal ly us tha mingled colors of bacon und coffee floated to his nostrils. "Dollclousl" ho whoozt'd. "Ah. gentlemen. I urn Indeed fortunuto In stumbling upon such' novel und hos pitable onvlronmonls. I can never sufficiently thuuk Mr. -ah Spltlcr. Trap Tho days that followed were full ones for the lovoro. Kvcry duy Iherr wore long rides or long walks lo bo taken. Bvary day lime worn .ioi'iiib to be rcud uud momentous tiucalluns dlactisuedi audi as. "Is u man m u woman cupublo of the more sincere af fcctlon?" At times Pcrclvnl's devotion seemed to cloy, from very awcrlnfBs, but only for un Instunt; his romanticism would broal; nut in a new placo nnd sveep Mary Jano monily along with liliu, He Invented u, codo In which btich sentiments uo "whose hlltle Si ret heart Ara You?" nnd Its unoworlug token of "Your Llttlo Sweetheart." could be wigwagged with a handker chief from un upper window of the Jenkins homestead to the Breede cot tage and vice versa. He contrlvi'i to Bhoot an arrow through her open w lu dow with u sweet-mcsBuged noto wiuppcd round the feathered end. Aud then he discovered tho possibil ities of tho locally fumous "Ornament al Breede GatQpost." This post hud benu turned by lathe and Hand during n slack wiutcr, by Old man Breede. It wus as full or timings aud chlsellngs nnd curves as a wooden post could be. and the top of it had beeu hollowed out to u depth of four Inches Into a sort of urn the walk. Alice knew now that Jack was not coming; It Was tho first time thut he hud failed to keep his word. Sho uscended the stairs in toars, look ed hcrseir In her room and sobbed her self to sleep. In the morning she awoke wllh a terrible headache; she had no desire for any breakfast, but went to work feeling very blue. What a change fiom the night before, when she tripped gayly along. Now every fltep seemed like a thorn thrust Into her foot Everything went wrong nt work; the bills were added Incorrectly, the typewriter was w-rlting over and there was trouble everywhere At 11 o'clock Jhe telephone rang and Alice slowly took down the receiver and coldly said, "Hello!" , "Hello, sweethtart, I suppos you ' "Qttlta enough; I am finished with you, uttered Alice sternly and hung up the receiver If Jack Gould thought he could dlsappotnt Alice Blake and spoil her evening he bad a great deal A few weeks more of this free. Invig orating life will send me buck to my arduous studies a now man. Glori ous country! Delightful climate! Mag nificent mornings!" "An' prolltublo evenings," added Sandy with u bantering grin In Freck's direct lun. Mr. Buffer, essaying u Jovial Intigli. wus seized by a prolonged period of coughing thut rucked his scrawny frumo from top to toe. "More chutico." ho flnully wheezed. "Mcro chuueo, Mr. McGcc. And ll oc curs to mo thut the ovcrwelmlng pre dominance of tho clement of chance must explain the pecular fascination of tho oporl. No skill being required, the mcrcBt novleo muy safely compete with the must experienced. I should like to sitggcBt, however, wore I cer tain of giving no orfciiBC " Mr Buffer hesitated, brought tho grceu goggleB to bear first on Srmdy and then on Freck, and nervously In tertwined his soft, white flngors. "Cerlulnly." murmured Sundy. "Ni offense none whatever." "Spit It out, Goggles," Insisted the amiable Frcck. "I should like to suggest, then,' re sumed Mr. Buffer, softlj. "lhat our cards arc dccldedlj well, jott'll ad mit,, m friends, that they are noi ex actly clean." "Thoy sure ain't," Frcck assented with quick cagerucs3. Mr. Bufter bowed gratefully. "And If either of you gentlemen should have occasion In (he ucai hi turo to Jotirn y to oh" "SpltlorH, ' prompted tho alert Frcck. "Thank joiii yes, to Splller'u -I shall be most happy to pay for a nlto new deck." "Sandj's goln this mornln'," Frtok announced. "We're most out of to baccy." Mr. Buffer hastily produced a chin ing coin, but Frcck wued a volumin ous hand Imperiously. "Put It away, Goggles." commanded Sand. "Yoit'te th' guest of this out fit. Don't Insult us by oflcrln' to pay for anything." "But, Mr. Phillips, it's a small Item." Mr. Buffer protested; "u small Kept lo ono who has plenty. However, out of deference to tho noblo principle" "Thut's II." Frcck Intorjeclrd. "I uln't Hi price: It's th' principle.! Shut up. un' set down; breiiU.fJBi'j wiUtin'." Thut cvoliliiG. whliVfianlly bWM wrapper from I ho new deck, Frock In dustriously polished (lis iitblo wllh t clccve of his llanucl thirl mid mulled nutronlzluglv upou the bcnmlnc Jiuf- It stood ut the Whlltakor street end or the Brocdt-Jonltlns lino-fence. By standing on tiptoe, ono of tho height of Mury Juno or Porclvul could touch the bottom or tho urn's hiahlo wllh tliu lips or one's fingers, "Whut an elegant way to send tuoa sngrB." Perclvul Bald, one afternoon when the lovers wero huuglng ovu'tho llno-fonco oxchunglng coufldencep. Mcb8ugca!" Mury Jan'c'a eyes II' up witli expectancy. "Yes, I could write you thing, and post tluni In tho urn. Then you totild gel ihhu uud post replies lu tho same wuy." It would bo Just like u book, or u play. Soma thlngo always wpm bo much sweeter whan thoy were on pa per! Mary Jano agreed ecstutlcully. After thut Perclval left a nolo In tho tirti for Mury Juno ovary noon, Ho would stroll out leisurely ut bedtime uud got a reply to dream aver. Alan thut all Karth's children cannot be equally happy! If Mury Juno and Perclval were living lu a beventh heaven of delight, Joe Cowan wn3 liv ing very much below that level. Mary Jane's defection changed his whole dis position, Formerly cheorful. he now moped the hours uway miserably. He apoko to his meat customers in mono syllables. Once a model of caretul- bad intended to come home the day berore, but knowing that today was Alice's birthday, he stopped over In Now York to purchase a diamond ring, Hccould not Imaglno what had hap pened to cause Alice to act In the man ner sho did. At noon Alice went out to dinner, and whllo walking along met her friend. Grace Home. Grace's face was all aglow, and as she held up, her left hand there Alice saw on her finger a magnificent diamond Grace wjis all excited and told Alice that Paul had been away for a tew days and she did pot expect him back until Sunday, but as yesterday was her birthday he came home early The funniest part of It was he called her up In the afternoon and thought he ihad her on the line, but central gac him tho wrong num ber and he neeA- realized It until he came over at nlaht. and when she was so surprised trsea him ha could uot understand it.wor he told her he had phoned her anl said that be was com Ing over in tie evening with some thing "pretty lice" for her lie? mLg nun live ajiair nvr re's where 1 ell mm." ii H,"d ho jdld. Stcadllj and ly tho modest stakes die- 1 1 it I ii i no nvarlclous Bivcop ccklcd huiul. while Hutuiv ly but copiously, und the 'cb seemed to lose their ion, synchronous with the sttnuy'B ooot upon Frlck's uq or roriunc changed, 3tcntiy uutrorward, und iiinio a moment wnen Air. about lo "plunge." The ,s scrutinized the five d Intently, and the nufi titniuMzingly citrcnucd ill of blllu. Tho hcven ed Biirroptltlously from cinrorcn tiio throe al- Frock's long Augers, 'sglycH." Sandy uiged ,) you cull or rultoV" lien, iiCBiiutcd, and u pretty fair hand io remarked. "Four ' eights and a deuce up- and his fifth card tlut- . face down, upon the !) without tho Qtitrunce to smiiiiiRiy rreck displayed oVeiis and reuched for the tit Mr. Buffer gently stocd "Four nigh!-. Mr. McGeo." he re peated. "That's tho fourth on the ground." "Bcggln your pardon." said Sandy, sovorely, "thut'o n trey. I suw It plain.'' "That's what." Frcck Growled, bel ligerently; "It's Hi troy of clubE. I Bonn It, too. No funny .blzncss yuci here, Goggleo." Mr. Duffer leaned buck ami regard ed tho two-man outfit with oxpronslon or Indignant surprise. "Gentlemen," he wheezed oxcltcm. , "ob nn Invalid I can recent your In sulting in'putatlono In but one va " Ho uroce, pluccd ono foot upon the dluputcd cnid, und tossed tho ple thoric roll to the center of tho table, "Thrrc'a two thousand dollars that any U'h tlm cUht. I allow uo mini lo qiirstlnu my vernclty wllh Im puiilly," ho Haid with cnlui dlgult). Mr. Buffer had "plunged pluiiFcd" up ngulnst a duud sure cluch! "You're fifty loo htrong fcr us," Frcck cjuoulutcd, uo he lmstll count ed down tho entire capital of the (wo man outfit. "Take fifty back, This ain't no froczo-oul." "There's Ihn iniilc," Mr. IlttfTcr sug-c-rtcd ucoruftilly By Elsie Endicott neaa, his pathway now wao one tre' with miatakfB. Ho Inoultcd a Jewish customer by leuvlng lur suit pork. Ho CBtrunged tho Btunch Cutliollo chit or O'Brien with u Frlduy delivery of roiiBt beef. Nor did his cures end with tho setting of tho aim. At night he sought his fevered couch ami wooed rest In vain. lie tried to soften Mary June's ada muntliio hoart, but vainly. Ho wrote her warm letters full of ropro.iclieB uud pleadings. Thoy were Ignored. He culled her up on the telephone. At the first words from hla Hpb, bang! wont llio receiver. Ho Intercepted hoi on the street; sho Btured haughtily ubove Ills head. . Unable to move the woman, he vain ly cudgeled his brain to devise d wa of ridding himself of his rival. One cunuot uowadays truss up an onem und take him awuy to a cave or a dun geon, ub they did In days of yore. One cannot shoot u man on tho streets merely for bteallng hie. Bweetheait. Ho added a special fillip to hla mis ery by driving madly past the Jcnliln homo many limes dally. At a giu. when wooing exhaustion by uumg walks over the town, his feet asldotu failed to take him around the square In which tho disdainful maid lived, He learned w secret of the Hue- to ponder over what she had done. She knew very well that she was the putty Paul had on the line, and that poor Jack did not arrivo home until this morning, and then to think nr tne cold and. angry manner In which she responded to his call. What would lie think of her? She sat down and hastily r,e these few lines: "Come over tonight. Jack. Big misunderstanding to clear up -Alice. After placing a 3peclal de livery stamp on the envelope, she de spatched the office boy with the letter to the poBtofflce. As the town clock pealed forth tna hour of eight on that evening JatkB footsteps could bo plainly heatd com ing up tho walk Alice came out to meet him, and after receiving nlm cor dially brought him around to the gar den They wandered down thtougn the orchard until they came to the old itistlc seat under the apple tree, ano there Alice related her story. vncn accounted fully for her actions. JrfCK was very much amused at tno !" episode, aud when all was told he Vfv tortb fvoai Us liflit 48i"J rcisw'Hc wiffiSHU ". gu'm BflHHf gmtwHSf lugWBMi '"JWHku '"laBESSK "INOBKBK U'rfHSLM criajPffMBK 'JBEIbiBHbbV "MbHILbH Nnni l I'ifiPiBLHB '(HShHT 9bsSSFc IWMTHTbTTM BrtfcPttTT) his ftd. "Tli' mule's in ,, , .??..w llir.. """"Mli " u III, apiulcsl llMlfc, Sandy wai (i,c . ire.it i. win. :or,' ''"'"Ifupon'lejLH for limi i, t...T".fnl M.orllon0fMrB 't l-orlloa swudj ffi a, ,. v"v'a" oi tne t " iu tummuc tbe itpitl Iriim.n n-.l .,'. . .."M V" 'T, ' tot the olhcr hiitt ni n,:,. lro..ed,V.sl.apcd,ijll! llgllt Kreek't nh.., merged Inio one vaitnu!! Illl, I.U .,,,.... i. j '""11 " "SBiutmca now f f,.i..i .i,, , ... athwart the golden moo. As Sandy sruinM ru rucced nnrt nnHni.ik..i him. then silently ritieJuJ I'uinicn in tne dircctloa e(J rise, ioppea uy tbt roefa , wound lo finltler'i ki.iiJ , apex of the rlie the Iniit ou a nunc was dlnppa "Frcck McOee." dtmea faintly, "do joumun torn two-man outfit blLMHth one gcrnwny. lore-tftd Kkcietlonr Freck strucsledtonUticu ea wratlumiy, "One! Smdv Phllllrn' dozen of 'em join'rotitluiB on a btu-iawl Ad ctttjs had as ninnv nrminiM an' a dynamite iky-rocU i flttl One! Huh!" "Couldn't jou land Mm Freck 7" "Couldn't 1 ittnontlma or sprinkle salt on th'UQahJ jack rabbit? Tried It j e. IipvT" Sandy slowly aroit.UWj ly Htu pairotdifciroMp nnri Rlnink on ImDrtnlitfi the other half of the tntfl "You freckled Idiot. you lune. a nlghtmire U It. forget It-forjft ( niticuuoiiou recxoa.swK niiiiiii' nn on!" "Von other Idjutl" wii with u lust scowl at imw fnuestrlan. "hw mucht)i Hpltler Kits fr jjuttlntlsp mmm post, for he saw Brt'l? nture making ms ', night. Later ! Il.o nnln that WOf M"? Jane The nH' came fo Joe. H11 he oca iiaruai."v liippea 6i r"Z'...J :.i ....i. iirAfHe Orcis"" iru iu uiv - .. iM -""'" v.r .... ..h-Mns y, illi which hip ''T-m ut a distance of tMStfi; He reacnea "v right nana - .i provlsednmll-boi.iMJJ with surprise i ij bad snapped oo W.p?l .. .. rin nf iteei. .-J ii u bin- - " ,i, itia Ho stood on I pW '" lease hliuseii. '"j. nolo some mUOT 1 nring cuuu r." Itase the P"f:..V iinw do you do-' u.,a his rival's yoIc'.,i)bH Ho turned, but "' mmlne wroui'H' ...us ,.ii.,pri io one l" ".jklSt askew, but "IM refulgent raws il as Joe lOOKea r- to the sround. 1 w in m "';,,h off3; Now with a "VtH ground, kno tW 'sl pebble In a 5V "Back lu m' J vl"d Td'ow "Mm open w!tostt,fft There was an" ,j her room, dqww ni her attention. Back lo tMiig delhryorn.' ftlfi hei wlndo- JlKufli edge.tob" -! p5 lie"?. JSctfSffl avenuo . ,nnp',j new- Jo '" ,c syg ofcortiy jj ptaranjE