Dodge City times., 1888-01-12

''What the (blank) are you doing
here?' he asked
dropped in 10 see CIR ace." replied
Frank. coolly.
''Well. drop out Why don't you at
tend to business!'
'.Done for to-day. Shall report to-
morrow morning at seven and a half
sharp. Always do"
And Frank deliberately removed a
hair from his coat-sleeve.
Now, that hair engendcring sus.
picions. had the effect upon Mr.. Ma
caulay of a red rag on a wild bull and
he foamed with rage.
you're a very useful man. Mr.. e.
ton. but the Blazer can do without
you Consider yourself discharged.
and keep from here"
Certainly. Mr. Macaulay. so far as
the discharge is concerned. 1t is
transfer of posts. The Growler will be
glad to get me. especially as / have
made arrangements to give full and
detailed report of the TomroddY we'd
uOOueudts
Here! S;opr' Between the GroDl-
er and Blazer there was open war.
Neither spoke of the other without
beginning-.'Our esteemed contem-
porary." but every word after that was
saturated with venom. Could it be
possible that Frank had the means of
doing as he said?
Now Frank, my boy" said the pub
Usher, in milder tone, that's all
bosh. You have no more means of
getting in TO the ceremony that l have.
l am not afraid of your giving the
Gro,Cler 4 boom with that"
Nevertheless. Mr. Macaulay, I in
tend to be present in the church and
at the breakfast. / intend to take full
notes On every body and every thing,
and by one O clock tomorrow after
noon. l shall keep compositors. some
where. pretty busy"
well. if you can do that. bring tito
us Il revoke the discharge, and I'll
add ten dollars a week to your salary"
Couldn't think of it. sir. am not
on the Blazer staff now. If l return, l
must have other inducements.
..Well?"
IF bring you full account of the
wedding in time for the edition. which
had better be kept back a little, you
will consent to my marriage with
Grace. Otherwise, will carry it to
the Growler. No wedding for Grace
and me, then no Tomnoddy wedding
for you."
Macaulay reflected a moment.
You have some of the elements of
journal in you-one, at least,
cheek. If you succeed. your future is
certain. 1 agree Here a clapping
of hands was heard. and Grace
emerged from the window-curtains-
'but on conditions. If you fail, you
are to promise to make no more pre-
tensions to this cavesdropper's hand"
Il accept" cried Frank. Don't
be alarmed. Grace; I'm sure to win,
and I'm off. I've no time to lose"
And off sped the young man to Mr..
Peter O'Rourke, florist. He knew
Peter very well. and had given him
many a puff in his society reporting,
for all of which Peter was quite CRATE
full.
What can l do for you to-day,
Nv. Elton?" he asked. Pm very
busy. but my times at your service.
with the greatest pleasure in loife-an'
the greenhouses, too"
you are furnishing the Tomnoddy
wedding tomorrow. You need more
assistance than usual. l want you
to hire me; we shan't quarrel about
wages.
Peters eyes twinkled. Il see.' said
he, Il don't want to know yer ray
sons for going into gyardening-may
be l can guess. But they may find ye
out. and then-thc hullebaloor'
"Ill take care not TO compromise
you. ORourke."
The end of it was that our hero was
hired at nothing for wages. and to find
himself. He was to come the next
morning and enter on his duties.
Now Frank was d;,shing young
fellow, ALWAYS dressed in the height of
the mode. He had striking face. at
least that part of it not hidden by a
long. full. sweeping moustache. and a
full beard. His hair, being wavy and
inclined to curl. was worn little
longer than usual. Bat when close
ly-chopped and cleanly-shaven young
man attired in a loose pepper-and-salt
suit, of II slop-shop cut, made his ap-
pearance early next day, ORourke
asked him what he wanted.
"Sure. Pm Michael Carroll. sorr,"
replied the newcomer, IAN ye hired
me Yesterday"
..Murdther"' cried O'Rourke. "It's
a bully gardeners man We are en-
toirely. Well. I'll work ye. Mr.. Elton.
enyhow. Take the wagon there. with
John. and put those two palms we've
missed in the proper places. I'll lave
that to you. Whin yer done. take the
basket of buttonholc bouquets in time
for breakfast. Airn yer pay. Oh!
but We have made holy show of yer
self"
Frank was driven to the church.
where he gave the finishing touches to
the decoration. and then subsidized In
the corner. When the wedding CUES:
and ushers arrived, he went forward
and rearranged pot or two. and hav-
ing thus impressed every one with his
official character, went back to a re-
mote pew, where he sat as a mere idle
snec, atnr But while his face BETRAYED