Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1901-12-12

which"
Mr.. Taggett got up and stood expect
anti. the sound OF wheels came nearer.
Peering into the gathering darkness
they saw a huge vehicle numbering
along towards them, drawn by three
horses; the driver tramped along be-
side the leading horse sturdily, proba-
bly, to warm himself. for the night was
chilly. Seeing the surprising form or
Anthony Taggett in the very center or
the road, standing. with arms out
stretched, as though he would have val
iantly stopped the whole ponderous
thing. [the man checked his horses, In
sheer amazement. The vehicle was a
huge pantechnicon, evidently fully
loaded.
Mr.. Taggett saw his advantage. and
embraced it; advancing quickly, he
drorped a hand upon the shoulder of
the driver and shook him to and fro,
heartily, in that fashion so much ia
ycred Of malodramatic actors when
they greet a friend Unexpectedly; in
fact, Mr.. Taggett carried the thing out
so well, that he even held the man
away at arms length and smiled upon
him; and then drew him nearer to
whisper in his ear
MY friend-we have tarried long for
thee. Properly, it should have been
WAGNER, with loaded vain, who would
have halted his smoking team before
us; but this will serve. In these mod
ern days a man should not be TOO par
ticular about his choice Of vehicle"
Then, dropping his t1amboyant speech,
hurriedly, he whispered, in a more nat
ural tone: my good man, you see be-
fore you an unfortunate creature. down
on his luck. Moreover, there are two
ladies here who are utterly Worn out.
If you could, by any chance. manage to
give us lift"
"Why didn't yer say so afore?"
asked the good-natured fellow. "You
goes ON a-talkin' all sorts Of stuff
don't unnerstan'-leavin' me to guess
'arf of it. II you don't mind sittin' up
on the tail-board behind. you're well
come enough to that" He indicated,
as he spoke, broad shelf which stood
out behind the closed doris Of the van,
and which were within couple of feet
of the ground. More than that, he as
sisted the two women to climb up to it,
disposirg some sacks for their greater
comfort; and, having seen Mr.. Taggett
team again.
considerably as the vehicle logged
steadily on towards London. Mrs.
Taggett. too. had regained something
of her usual cheerfulness; only The
strange woman sat quite still, with her
elbows on her knees and her chin
propped up. in her hands. Perhaps An
thony Taggett, after time, imagined
her to be asleep; perhaps he felt that
any subject he might chance to discuss
with his wife could have no possible in
terest for stranger. At all events, he
began, in his usual rather loud tones.
to talk about the place to which they
were journeying and the man they
hoped to see. ..,
my DEAR" he said, grandiloquently
IT already foresee the day when shall
tell this in a capital joke, while the
ruby wine goes round; shall enlarge
upon it,
II wouldn't enlarge upon it any more
than you can nelp, just now, Anthony"
broke in Mrs. Taggett, shivering. sit
amt subject anyone can quite see the
humor of, at the moment
"My dear, can see not only the hu-
NOR of it; I can see great situation,
in that drama which is already formed
in my mind. I shall cut out the lift
accident (you will recollect, my love,
that the hero comes down from the
flies, in lift, and confronts the villain
in the nick of time, aided by the low
com, disguised as the lift-boy)-I shall
bring MIN on in a paAtechnicon, with
real horses. Yes, my love-this is,
most decidedly, a situation we can
USE"
IT suppose you didn't ask the man
what part of London he was going to,
did you?" asked Mrs. Taggett, after a
pause. cit might be awkward to find
st. Johns Wood at thfs time of night"
mo, my dear; I did NOT ask the man.
You see it is quite impossible for us to
reimburse the man in any way for his
trouble, save with thanks. 1 was 10th
to suggest that he should actually
drive up to the. door of Rickerbys Fol-
ly and ring the bell"
Don't be sarcastic, Anthony; it don't
become you," retorted Mrs. Taggett.
''All I wanted to say was"
Did I hear you say you were going
toto Rickerby's Folly?" 1t was the
strange woman who had spoken; and
Mr.. Taggett, turning quickly, found
that he was looking straight into her
eager eyes, which were bent fiercely up
on him.
"I-I-certainly did mention, in con-
versation with this lady-that ] was
going to a house of that name," began
Anthony Taggett, hesitatingly.
do you know man called Gilbert
Rhkerby?' She asked. She seemed to
breathe more freely as she spoke.
The guileless Mr.. Taggett threw back
his lead, spread out his hands, and ap-
pealed, with smile, to his wife. my
DEAR this lady actually asks me If
know Gilbert Rickerby? My dear ma
dam," he turned to the stranger, IT
may say that you might as well ask me
if I know Mrs. Taggett. Gilbert Rick
erby had the good fortune to come I'M
der my training some years ago; what
ever distinction he may achieve in the
world hereafter. he will always be able
to lay his hand upon his heart and say:
You observe that walk better than
my fellows; that I talk in a manner
not commonly heard among men; If
you would know the reason why, turn
to Anthony Taggett.' Know him, in
decd. know that hripht Youth whom