SSS55i'WjQ(oaA.'iii.g.ieg5WiwtHg WcOSmJHBSfcSiS ii'uvJKuagcwawttwgar '! Tifillli The Fall of Pride By Elsie Endfeott mirtlKMhXtmxSi'llHIMttttMnt8aU)ti Liw all JUj-fc UD OAKLE he was still Bud in spite of the grizzled age that was creeping upon him wag of the. eort that does not count in the Week Not even a galvanic force could find lodgment In that Indecisive nth or those palo eyes no ad conciliatory. His head a dust cloud In the dls- ie, I reckon, The new fought to be on it today." of the man in tho chair le whlttler, rested upon lint, then passed to the (bin tho store cutting to- flat-footed squaw In a blanket. he demanded. Matt man of few words. icy say. Just out from no more questions But ring of his eyes one could Sness of the beast of prey. Santa Rita stretched he its a killer, but oven wlth- Dwledgo ono would have by that something strong iirklng in tho bleak, cold tr shape of the thin, tight iSprlngcoiied alertness of that did not count spokn enseo tnat Prldo was an- rith splnolcss facility ho elf to the other's mood. allies, from Poorla. 111. A JBure to bo a smart aleck. low ItT" lan's teeth showed for nn was still looking at tho -Angered girl, and his both KUlInn nnd proprle- le said nothing. ry it with Alllo, nnd he'll upplngs. Bhe wouldn't , minute. Mo neither. Not Jollies," tho lnvertobrato rcntly. Ho was tho father h within. That sho wns no 1110 who ana proper- la accepted ns axlomatlo. '.stage descended a young suitcase. Slight, pallid stooped, ho was unmlstnk- act of tho city. Tlln gentle seemed to npologizo for iblo fact, was a letter of itlou. For thn nyen bllnk- Iho glasses wore as honest an Arizona sky. id ut thn Ion of tho steps k on his lean, hard face. rept the newcomer, and atcmpluotiB wonl ho turn- tg hcol. srfoot had been appraised. land dismissed from mind Tridc hail taken threo keeled again angrily. Alllo 1st him, her eyes shining aent. aud was offering her llnsultcd clerk. te now storekeeper, aren't lice Oakle. I help In the re glad to meet you." came quickly back. "Samo Jakle. os, I'm tho otore- ' narao is Arne Joe Arne." led insldo together. Pride's ed furiously, and his fists Ltho veins swelled. "Looked like he was aimln' to throw the kid offen tho porch nnd stomp Ulm into tho ground. 'F he bad I reck on they would have had to pick him out o the dust with a pair of pincers," Bud Oakle explained later. The bad man strodo to his horse, flung himself into tho saddle, and rodo blindly away. Jealousy ourged through him in heady gusts. Alice Oakle, promised to him by her father though she was, had never looked on him with such kindly eyes as she had given this puny boy. His bloody spurs roweled mercilessly the half-tamed horse he rodo. Joo Arne fell Into his work easily and inconspicuously. The reservation Indians called him Four Eyes, and liked his courtesy to them. There was nothing about his quiet, friendly re serve to tempt tho rough horseplay of the Santa Rita riders who sometimes drifted in to buy nlrtlghtn and talk with pretty Allie. Nor would sho have permitted any liberties. Sho liked tho tenderfoot, his gentleness, his shyness, his Inability to meet tho frontier on its own ground. Moreover, he was open ing to hor a new world, ono sho had known only in books. There was In both of them a touch of the poet, tho facilo imagination that interprets nnd takes hold of the unknown. His ex perience complemented hers, and nei ther of them woro ever tired of hear ing about that strange life the other had lived. For hor tho cities wcro pregnant with romance. She saw New York and Chicago through that huzy light thnt never was on land or ecu. He made of sunburnt Arizona espe cially in that evening ntmosphcro when velvet dusk was over tho valley like a sea of soft and tempered light- -an Arcady primeval, helped to It no doubt bocauso of tho slendor. light footed friend who watched with him tho mellow vlolot haze upon tho saw toothod peaks, Emotions now und poignant had como to disturb tho calm of both their lives. It camu to pass ns tho weokn slipped nwny that tho frankness of their comradoBhlp was gone. Alice, whoso eyes had looked nt men simply and directly nH Uioso of a boy, was bo coralng self-conscious. Sho learned thn trick of blushing nt times when sho least expected. Uneasily, too, sho wns nwnre that Prldn wns watching Arne. Hlio had tho senso that ho was stalking them as a cougar dors Hn kill, with Dm samo Htcnlthy, rrleutlesss patience of that mouutnin terror on Its soft padded crouching hunt. More than oncn while she was in gay, happy talk with tho storekeeper, a sinister shadow fell aorosB thorn. Pride's cold, deadly eyes met hor startled ones. A shiver would run down her back, for sho had not known him to be within twenty miles. A premoni tion of danger haunted Alllc. Her knowledge of tho man was onough to teach her ho would lot nobody stand between him and tho things ho covet ed. It bad always been so with him. His outrageous deflanco of justice, tho contempt with which ho had trampled on the prldo of tho Apach braves, had taken their horses at his own price, and Ignored their tribal laws, all theso had won the undying hatred of tho na tives. Yet ho went his own way and rodo over them heedlessly, trod down nn If they had been childish com plaints tho remonstrances of these old-time man-hunters who had left the trail of blood along the border. From such a one no tame surrender of the girl ho wanted was to bo expected. Yet. as always, red tragedy when it did como leaped upon them unexpect edly. On a Sunday evening Pride rodo to tho store and found the whtttler on the porch alone "Evenln Matt. In for plumb hot weather, lookB like." "Where's Allle?" "Out with Peoria, III. I told her, by Jollies, sho hadn't ought to go. I ain't responsible. Nowadays a father don't havo the say-so over his own daughter. Don't you kDow it? I reckon I'll liao to havo a talk and lay down tho law to that young lady. Eh, Matt?" Pride's face was a picture of re sentful malice. "I'll do the talking. Which way did they go?" "Took tho Box Canyon trail: said they wasn't going to walk but n llttlo ways." Prldo strode up tho steep path, tho long-smoldering anger in him nblazo. Ho moved lightly, gracefully, for his Btcel-tough flowing muscles were su perbly packed, and tho sap of youth still ran strong in him. Oakle was vaguoly alarmed. Ho scratched his head in perplexity. "Wisht I hadn't told Matt whero they was. He's liable to do that tender foot a meanness. Oh, well, ho won't nnymoro'n cuss a blue streak nnd mebbo heat tho head off Peoria, III." Tho ranchman had followed tho trail scarco two hundred yards beforo ho came on thoao ho sought. They woro in n llttlo grovo of llvo oaks into which the sifted moonlight Altered softly. A moment soonor, nnd ho would have been In time to soo their first hiss. As it wns, they stood with hands' locked, looking into each other's eyca with the ecstatic obsorbed look of nowly confessed lovers. Prldo's smothered oath brought them back to earth. Their hands fell apart hurriedly. In tho eyes of both wns tho startled, telltale look of chil dren caught stealing Jam. "Matt!" tho girl cried, ns tho man camo striding toward them. Ho ignored her completely. To joung Arne ho spoko. tho volna in Ida forehead swollen with rage. "(Sit! I've had enough of you! Clear out of tho country pronto!" "Out of tho country," .Too repeated In amazement. "You hoard nie." "But, Mr. Pride. I can't do that,. My living is lime. FJcsldes, why should I?" "Because I'm going to till you full of lead if you're hero this tlmo tomor row. I've had a-plonty of you." "I haven't dono you any harm," tho youngster retorted, with a Hash of spirit. "This Is a free country. You can't drlvo mo out." "Oo or stny, I don't caro which. But If you stay, It'll bo for good." Tho ranchman laughed, and the sound of it wns appalling. Alllo cut iu, wblto to the lips. "You mean that you'ro going to to murder him." "I'vo served notice. It's him or me." He turned to go. Lltholy sho twist ed In front of him and barred tho way. "Walt." She stood lance-straight, a slendor slip of a girl ho could have crushed with one hand. But in the challenging flash of hor deep oyeB n new llro had been lighted. Man of small imagina tion though he was,, it was Impossible to miss tho gallant spirit his threat had struck to life. "If you do this if you touch a hair of his head as surely as you do I'll never speak to you again, never look at you any more than I would at a rattlesnake." He stared, fascinated, his eyes nar rowed and smoldering slits. "So that's it. You're making a play for to stand between him and me." "Yes. I won't have it! I won't have it!" sho cried, a little wildly. "You won't? Why not?" His olce was silken soft, but she knew that be naath tho surface tho anger In him was cold and hard as granite. Under tho brave, tilted chin a pulse waB beating fast in tho soft round throat. All hor llfo sho had been afraid of his splenetlo and vindictive anger, of tho quality In him that had dominated her father and herself. But with this, too, had always been admi ration of tho stark forco of tho man. Tho courago of him had cloaked his vices. Now sho saw him as ho was, hard, cruel, vicious, bad at heart to the core Gustily the revolt of yoars in her boiled ovor. "Becauso I lovo him. Because I'm going to marry him. That's why." Again ho laughed, aud in his mirth less laughtor all tho evil of him ap pearcd to find expression. "You bettor hurry, my dear. For he nln't got long to live. Look nt him. Soo how yqllow ho Is. Right now he's nn awful sick pup. It'll bo a right short honeymoon. You'll bo maid, wife, and widow all in twenty-four hours." Ills black, beady eyes fo cused once moro on the Easterner. "Remember. Tomorrow at sunset. I'll bo hero llko I said. And you needn't try to pull your freight. I've changed my mind. You and mo will seo this out to a finish." With that ho was gone, leaving be hind him a distress beyond words. Al llo leaned against a live oak, hor In terlaced fingers writhing in impolont despair. Sho wns no heroine of ro mance but what tho aim nnd tho wind and a clean, sweet spirit had inndo her. It sho could bo brave, she could bo afraid, too, especially for thosu sho loved. Now torror hold her heart in an Icy clutch. Sho did not decolvo herself. Matt Prldo would take enro her lover did not escape, nnd when tho lime camo ho would snuff nut his llfo ruthlessly. "Don't you, Allle! Don't you take on so!" Arno pleaded, "It's all my fault. If I hadn't told him you might havo slipped away, but now" "Ho shook his head. "No, I wouldn't havo gone." Tho girl roused herself. Tho eager ness of hopo camo Into her eyes. "You can get away by the Mai Pain trail. IIo'll not think or that. Rldo hard and you can reach the railroad tomorrow night." "And lenvo you hero?" "What does that matter? I can Join you later." "No. I'm goiug to stay." Her gazo read his thoughts. No man under flro could run away from tho woman ho loved and hold his self-respect. It might bo an unequal battle, but ho could not shirk It and Icavo her alono to copo with this wolf. Face to face with Pride, her lover had boon en tirely inadequato to the situation be cause his training had not fitted him for it But she felt now a tightening of his will, something In him indomit able and dogged that would choose death rather than disgrace. She loved him for it Her spirit leaped to meet hie "We'll go together tonight as eoou as It is dark." she whispered. In the moonlight her eyes were shining with resolution. He caught her hands. "You mean you'll go with me leave your father." "Ho doesn't need mo now he Is mar ried again. Your way shall bo my way, and your people my people." She was In his arms, crying and laughing hysterically. Joe knew that ho could not deny her Imperious de cision oven if ho had wished. Sho would tuko tho desert trail with him and share all his difficulties and dan gers. They mado their preparations swift ly nnd secretly. Tho canteens wero filled nnd a ralr of saddlebags packed with food. Alllo took nothing with her except tho khaki riding suit she wore. His watch showed eleven o'clock when thoy stole out to tho cor ral, saddled tho ponies Arne had run up from tho pasture, and took tho long trnll leading Into tho bad lands. Tho llttlo valley which led down Into tho desert had been by day a glowing vlguctto of gold and riiBsot, but In tho soft moonlight it wns toned to a cool, silvery glamour only thn Southwest can show. They rodo In silence, with no sound savo tho occasional Jlnkllug of a bit or the strike of a hoof on a looso stone. Tho valley descended into a long, flat plain of cacttm nnd grensowood, terminating In tho far distant dwarf mountains that wero rooted wrathllko at. tho horizon edge. Here, at tho entrance to tho Mai Pals, they pulled up an Instant Alllo drew a long broath and spoko eagerly. "Safe at last. Ho can novor find tin In Mai PalH." A low. sinister laugh mocked her, and nt tho sound of It a cold fear drenched tho heart of tho girl. Beforo looking around sho know that tholr enemy hail trapped them, had guessod what thoy would do and forestalled them. Ho wns sitting on tho bowlder behind which ho must have been lying when thoy passed, his evil triumphant smllo framed in moonshine. Across his knees n rldo lay negligently. "Evening, friends. .Iiibi out for a llttlo pnsear, I oxpenl." "You devil!" iho boy cried passlon aloly. Prldo looked nt him' without speak ing. A volcanic rage boiled beneath that still, contained manner of his. His finger Itched to bo at tho trigger of his Winchester. "What aro you going to do with us?" Alllo asked hopelessly. "Going tn chaperoon you homo ngaln, my dear. My IntentlonB as to him havo been declared already." They rodo back In frout of him, de feated and despairing. To both of them it seemed ho was of a power more than mortal, an Irresistible forco against, which it was no uso fighting. No thought of rcslstauco occurred to olthor of thorn, though Arne, too, was nrmed with a rldo. Prldo left Allle at her father's house, lockod in her bedroom by Bud. whoso mild ineffectiveness was for the mo ment stimulated into something like anger by tho elopement For Arne the bad man had only one word be fore he rode away "You're being watched The passes aro gunrded. Make another break and you'll stay down In the Mai Palas for good." Tho ranchman's victory had beon a barren one. He knew that to Allle Oakle ho was only a hated Intruder. Her every look had told that she loved this Easterner who had not the sand to stand up and fight for her. The cer tainty of It seared Itself into his brain, Hooded his Irresponsible mind with a touch of blind madness. He pounded furiously homeward, driven by a storm of wild Je'alousy that obscured all wisdom. Temporarily he was the cavo man primeval, amonable only to the law of the Jungle Tho old lust to kill surged tremendously in him. Pat to tho desiro enmo tho oppor tunity. Into his little Irrigated field of alfalfa a dozen cattle had broken. Ono glance at tho brand showed him they belonged to tho Apaches on tho reser vation. It was tholr second offense, and bis passion leaped the bounds of reason. The rifle cracked again und again. Boforo the magazine was emp ty nine of the animals had fallen be neath his sure aim. Ho stood and stared nt tho havoc ho had wrought, nt the awful wanton thing ho had done. In tho cow coun try cattlo aro sacred, and Ills fury had massacred them wholesale Even as he looked an Indian rodo ovor the crest of tho hill. His Impns flivo faco swept ovor tho flold and rest ed on Pride. "You pay?" ho Bald quietly. Tho whlto man's nrroganco would not submit, to being brought to task by nn Indian. "Not by a damned sight. They wore In my nlfnlfn." "Running Cloud speaks ns a friend and brothor, His people angry at Gray Fox. ' Tholr wrong henp big. Let Grny Fox pay." Years before, fn the dnjs when he waB a very young man, Prldo had been takon Into blood brotherhood by tho tribe. Thoy had called him Grny Fox, and thn Imwl had been sealed by his marrlagr iu on- of Mm voung women of tho tribe Sho had died within tho year. Tho young cowpunchor hnd drifted back to hlB own raco nnd tho tribal relationship had never hern ro uowod. Running Cloud was reminding him now that ho was subject to thn common law governing tho tribe "Not a redoont! Keep your cattlo off my range!" tho rnnchcr retorted an grily. "Let Gray Fox lako care, tot him remember tho tribal law. Running Cloud spenkH with no forked tongue." Prldo knowing himself in tho wroug, yloldcd to ono of IiIh ungovern able ragos and turned his weapon up on Runnnlng Cloud. "Git, you d d Injun, or I'll pump holes In you llko I did your cows." Tho native wheeled hl pony and dashed off. An hn disappeared over tho hill ho flung up nn arm and Hhook a closed hand at tho former squaw man. Prldo's rlflo leaped to his shoul der and covered Running Cloud. The hammer fell harmlessly upon an emp ty shell. Au hour later Running Cloud car ried his news Into tho sleeping camp of tho Indians. Till gray dawn tho chiefs took council round tho camp- fire. Then the young men rose, know ing what they had to do, and slipped away silently on the trail. All day they watched from the hllln above the Pride ranch, themselves un noticed. At sunset the owner of tho ranch saddled his scarce broken broncho and took the road for tho agency. Signals flashed from hill to hill The painted tribesmen slipped down from draw and arroyo. Tho long delayed vengeance of his blood broth ers was closing in on Gray Fox. All night and all day Alllo had gone about with n mortal sickness In hor face With the coming of morning she had taken her place ns usual in the store. Through the lagging hours she, had sold canned goods and powder and coffee, whllo all tho tlmo tho chill dread of what was to como lay heavy upon her aching heart. Not for n, mo ment did sho doubt that Prldo would keep his word. It was a boast of thn man that ho novcr "rued back." Her thoughts kept miserable com pnny with those of hor lover. She had pleaded with him to try and escapo In to tho desert, but ho had steadily re fused. Thero wns no hopo In him, but the compulsion of his self-mspnct would not let him run nwny. Tho day, It seemed to her, would never end. Yet when at last tho sua slid down behind n crotch of tho hlllfl it camo to her with a crash of tho senses that tho hour was upon them- Ah In a dream sho heard a volcn outsldo cry, "Hero ho comes." saw her lover reach for tho rifle ho scaroo know how to lire, and -watched him step to tho door. Sho woko from thn ntghtmarn thnt had held her, nnd wlthu a cry of horror ran forward. No rlflo shot broko the stillness. Her first sweeping glnnco saw only a rider less horso galloping heavily down the trail. Tho animal was saddled, anil behind It pomothlng dragged and bumped ovor tho rough path. A vnquoro who had Just ridden up gavo a startled cry, His lariat swept forward nnd jerked to a halt tho la boring horse Alllo saw that the ani mal was stained with sweat nnd wild with fright. Then her eyes traveled to tho limp and horrible thing fastened by rawhldo thongs to Its tall and tn tho horn of tho saddle It was thn llfo less body of a man. Tho vnqtiero, knife in hand, ran for wonl to cut tho ropes, hut ntopplnc with a cry of recognition. "My God' It's Matt!" Tho truth flashed upon Alllo plclurn after picture She saw tho man com ing to keep his threatened tryst of re venge, tho lurking Apaches, tho des perate strugglo nnd capture. Her im agination vlsloned him tied sllvn to tho hnoln of his own wild horso, tho crazed beast tearing down tho rough moun tainside. Now, by some strnngo irony of fate, tho broncho had brought itn master to keep his appointment nt tho very place and hour set for It. But tho vcugeauco of tho Apaches had outrid den his, With a sobbing erj Allle covered bet eyes and ran Into tho house. Out of a gray haggard faco Arne looked down upon tho enemy Frovldonon bad snatched from his path. Ho wan still trembling with tho nervous chill that had been on him. Oakle put n hand on his shoulder "Wo'ro in luck. boy. If Matt had beeni ullvo hn would havo got you llko ha promised. It had to be jott on,hlm." Carnations And Horse By Joe Busche i rKJU- :xyxxrxxjoTryyyxxvx-yvvjcjurvT XU.UXX1 LMIRA ANN chanced to be looking from the window when her father came home. He carried a bunch of white carnations to pre hent to mother, for 'it was Mothero' Day. No one ever that he had trudged long in the dust back and forth ys that tie monoy saved res might be used, ctner- Hadly, for his contribution ceiemonles the family ln- every Mothers' Day. sons' old horso, head bent 'general air of depression aim, stood beforo the door- ion had stopped, patted the fraternally and said to Jo easy on him He's do- He's old and tired." be driver started without lash of whip and Jerk at mouth, father bad added illy, "He's tired; he needs It, Almira, who had been silent thinking, asked her pn pa nad bad a vacation ft" mused mother "Well. Iruly, I doubt If he'3 had r married. 30 rears aeo. ce back home That was btber died. He was gone a yful eort of a vacation. ented Almira Ann. i see " explained her raoth- couiq seem to afford one. Be anyway that he'd care 1 be back to his old home. s too much," Inlngs later Almira man- ng tne subject on her un- "Tell me something," she urged, "won't you, dad, about your old homo? It must have been a mighty Interest ing place, from the llttlo I've heard about it." Dad brightened visibly and Instan taneously. Usually one of tho most si lent of men, be became actually gar rulous over the beauties and attrac tions of his boyhood homo and sur roundings. "You ought to go there some time Sis." he said. "There's no place like it, to my mind. There'n a brook run ning through the meadow Just below our old house Many'o the fine trout I've caught there It flows into the river halt a mile farther down the glen. There's a jolly camping ground at the bend in the river." He paused a moment, smiling as bis mind roamed through the old huunts, and Almira could scarcely believe this was her quiet, reticent, shy father as he rambled on of birds and rab bits and squirrels, of blackbirds shoot ing through the masses of mountain laurel; of the secrecy and the silence of the still woodland ways; of the wide meadows of buttercups, tho tan gled masses of wild flowers, campion, violets, starworts purple ground ivy and hyacinths. He described a lake where swallows at evening dipped and circled and flashed over the dark sur face He recalled travels through the pine woods aud meetings under great elms; and Almira listened, fascinated and yet almost aghast, as she recog nized the longing In the sudden ava lanche of memories she bad, all un wittingly, evoked. She felt the hot tears of pity dim ming her eyes Was this happy his torian "father"? Father, who was popularly presumed not to possess a thought or desire In the world sep arate from bis family and their nspi- ing his oration? What was thlb he was saying? That somtlmes at tho of fice when business was dull he amus ed himself by drawing pictures of the old place and its haunts and that soma time he would show them to his daugh ter, since sho seemed so interested. Almira investigated. She ascer tained that to pay her father's fare home and back and allow him money enough to use tor odds and ends $60 would be needed. Sho herself bad $20, saved by Infinite economy from her small salary, and how gladly and free ly she would have given it; but how to realize the remainder? That was the question. And father's vacation only two weeks awayl He was already mentioning various jobs of work around home that he intended doing while home, and no one said blm "nay" He had always devoted that fortnight to odd Jobs of painting, pa pering, fixing up in general, and whv not now" But Almira, looking with opened eyef, upon the gray hairs and wrin kled brow of her patient father, was somehow cruelly reminded of tho va cation "He's homesick, too," she murmured, "and I've simply got to find some way to let him go " The way came and in the nick of time Its beginning was in a letter from Aunt Almira Ann, for whom the eager girl wore her quaint, old-fashioned name. 'it read: "Dear Niece Almira Ann You will remember the case of books belonging to roe in vour attic Do you mind go ing through them and sending me those with my name on their fly leaf? The rest you may dispose of as you choose Let me give you a hint, though - Some of those old editions ter find out. Whatever they bring is yours. "Your loving aunt. "ALMIRA ANN." They wero of value. When Almira bad disposed of them, to her grateful wonder and joy, sho held a hundred dollar bill in her hands. To ull tho various suggestions offered an to Itn Investment she turned deaf ears. The night before his vacation began she went to her father with the money. "Dad," sho said softly, "wouldn't it be simply great if you and I could go out to your old homo and spend your vacation going around to all the dear old places? Tho trout stream, tho or chaul whero the Northern Spies and Pound Sweetfj grow, tho woods road lined with mountain laurel, the picnic gTounds and the pine groves; visit the llttlo achoolhouse and" Here she was Interrupted by her fa ther. "Child, child." ho said nervous ly; "aro you crazed?" "Does this look llko it?" she answer ed as sho placed tho wonderful talis man In his trembling hands. When ho tried to thauk his daughter she puzzled him by remarking that ho must not thank her, nut himself, Motb-t ors' Day and Harrison's old whitn horse. And so father had his brief day oC pleasuro and tho memories that wera to sweeten all the possible bitterness of future lite and strife; and whether Almira, hor aunt, Harrison's horso or his 'own unselfishness brought It makes small difference HATE men!" de clared the girl In brown, with vehem ence "Goodness!" cried the girl's best friend. "Don't you know that "hate' Is a fee ble word' What's the matter?" "Oh. I don't want to talk about men at all' I'd rather discuss the old ladles' home or the poorhouse or wherever It Is that I'll decide to go when I grow old! One thing I know my old age won't be passed with Bob!" Her friend turned sympathetic and interested eyes toward her "Just tell me whit happened aud cut out the verbal frills," she said soothingly. "Well, I don't believe In letting a man think that he's the only pocslble man In the world, do you? So when Bob and I became engaged and I bad been giving him my whole heart and coul tor about three months, and ho began to show signs of thinking that I couldn't possibly care for any one but him, I began to do some thinking myself "I can't imagine anything worse A Few Things you're absolutely crazy about him and who hasn't a ghost of a fear you wonf koep on loving blm all his life, no mat ter what he does. When they're so sure they're likely to lose interest in you and to cease trying to please you "So, when Bob got to throwing him self down on the lounge and expect ing me to read to him all evening, I decided that the time for actlou had come "Last Saturday night Bob pulled out a book, handed it to me, and, without even a 'please," said. 'Read that ' "I took the book and it was an es say! Now. If it had been any earthly thing but an essay I might havo obey ed him for it's awfully cozy to sit and read aloud to Bob but principle came first with me when I saw what the book was "I put the book down oa the table and excused myself Then I ran into my room and got my hat and coat on. I fixed up just as nicely as possible, so Bob would see that I looked attractive, and then I went back to him "I handed bis book to blm and told him that he'd have to read It himself that evening He was welcome to lie there in front of the grate and read as long as he wished, I said, but Fred and try his new motor car and I'd promised to take a ride of an hour or two. I told Bob that I was Just dying for a good ride It had been so long since I'd had one! You see, he had been too lazy to bring his car and had just left It in the garage every tingle evening! "Bob didn't 6ay anything Just nod ded carelessly. So I left. "I had planned to run down to the drug store and telephone Fred's sister to call tor me and take me out riding for a few minutes. Then I Intended to come right back and pass the rest of the evening with Bob It would teach him a lesson, I thought, and the result would be that he'd consider my com fort thenceforth as well as bis own "It was a splendid plan, but It didn't work. The instant I left the house Bob 'phoned Fred's sister. He told her that I'd gone out for a ride and that he'd like to pass the evening with her. Of course the little snip Jumped at the chance and away he went! "When I 'phoned her a minute or two later she said very coolly that she expected a caller and wouldn't be able to come for tie and that Fred was was lonely for Bob! Finally I decided to hurry back and confess everything and have a grand reconciliation and pass a lovely evening with Bob at home Thero didn't seem any alterna tive, anyway "When I got home with all ray no ble Intentions Boh hadn't cared onough for me to wait even ten min utes. He had gone over to that girl's house. It shows how much he cares! I hate men! "He's coming tonieht But I wont make up not until l tell him a few things" Wasted Effort, Said a lady who lived out in Manltou; "1 can sing and I play the placo. too It's as easy as pie, But as hard as I try I just can't teach my young slstsr Anna to" si put of town! Changed his Mind. "Do you think the motor-car baa come to stay?" asked one man ot his neighbor "Well," replied the other, "there wan nnn out in front nt mv hmu, in. day which I thought had; but thay got VJ mmmmmtmmmmttmm ttBBMUWMMNNMMBPMM mwtrtitmiMmjmmmm UPPDWiirimnrin Sl