Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1901-02-22

fore that day. John left them at the
house, knowing they would want to be !
alone and talk over old times.
That evening Bob came up and found
John Perkins sitting in his arm chair
on the porch, smoking mis- cigar.
Jack, old boy, ! have been thinking.
Thinking Of the time when you and l
We're youngsters. Ev n on this very
porch we have spent many a happy
hour. and a look at the old barn there
recalls incidents too numerous to men
, ton l have also been thinking of a
little curly headed girl who used to try
her best to come between us, and we
could never tell which one of us she
liked the best. And now, on my re-
turn to our old playground l find the
same old friend, my first and truest
, friend in the world, the friend who
used to protect me against all fellows
bigger than I was. And I also find
the same little curly headed girl. A
little older and taller, but nevertheless
the same girl. And so. as I used to do.
Jack, I come to. you to settle the mat
ter. She is going to step between us.
one way or the other unless something
is done. Not Intentionally, Of course,
but you know a Woman's a woman
Bob he replied. never moving,
lets not talk of that now
NO: | must get it off my mind. 1t
worries me and l must have your 'opin
ion before you go back tomorrow
Then. leave it to me, and before l
go back you will have my opinion and
now that you have my promise, lets
talk of other things" answered Per-
kins, and leaning back in his chair
,puffed silently at his cigar.
evening, but the subject of Margaret
never came up. and it was late when
Maxfield left, and still later when Per-
kins left his chair and retired for the
night. He was up early. however, and
after eating hearty breakfast. sent
| the following telegram to his assistant:
IF. P. Palmer, A. G. p. A., Chicago
Will not be back until tomorrow. Send
| private car on No. 5 today.
| JOHN PERKINS,
| This done. he turned to the agent and
| instructed him to have his car switched
| to sidetrack. ready to be hitched to
| No. 3. which left there that afternoon.
! He then drove back to his home and
7 rang up his friend, Rev Thomas Brear-
| ley, toewhom he unfolded his plan.
! Now Bob. l want you to take a little
run on the line With me this afternoon.
My private car will be here. You had
better take few things in your grip,
as we may be out until morning.
MaXfield was quite in favor of the
| idea, and boarded the car that after
I noon, ready to take "a little SPIN as
| John had said. Maxteld noticed his
| friend seemed to be little restless and
kept looking out the window of his car.
and then glancing at his watch. and
| tn elk
| wrong, when Perkins bounded out of
! the door. Maxtield thinking probably
| Jack had left on company business.
/ retained his seat for a moment and
| then walked slowly towards the rear
| platform, where he almost ran into Rev.
| Brearley and Margaret.
We'll, Miss Kane, I didn't know we
were to have the pleasure of Your COM
pany. too. A little surprise party of
i,John's, eh?''
Margaret looked at him rather sur
prised and Bob was cycling the minister
| suspiciously, and was about to make
| some remark when Perkins rushed up
the steps and exclaimed:
| Here, comes No. 3. Take seats there
please. Til be back in a second
What happened when John Perkins
was gone, you can probably guess.
unfolded the whole scheme to Maxfield
as he had done sometime before to
! Miss Margaret Kane. MaXfield had
hardly time to grasp the situation when
| bump, and John Perkins private car
was hitched to the fastest passenger
| train in the service, and just as the
| train started, Perkins himself appeared
| at the rear platform, and from the man.
| ner of his victims he knew that his
| scheme had been unfolded. He smiled
| good-naturedly and congratulated them
| both.
Margaret and Bob were married while
going across the country at a rate of
| sixty miles an hour, and when Mr..
! Perkins and Rev. Brearley stepped off
the train at a point further on, after
| turning his private car over to them
for IAN unlimited time
And the chief clerk in Mr.. Perkins
office often wonders now why the little
blue envelope, marked John Perkins,
Personal" never comes any more.