Liberty Express, Volume 13, Number 34, Liberty, Union County, 24 March 1916 — Page 3

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own thoughtlessness. "I'll take It looae." And he slipped the stone In hi waistcoat pocket.

"You're not really," protested Fern. "I am really," retorted Molly, her eyes flashing a trifle more than a mere Jest would seem to warrant. "I must. Fern. I plunged both father and Bert Into this trouble, and Bert seems to think It's up to yours truly Molly to fool Sledge along until they have time to get out of it Besides that, it's a

Iiis way lay directly past the Grand Opera House, and he stopped at the ticket window. "Give me a box for tonight." be prunted. "Thanks f grunted Sledge and stuffed the tickets in his pocket. "Don't mention it." returned the treasurer as nonchalantly and walked

sort of a game between Sledge and my- I n-k to the manager of the company, self, and I'm not going to have that big j "What kind of a show is this?" asked duffer win it." ' Sledge. "This is too delightful for anything." j "Kotten!" the ticket man informed applauded Fern. 'Tm perfectly mad him. "It's highbrow stuff, 'Hamlet " about it, Molly. I hope Sledge is in." "lluub!" grunted Sledge. "Any muSledge was in. He was closeted with ; sic?" Senator Allerton and Governor Waver j "Orchestra. Ophelia sings, but you'd on a most important conference, one think she was having her teeth fixed." involvfng the welfare and prosperity of j "Hunh!" observed Sledge again, and half the voters in the state; bot, nev- j walked out ertheless. he promptly stifled his con- Two blocks up the street, on his way science and allowed the interests of the to the Occident, he stopped at an auto-

sovereign people to suffer when Davis whispered in his ear that Molly Marley wanted to see him. "Bring her right in," said Sledge. "Men. you'll have to go. It's a lady." and he opened the rear door for them. "Just one moment" parleyed Governor Waver, his hand on the doorknob. "I'm returning to the capital this afternoon, and" "I'll see you up there," interrupted Sledge, pushing the door and the governor with It "By the way, my coat" called the senator from the rear corridor. The knob of the other door rattled. "All right" grunted Sledge, closing them out in the draft Just as Molly and Fern came in. "Hello, girls!" said Sledge. "Sit down. Excuse me a minute till I poke a guy's Benny out to him." Sledge walked into Marley's office

with his parlor smile, the recently out- ( lived one which belonged of right to the red rose he wore, and he sat down !

mobile salesroom. "This working?" he inquired, pointing to the shining big limousine which occupied the center of the floor. "AH it needs is gasoline," replied the salesman. 'Tut some red roses In that flower thing, and send It up," Sledge directed. "About dinner time?" surmised the salesman. "Possibly I'd better send it up before, Mr. Sledge. It has some improvements your man might want to look into." "I'll send Billy down," decided Sledge. He turned to go when, in the adjoining window, be caught sight of a little, low, colonial coupe, with seating capacity for three. It was of an exquisitely beautiful shape, with small, latticed window panes and dainty lace curtains. He walked slowly toward it, his habitually cold gray eyes brightening, and as he stood before it he thrust his hands deep in his pockets and positively laughed aloud. "That's our newest ladles' car," ex-

CHAPTER XIV.

Molly Insists on Protecting Bert.

VAIT GLIDER strode tbroupb

the Marley gate and trod on the Marley porch and punched thp Mnrlpv doorbell In a fine

j condition of manly Indignation, and he demanded of the emaciated butler with j the Intellectual brow that Molly Mar- ! ley be brought Into bis presence at once. He waited In the library while : the butler went upstairs with that hasty message, and it was no comfort ! to his soul whatsoever to hear the girls

devoting painstaking attention to an apparently endless Job of giggling. With scant consideration for the im porta nee of the occasion. Molly, her face flushed and her eyes glistening with moisture from her recent earnest efforts, came down when she was ready, and she was still tittering, while Fern, upstairs, could be heard In the throes of frantic laughter. "Hello, Bert." laughed Molly, holding her hand to her Jaw, and she sat down weakly. "What's the mad rush?" "What did you say to Sledge?" he

sternly demanded. Her most immediate reply to that was another half hysterical outburst "I'm not quite sure," she giggled. "Fern and I have Just been trying to recall it all, but we can only remember the funniest things." "You've made a fool of him and of

; me!" charged Bert hotly. "We don't deserve any credit for that," snickered Molly. "It's so easy." "The man has taken too much for granted." went on Bert unsoftened by all this hilarity and, indeed, made only more indignant by it "From what your father says, Sledge seems to believe that our engagement is off and that he has been practically accepted." j Molly put her hand over her mouth to suppress a shriek and, running out into the hall, called Fern. The girls met halfway up the stairway, where Molly explained the glad news, and Bert, stalking stolidly out there, found them holding to the balustrade in order that their enjoyment of Sledge's obtuse understanding might not tumble them down the steps. He strode back

before he began to speak. Iiis usual plained the salesman, following him. method wag to deliver his messages "The womea are crazy about them, standing. i Self starting electric Ilgnts " inside, "We ought to figure a consolidation," shopping flaps everywhere, adjustable

he suggested. Marley considered that statement carefully. He was beginning to learn that he really needed caution in deal lng with Sledge. "One of us might be gobbled up." he sagely concluded. "As I understand it you own 75 per cent of the new company, while I only hold a bare majority of the old one. It would scarcely be possible that In a consolidation I would still have control" "We'd have to pool our stock for either one to hold it," agreed Sledge.

satin seat coverings and all the latest boudoir Improvements." Sledge scarcely heard him. ne was still laughing. Nothing he had ever seen bad struck him so humorously as the "cuteness" of this car. "It's swell!" he chuckled. "Got a red one?" "No, they're only made In black," the salesman told him. "The color effects are obtained by the cushion coverings ond silk curtains." 'Tut red ones In this. Got another oner

'There's one Just being set up in the

Marley looked at him wondertngly.

"I don't quite understand the advan-' . t-ta1 t. nv,nraA aayMman

tage to you in this," he puzzled. "Frank- it'8'an order" ly, Mr. Sledge, I'd have to see that ad- ,M . that' blue vantage before I could consider th.j ..VXTtm this afternoon?" maiier. i , . .1 . 1. . 1.

aa&cu wie vicia, uguuug iuui 11 vtus

"There ain't any Sledge confessed. "I want to protect you if everything's all right Molly was Just over." "Yes; she said 6he was going to see you," replied Marley. clutching eagerly at the straw. "I thought she'd get enough," stated Sledge, and be chuckled. "She's a smart glrL" "Yes; she la." assented Marley, wondering Just how much Bhe had said to make such a remarkable change in Sledge. "A consolidation would proba-

worth while to put off the other customer. "Surer said Sledge. "Right away." "I'll get busy immediately," promised the salesman, delirious with happiness. "Where do they go?" "Molly Marley gets the red one. The blue one's for ber friend Fern. Nix on who sent 'em.H "They'll want to know," the salesman Insisted. "Aw, tell 'em Frank Marley."

Just across the street was the largest

bly be a very sensible thing. It would Jewelry shop In town, and the display

enable us to plan extensions, lines and in its windows gav him an Idea. He loops which would Increase our reve- strode in, asked for the proprietor and nues tremendously, with no possibility KOt him. of dividing the patronage. Moreover. i want a rock that weighs about a a mere announcement of such a move pound," he stated.

would add Immediately to the market I "A diamond? Yea, Mr. Sledge. Some-

1 1 j m .1 I ' . a ir 1

ami tlno other had blue with Its fluffy white.. Both the cars were empty, except for the hard featured men who were driving them, looking as much out of place as a coal heaver in a llngerie bonnet "The blue one's mine!" exclaimed Fern, dancing up and down in a delirium" of Joy as Molly Joined her at the door, through the hangings of which the girls now peered out In frantic impatience. "I wonder what brings them here?" speculated Molly, dreading the worst. "I don't care!" returned Fern. "That blue car's mine, and I know it. Molly, do you really suppose It could be a present?" "Certainly not" decided Molly promptly. "Oh. but aren't tbev exquisite?" "Exquisite? They're the dearest, sweetest, darllngest little things I ever 811 w!" cried Fern. "The only thing that's missing is that there should be a baud leading them. Say. Molly." and here she sank her voice to a giggling whisper. "I'll bet you that Sledge" "Certainly not!" Interrupted Molly, almost fiercely, and then she. too. gig pled, and the two girls scattered away -1 from 'the door as the chauffeur of the red car who was the gentlemanly salesman In disguise, dismounted and came slowly up to the door. They waited in the library with the frowning and bewildered Bert while the thin butler with the tall brow answered the bell,' and they distinctly heard the chauffeur ask for Miss Marley and Miss Burbank. They waited in half frightened decorum while the thin butler solemnly brought that message, and then, with no more trace of excitement than if they had been dragged awuy from a tiresome French lesson, they walked sedately into the hall. "Miss Marley?" observed that person, nodding to the right girl. "I have the pleasure of bringing out a very beautiful little gift to yourself and Miss Burbank." and here he nodded to the other young lady, who was holding her toes to the floor by gripping them. "The red lined one Is for Miss Marley and the Hue one for Miss Burbank." "I said the blue one was mine!" half shrieked Fern, unable to contain herself any longer. "I want to ride In it now!" Mojly looked longingly past the person's shoulder out at the red curtained car, and she felt that sick, sick sensu tin of self abnegation clamoring within. "Who sent them?" she asked faintly. "Your father." replied the conscience

less salesman, looking her more clearly jcelvlng presents from him. and either in the eye than any honest man could ' ti,u thine? mnst b stnnni nr Hum win

Bert." hailed Molly, so full of delight J

that she had absolutely forgotten her quarrel with him, which was a blow Indeed. "You can't drive, though." Fern had emerged from tier car. "I'm going to have my dinner here," she laughingly announced. "I think I shall go to the theater tonight in mine. Jump in Molly's car, Bert, and try It It rides like a rocking chair." "No, thank youl" returned Bert coldly. "Those cars are going back to the salesroom. I felt sure that your father had not given them to you. after our business arrangement of this morning. They are a present from Sledge." "Oh, please, no!" pleaded Molly, with a heartsick glance at her red curtained car.- She had loved it at sight, but now, since she had learned to know it, she adored it "now do you know that they are from Sledge?" "I suspected it from the beginning," he sternly Informed her. "So I called up your father. "I said they were from Sledge!" cried Fern. "Molly, It was awfully crude of him. but I love him for It don't you?" "What did father say?" demanded Molly. "He Is investigating." Molly marched straight to the tele

phone and called up her father. He talked to her kindly, wisely and with deliberation, also like a man who had given himself plenty of time for thought Bert 6tood at her elbow, listening to one side of the conversation and piecing out the other with painfully knotted intellect. Molly turned to him with calm satisfaction. ! "Father says that I am to consider the cars as a gift from him," she pridefully announced. i Fern executed the full figures of a minuet and sang a merry tra-la-la all the way through. Molly helped her sing and dance the last figure. j "Three cheers!" she exulted. "Now we may keep our cars." i "I never intended to give mine up," Fern affirmed. j Bert walked Molly back Into ber , father's den. I "I have nothing to say about what Fern does," he firmly announced, "but I have something to say about your conduct You can't shut your eyes to the fact that Sledge has given you this car, and he has no right to do so." I "My father says that 1 am to consider the car as a gift from him." repeated Molly primly, but with a snap

In her eyes. "That is only an evasion," Bert insisted. "You have willfully misled Sledge into the belief that you Intend

to put yourself in the position of re

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value of the stock In both companies." "We consolidate after the marriage. amended Sledge. "We get all ready now." "Any time you say, readily consented Marley. 'Til meet with you and ar. range the details tonight. "Naw!" refused Sledge. "Theater tonight" "With Mollyr Inquired Marley, wanting to smile. "Molly and Fern. Fern's a nice kid." "All right; tomorrow night, then, suggested Marley. his mind firmly fixed on the commercial opportunity. "Daytime," corrected Sledge. 'Tm busy nights. Say. Marley, Is that game between Molly and Bert called clear oar il Molly say so?" evaded Marley. "No," Sledge hesitated. "Is It?" "That's entirely Molly's affair." "I believe you," coincided Sledge, and again he chuckled as he arose to go. "Is there any objection to giving out a bint of this consolidation?" asked Marley, with an instant thought that at the very least this new turn would enhance his price with the syndicate which bad proposed to buy him out. "nunh-uh!" assented Sledge. "You better see Davis about your mortgage. He won't extend, but he'll hold off." "I'll go over right away." answered Marley. anxious to take advantage of that offer also as quickly as possible.

"Wait till tomorrow," ordered Sledge

thing for an emblem?" "Naw I Lady's ring solitaire." "We have some beauties," bragged the jeweler, immediately aglow with enthusiasm. "Here is a nice little three carat stone which is flawless and perfectly cut." "Is this the best you got?" inquired Sledge, looking into the case. "We have some larger ones unset, but they are not usually mounted In ladies' rings," responded the Jeweler, struggling between his artistic conscience and his commercialism. "Let's see 'em." Reverently the Jeweler produced from his safe a covered and locked tray, in which on white velvet reposed dozen sparkling white stones. Sledge poked a stuffy forefinger at the largest one. "Is this one rlghtr he wanted to know. "It's a very good stone," the Jeweler told him. "The next one to it, however, though a trifle smaller, is of much finer quality. In fact we have not one in the shop of any size which I consider so perfect as this one. It's worth $000 more than the large one." "That'll do," Sledge decided. 'Tut it In a ring." "Very well," agreed the Jeweler, trying to be nonchalant as be consulted a

slip of paper In the edge of the tray, j "This one weighs six and three-eighths a - l i . . t. I r i ,1 '

carats, pius a unit-emu, mr. Rieugr-

and stalked out, having but very little . Hare you the size of the ring?" pTV "Nawl" he returned la disgust at his

"I forbid it," hs commanded. Into the library and barked his shin on a rocker. Molly returned to him presently for more. "I've bven missing my red roses," she confessed. "Now I suppose I'll get some more.. What else does be think?" "Heaven knows," snapped Bert, "lie

says he's golug to the theater with you tonight Is that correct?" Molly gleefully nodded her bead.

"Did you forget that you were going to the club dance with me?" be Indignantly went on, feeling like shaking her. This time Molly shook her head, her eyes gleaming with devilment and from Fern, still on the stairway, there arose a wild peal. Bert closed the library doors. "I forbid it," he commanded. The change in Molly was so abrupt that it startled him into barking his other shin. First of all Bhe threw open the library doors, knowing, however, that Fern by this time was back In the boudoir. "You may do your forbidding to Mr. Sledge." she told him. with blazing eyes. "You were thoughtful enough to consider seriously sending me to him, and now whatever follows is up to me. I am going to the theater tonight with Mr. Sledge." "Molly. Molly, Molly!" shrieked Fern. half running and half bumping down the stairs. "Ilun to the window, quick, and see the parade! O-o-o-oh ! It's coining here!" Molly laid aside her Just indignation for a moment, feeling intuitively that a Sledge miracle was some place In the neighborhood, and glanced out of the window, as Fern, gurgling Incoherently, flashed by on her way to the door. Up the winding driveway, one following the other, were two of the most beautiful little colonial coupes in the world, such cars as would make any girl go stark howling mad with ecstasy. Thev were exactlv alike, ex-

I cept that the one in front was bung with lace and filmy red silk curtains,

have done. "If you have the time we

shall be pleased to give you a lesson In running them." Fern was halfway upstairs. "Do you want your gray coat or your

Hy?" she called as she went

tf. . Ushi," . replied Molly,

excited, running out to Inspect

the car with the gentlemanly salesman risht at her elbow aud highly pleased with his Job. The chauffeur in the blue car waited with bright eyes. Fern, followed by Mlna and another maid, both of them too slow to be of any service, came clattering on the porch with two afternoon coats and two bonnets selected with less discrimination than she had ever used and tossed any of them to Molly. "I'll let It was Sledge," she whispered as she ran and popped Into the blue car. Her coupe was the first to whirl down the driveway, but the red one followed In close order. Dert stood on the edge of the porch, with his hands rammed in his pockets, and watched the end of the world. Being a young man of keen thought, however, after fifteen minutes of numbness he curled his mustache, took up the telephone and called Frank Marley. "Did you make a present of two automobiles to the girls?" he Inquired. "Did I what?" gasped Marley out of the midst of his plans for making the

be unpleasantness between you ami

me." "There is one way we can head that

off," Molly quietly assured him. "We can break our engagement.' "Impossible!" immediately declared Bcrj frightened. "LdIdn't JH.e:yi .anything like that Molly," and he attempted to take her hands and perform a little of the lovemaklng which he had rather neglected. "I mean it, though," she Insisted, drawing her hands away from him. "Our engagement has only brought trouble to everybody concerned and has subjected me to more than one insult which I had no right to expect If we declare It off both you and father can go right back to where you

were in a business way." "It's too late for that," he assured her, sitting down to reason it out with her on the commercial plane 6lnce she seemed to Insist upon it "I could never regain the political friendship which Is necessary to my style of business. My commercial career 1n this city is at an end, and my social standing would be also. Knowing this, I have been in correspondence with my people in Baltimore. They have a magnificent business opening there for me. but it takes $100,000 to obtain control of It I laid the matter before

your ratner. ana ue mvesiigaiea it.

Dr. G. E. Stevenson DENTIST

Td. 86 C.

Rts. TcL 86 A

Ounce Phone 3G9. Residence Phone S39 Successor to Dr. Clayton T. P. DONAHUE

Dentist

Office hours: 8 to 12 A. M- 1 to 5 P. M.

OFFICE OPPOSITE

proposed street car consolidation wf.rth , Qur conclusion la this if we can close

twenty points advance on his stock t

the up state syndicate. "I thought not," returned Bert wit'j a very near approach to profanity. "I didn't think you'd weaken our capital by a $5,000 extravagance of that sort" "I don't understand you." puzzled Marley. "Two small inclosed cars came out here about fifteen minutes ago, and tutv man in charge of them Bald that you sent them. Personally I think Sledge has been getting fresh." "It's barely possible," agreed Marley. feeling a dangerous Indignation rising within him. "Ieave that to me, Bert As Molly's father it Is my affair. I'll Investigate It at once." Palpitating with all a righteous father's Jealous care, Frank Marley kept the telephone busy until ie located Sledge. "I say, Sledge," he blurted. "Did you send out a couple of automobiles to my house?" "Naw, Marley," chuckled Sledge. "They're toys. You sent 'eoi. Do they like "em r "I haven't Inquired," returned Marley. still standing by his father's dignity. "Really, Mr. Sledge, you know I can't allow my daughter to receive extravagant presents of that sort from any one other than myself." "Aw, cut it," advised Sledge. "I get you. If they don't like 'em, I'm the goat If they do, close your trap. You sent 'em." "Well, but" "I say you sent 'em," Insisted Sledge, with a gruff loss of his cordiality, which had been apparent in his former tones, and Marley heard the click of disconnection. Nearly an hour later two shining little colonial coupes, the red curtained one in front, drove up. to the Martoy porch, where Bert Glider gloomed lu the doorway. They were driven by a happy girl each and had no other occupants. "Come and take a ride with

up our business satisfactorily here and he can sell this place we shall have In the neighborhood of $150,000 clear be

tween us. You and I are to marry, go

to Maryland with your father, enter

Into business and take up the social position to which we are .entitled When I take you there as tuy bride. Molly, everybody's going to be very

proud of you. and I am quite sure that you will like the social atmosphere there much tetter than here. I've dwelt on this so often to you that it must seem like an old story, and yet this is the first time that it has seemed

very near to us."

Molly felt herself wondering why this glittering promise failed to thrill

her as it hud used to do. 'Til be the proudest Glider that was

ever in the family when I can take you home as my wife." he went on. "It's all cut and dried, Molly, and we expect to have everything closed up

fore our wedding day if we can hold Sledge off that long."

"And yet you scold me for helping you hold Sledge off when you couldn't

do it yourselves." she retorted. "Why. you actually suggested to me that 1 should see what I could do with him."

"I don't like the way you're going

about it," he confessed. "You should be proud of me," she re proved him. "I think that Fern and I

have done a beautiful Job of it," and

6he began laughing. "We're going to

put on our very best frocks tonight and

be a credit to you. You re ungrateful." and she began to look indignant again "Let's forget it," offered Bert laugh

lng. and took her in his arms. "You're

the girl for me, Molly, and there won't be any more envied couple in Maryland than we." , , t , - (To be continued.) 8rlous Responsibility. Th typlt patiently ha taught Herself ths keys to hammer. Tou merely toss hr out a thought And shs outs In ths grammar.

Chloajo H

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