The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-05-21
REVENGE
reaties. Jack utterly refused t,


tomorrow morning, and we will go and see
old jennings he said.
Il tell you what you can give me, though,
guardian" he added, with a twinkle in his
eye but with some slight hesitation, as he
drew little nearer to Mary.
oh, what is it," eagerly replied the girl.
Jack ostentatipuSy drew her letter from
the pocket beneath the glittering breastplate
in which Mary could see her own face re-
fected as in a glass.
You say in this that you will do anything
you can to please me- he said, unfolding the
document
Yes, I know I did, replied Mary.
Very well; then give me a kiss for being
a good boy and making you happy"
Mary's pretty fair cheeks became crimson,
and she hastily drew back.
oh, that is not part of a guardians duty,
I'm sure!' she exclaimed, with nervous
little laugh which rather too much resembled
a giggle for a lady in her responsible po-
sition.
All, but you promised and I don't like
people to break their promises! 1t sets me a
bad example, solemnly replied Jack as he
drew little closer again.
"Oh, but I couldn't think of doing such
thing!'
Just you see then, what nice sort Of in
FAINT you will have to look after! l will go
and PAINT the town red, right away, as the
Yahks say, and you will have to come and
pay my fines for me in the police court to-
morrow morning"
Mary, her brown eyes widely open in aston
isEment ... ...s.-s
Yes, and I'll make hay generally all
round. Come be a nice little GUARDIAN
whispered Jack, insinuatingly, as his arm
gently enclrcled her slender waist; "be nice
little guardian and promise to be good
little boy, and not give you any trouble at
ALL
Mary sighed gently.
Perhaps she found her duties becoming
rather too onerous, or possibly she thought
her charges steel breastplate rather hard
but, bushing furiously, she tinidly raised
two very tempting lips.
Jack bent his lofty head to meet them: a
moments bliss of only too brief duration,
and then, with little exclamation of dis
may, Mary ran out of the room, and her IN
ruly charge found himself alone.
CHAPTER Nv.
Leave of absence again, Forester! Oh,
GENE, this is rather too much of good
thing. You had leave only last week, though
that, of course, was excusable.',
Yes, colonel; but so is this, really My
venerable guardian has only just come over
from the Cape, and I can't get any money
without a few days in town to settle. my
aftalrs. Can't get along without the root Of
all evil, you know SIR 5f-4'tF..a ~ta 8
mo, unfortunately we can't" replied the
colonel, with sigh-he was a married man,
with a large family. well, I will give you
three days, but you must be back promptly
mind.'
jacks chief was possessed of important
information of which as yet his subalterns
knew nothing, and the leave of absence just
granted was in reality more of a favor than
Jack had any idea of.
Had he not been a favorite with the col
onel, as with everyone else he would not
have got it.
THANK you, sir; much obliged" replied
the lieutenant, and few minutes later he
was hurrying away from barracks in the di-
rection of the Metropole, and in a state of
sach joyous citation as light-hearted as was
his normal condition, he never remembered
to have experienced before.
Strange to say, Master Jack had not chosen
to confide any particulars respecting his new
guardian to his brother officers; not even to
his own particular chum Jimmy Manners
Certainly he had not yet had very much
opportunity, for his early breakfast was only
just partaken of.
BEG your pardon, SIR" said his batman. as
JacF stepped into a cab at the barrack gate:
beg your pardon, sir, but a porter from the
Front brought your charger back yesterday
evening. and gave him half a crown; sup
pose was right sir? He said he waited two
hours for you"
"Phewi" whistled Jack under his breath
Il forgot all about the old horse; wonder
what the deuce made me do it, Yes it was
all. right, Jones'
And joyously contemplating day spent in
guardian, he drove to that demure little
widows hotel.
On his arrival. however, the elation of his
spirits met with decided check
Mrs Joyce has gone to town, sir" the
hall porter informed him.
Gone to town. Are you sure?" replied
Jack, staring at the man in astonished dis
may.
Quite sure, sir. She went up by the last
train. put the lady into cab myself for
the station"
Must be some. mistake! Perhaps she
thought we were to meet at Jennings"