Evening star., 1897-02-13

mere L am STRANDED, don you Know. with
coachman and groom, not to mention
valet, two horses, and one of the smart
est carts that ever left London That's
my turnout, there. 1 drive tandem, Of
course. it's the only Christian waXkto drive.
Not that l care about the style of it,
hope I'm above all that sort of thiHg-and
I'm rot to be blamed because SO many
other fellows do it, don't you know: l
love a tandem for itself alone. Ever drive
tanden?'
Il never did, said Marsten. looking at
Barney's handsome equipaSe. which was
being slowly driven up and down the road
by 4 man in livery. He had noticed it be-
fore. but now he gaZed at it with renewed
interest, as Barney modestly proclaimed
himself the owner.
We'll. it isn't as easy as it looks. It's
not every fool can drive a tandem, although
l am said to be one of the first tandem
drivers in London. don't you know.
don't say so, of course: but there are those
who do. and they are judges, too. But Ill
no fun driving about alone: to enjoy tan
dem driving you need to have a pretty girl
beside you ="
And are there no pretty girls in East
bourne?'
There are, my boy, and that's just what
L want to talk 70 you about. Let's sit
down here in this shelter. because / want
your whole attention. Now, l. did you q
favor one day. even though 1t was for an
other fellow. didn't II"
favors"
We'll. that's all right. I may be able to
do you third fourth-who knows?-
ana L mention it because I'm about to ask
you 10 do me great one now. That's
what made me so glad to see you, don't
you know, as well. of course, as the pleas
ure OF talking with you again in this dis
MAJ MAJ hoie; ! was just thinking about it.
and wondering whom 1 could get, when /
looked up, and there you were. Providence
always helps me when I'm in a pinch-al-
ways, don't You know. 1 never knew it to
nd vat
vout man myself. You've got nothing par
ticuiar TO Go down here, l suppose?'
Nothing but my own pleasure"
quite SO. And as there isn't any pleas
ure TO be had here. you may Just as well
turn round and help me; it will be a great
lark You see. 1 want man of intelli-
gence, and L don't suppose one is to be
Iound IN Eastbourne-for if he was inteli-
gent he wouldn't stay. Then, too, he must
be man not known in the town-you see
what L mean? Also. he must know some
thlns about the laboring classes and their
ways: SO you see, my boy. Providence has
sent me the very man 1 want, don't YOU
Know Now promise that you will helm
me-" -e
"1f l can. 7 will"
hlgnt you are. You're just the indivsd-
udi VINO can, and no one else can do it half
SO We'll Now. in the first place have Won
ever seen Sartwelrs daughter? He's only
got one 1'
Have I ever seen hery'
Yes She was at my reception the dav
you were there. 1 don't suppose you no.
tlced her among so many; but she was the
handsomest girl in the room, far and
away" "'io
Yes. 1 have seen Miss sartwell Che
used to call for her father at his Office
quite frequently"
Good again. That's a fourth qualifica-
tion needed by the person who is to beIn
me. so you see you are the man of ali mon
! Tor this JOB. Now it happens that th.s
charming girl is at school at Eastbourne
Whlch Is, In word. the reason am here.
want to get a message taken to Miss Sart-
wen at the school, and 1 want you to take
oh. I don't think I should care to 20 on
q rniss;9n OF that sort. Mr. Hope II Mr.
Sartweli were to find out that i"
sly dear fellow" INTERRUPTED Rarnev
pacing MS hand confident;aliy on Mar
stem shoulder, 'it's all right assure Won
:, = mere Is really nothing surreptitious about
u heavens and earth, Langton. you don't
tnink IN that kind of a man. 1 trust. Oh
enough" e''e
Then why don't Won 20 tn tho scho,,
see her?' 00i <''1u
because. my dear boy, the case is lust n
trme complicated. don't you know. / can
st"ays get the parental consent; that's her
noiley, n;uil. ~, you Know As general thing the
slris Ike me. and l won't say the money
mas all TO do with that; no. I fatter myself
personal attractions, a fair amount of
Drains ana certain aristocratic reputation
- s.iNiN, bul iiiOiley tells with thA
older people. Now, SartweIl and T undar
stand each other. Not to put too fine
point upon it. you know. he says, practi-
cany; Barney, you're an ass, but you're
flch' and L don't suppose you're bigger
fool than the average Young man of The
present day, so 1 give you a fair field. 90
In, my boy, and win 1 saw to SartweII. :.
you're grumpy old curmudgeon. with no
more artistic perception than the Shot Tow
er: but your daughter is an angel. and I've
got money enough for the two of us, Won
see never did care for money except to
get what want. So there we stand Sart-
well was coming down here with me. h,,t
after started. he telegraphed to INV SIN,
olo taat there was so much to do in fhe
shcp with all the men newly back. that he
would like me to postpone my visit for a
| week. Well, l had to get the horses and
| trap down here; so drove and I left
London day earlier than I expected to.
Hence the present complication called at
| the school, asked to see Miss Sartwell. saw
| ing was friend of her fathers, but the
| lady in charge looked on me with suspicion
she did. indeed. my boy, difficult to be-
| lleVe as the statement Is. The lady said
| she could not allow Miss Sartwell to see
| any person unless that person was accom-
| panied by her father. She would take no
| message to the girl-and there was I
| wrote to Miss Sartwell from my hotel here.
| but the letter was opened by the dragon,
who returned IT to me, asking me not to
attempt to communicate with any Of the
| young ladies' under her charge. So here is
| this stylish tandem. and there L. that love-
| ly girl. while l am wasting In the desert
air. longing to take her out for q drive.
n q IN e-t%4y1 I~v<s