The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1889-02-05

help me out. | never want TO see or
speak to either OF you again"
The boys, who had heard something
of the facts through Agatha, laughed
till till the tears streamed down their
faces; laughed in fact, until Tom be-
came so enraged that they dared not
irritate him further. So they readily
promised to assist him in any way he
might desire.
Tom remained below, sullen and
reticent. until they reached Lockledge
Landing There he and his friends
left the boat, and when once on the
wharf he saw to his dismay that a
party, including the three young
ladies, had also landed, and that the
steamer was already under way. de
must keep up the farce for little
longer, at least until the next
boat back. Reaching the hotel
and there was but onc-he took the
landlord into his confidence and
evolved the following ingenious plan of
action: He was Mr. John Baird. who had
come in over the mountains 10 meet
his twin brother. Mr.. Tom Baird. who
had come up on the boat. To this
notah,c scheme his two friends heart
g - .ited; but once away from him,
Icy fairly roared when they reflected
that Agatha was in the secret. and
would probably disclose it at just the
wrong time. In pursuance of the plan.
however, Mr.. Bennett. the landlord,
begged of Kate and Milly that he
might introduce Mr.. John Baird, who
just came in from the Rockhill Valley.
When Baird was introduced, al
though he had changed his clothes
aid appearance as far as possible,
Hates stately hduteur and Mihy's
whitening glance almost frOze his
blood
81 believe We had the pleasure OF
seeing Mr.. Baird on the boat this aft
ernoon," said Kate, Jelly.
Zone Mr. Baird, I've no doubt, said
Tom, recklessly. Mr.. Tom Baird, my
T, twin brother. Poor fellow, you doubt
less noticed his infrmity, only of re-
cent date. too-very recent, IN fact;
he wouldn't come down to-night-he
avoids society, naturally; he's great
hand to rise early and be gone all day
in the mountains. and at night take
dinner in his room"
so we shall, doubtless, be denied
the pleasure of meeting him?" said
Milly, ironically, but half convinced.
Not at all" said Baird. i shall in
sist on his joining us tomorrow even
ing. 1t will never do for him to make
hermit of himself at his time OF life.
So young-that is"
Your twin brother, believe" said
Kate, with a hooking something in
her voice and manner.
Yes, oh. yes" continued Tom. eve
are quite different, though, as people
observe when we are together"
| Indeed" said Kate. with doubt
ing courtesy; and then, as Tom left
them, she added: ''Milly. what dC
you Think"
81 can't tell" replied that young
lady. "Wait until we see them to
gether."
Yes, wait until we do" said Kate,
her old doubts returning with added
force.
Agatha. however, understood the
situation. and sought TO make the most
of it by cultivating Mr.. John Baird, as
she affected to believe him. In this
she made but little Roadway. Mean
while, it became notorious through
the hotel that Mr.. Tom" Baird had
rambled away TO village down the
river, and had thence gone TO the city,
telegraphing for his valise. Some
credible people had seen the dispatch,
and it was quite as well known that q
valise had been sent to Mr.. Tom BAIRD
at his city address. These little Incl
dents. though perhaps not entirely
convincing. at least gave Kate and
Milly an excuse for treating Tom cour
teously-a liberation of which he made
the most. endeavoring by every atten
ton to reinstate himself in their gooC
graces The fact is Tom was desper
ately, hopelessly in love with Kate
and she was so far interested as to re
mark, without seeming offended, sew
eral little inconsistencies in his story
81 observe, Mr. Baird" said she
"that your friends, when speaking il
haste, are quite as apt to call you Ton
as John. Doubtless they confOund YOU
with your unfortunate brother. You
must be very like"
Thereupon Tom makes some inco
herent answer or observation in g
panied, reproachful way, and changes
the subject
At length there was a revelation
which Kate could not overlook If shs
desired to; for Agatha, jealous thai