The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1895-07-18
''oh, bat If allow you to spend any.

loan. No, please don't interrupt-that
must be distinctly understood. My
brother must, and will, be only too
happy to settle with you. Besides"
the girl continued, with a smile,
whatever would he say to me if al
lowed a perfect stranger to spend
money upon me?"
He'd say it served me right for my
carelessness. But you will allow me,
then, to see you made comfortable
somewhere while try to repair dam
ages?"
Really, don't see what else 1 can
do, under the circumstances" was the
answer, with little sigh, as of regret.
Then, with a light laugh and in a
mock-menacing tone, she added: "0h,
but won't make it warm for Brother
Dick when we meet! A deal he cares
about me. You see, he hasn't even
troubled to run back to find out
whether I've broken my neck or not
and, between you and me, he hates the
idea of lost ground. But let us be
moving Mr.-Mr.-"
A little hesitation, some apparent
embarrassment, one half-shy glance at
me, and my heart was no longer my
own. l knew l was, even already,
madly in love with pretty Miss
Gwynne.
Fred Brandon-quite at your
service"
well, Mr.. Brandon, there's a turn
ing half mile down the road which
will take us to just the place we want.
Then you will be able to run on to ST.
Adams, to get what you need for my
machine. There's no place nearer, and
I'm afraid you will be very glad when
you have done with such q very
troublesome companion as am prov
ing"
"On the contrary, quite a pleasant
interruption to my journey" gallant
ly ventured, and really thought that
Miss Gwynne was the most charming
and unconventional girl 1 had ever met.
In fact, we presently reached the inn
she had spoken of all too soon to suit
my newly awakened emotions.
l found, on inquiry, that could
reach st. Adams quicker by taking
some short cuts across the fields than
by riding round the road, and SO 1 de-
termined to leave my machine at the
inn. AS for poor Harry, l was by this
time utterly oblivious of his existence.
Looking in upon Miss Gwynne be-
fore leaving the house, / found her al
ready enjoying an appetizing repast-
sight which momentarily gave me
some qualms of conscience concerning
the dinner l had promised my chum
should be ready for him by the time he
reached the George.
Pardon me, Miss Gwynne," said 1,
81 haven't had chance to settle with
the landlord yet, and he may look for
payment before can return. Except
for few coppers, this note, as it hap
pens, is the smallest amount have
about me; SO pray accept it as the loan
which you say you will insist upon
your brother, Maj. Gwynne, return
ing"
l delicately placed five-pound
note upon the table, and then,
blushing furiously at the rather Curl
Gus look accorded me-which | recalled
soon afterward-I fastened from the
room.
Having procured what l wanted in
st. Adams, was back we'll under the
two hours, OF Miss Gwynne, howe yer,
Icould see no trace.
sob, the lady went soon after you
left, sir" said the landlord, in answer
to my interrogations. "She said you'd
know which way she'd gone, and she
would take her brothers bicycle, as
you'd arranged to come back for hers
and to settle up with me-"
What" 1 fairly gasped, gone off
on my machine-said was her brotherP
And left me to settle up? Why, what
on earth are you raving about, MANI"
"Ain't raving at ALL" snapped the
landlord, eying me suspiciously.
"But-but-I hope it's all right. She
Hope it's all right" 1 interrupted,
furiously. Its all wrong. If she
said was her brother-and gone off
with my almost new twenty guinea
mount, and my fve-pound note, too!
Oh, yes, it is all right for her, no doubt,
and very clever swindler that girl
must be. That machine she's left be-
hind isn't worth the price of old iron.
And you let her slip away under your
very nose!"
could hardly repress a groan as 1
saw how neatly l had been deceived,
for felt very hard hit both in pocket
and vanity-especially the latter. My
modification, moreover, was no doubt
commensurate with the knowledge of
what thorough fool l should appear
to everybody.
well, it's your own fault, SIR" the
landlord retorted, grutfiy. 'If you let
the girl soft-soap you down, like she
seems to have done, you've got no one
but yourself to blame. And it's nv
belief that she amt no girl at all, but
chap dressed up as such, so as to
swindle gents easier. l had my doubts
when she left, but now I'm sure.
"Ten to one you've been done by a
young fellow called Dan Ford, clever
bicycle thief, much wanted by the po-
lice in these parts. He's better known
as Dolly Ford, because he makes such
a good-looking girl when he dresses
up. You amt the first gent as he's
Swindled in lust this same yyav Idara