The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1903-06-04
HER CANINE ;
CHAUFFEUR :
By Bennett Musson
Copyright, 1sOs, by T. C. Mcclure
BY Bennett Musson
Copyright, 1919, by 7. C. Mcclure
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES.


whose bull batting ancestors had be-
queathed him love of adventure, sat
on the veranda Of the villa and
yawned.
A green automobile rolled along the
driveway of the house. When it stop
ped at the veranda, a pretty, brown
haired girl of twenty laughingly greet
ed her enthusiastic friend, who leaped
upon her, regardless of the damage
which dirty paws inflicted on white
serge dress.
zone would think had been away a
year instead of a week." the girl said
gayly.
.'Is it only a week since 1 first met
you?" replied her companion. Il seem
to have known you always"
Florence Hastings face became ser-
Gus as she patted the wriggling pufs.
II am afraid your imagination is over
powerful, Mr.. Oakley" she said. ANY
wa, you've saved NE a dismal rail
way journey from the Newtons'. l was
glad to let my trunks take it alone. 50.
whatever your condition of mind, you
rlust come in and meet papa"
us he at home?
"He comes OH the 5 o'clock relief
express That's what he calls any
train which takes him away from Wall
street"
"TIe leaves his Office at AZ"
eyes. Do you hesitate at the ordeal
of passing the interval with me?' Flor
ence was smiling again.
Porter Oakley laughed protestingly.
| 81 was hesitating because of an lmpor-
tant business affair."" he said finally
| us there a telegraph Office in the vii
lager
'"There is, and 1 will send a groom
with your message"
| Oakley looked at his watch. Quar-
ter of g." he murmured. will you
pardon me if l go to the office in the
automobile?" he asked. 1T will save
| fifteen valuable minutes"
AS the machine puffed along the
driveway Florence watched it musing-
" and inwardly resented her feeling
of relief - it seemed like weakness.
When she first met Oakley at the New
tons country house. she vaguely dis
liked him. AS she watched the auto
mobile speeding toward the village
she thought of Trilby and smiled.
Then she grew serious and felt sorry
| nat she h;t,, =. "I!n!ty 70 stay, but
she knew that ii The little scene near
the veranda were to be reacted she
would ask him again. -
do you believe in hypnotic infu-
ence, Puffs?" she said softly. putting
an arm around the bulldogs muscular
neck.
pufTs did not. Every line in his
sturdy figure expressed disbelief. Then
he conveyed sympathy and encourage
ment by extending few inches or
damp pink tongue toward his mistress
cheek.
That evening Florence sat oil the
veranda with Porter Oakley. Her IA
ther did not arrive OH the ''relief eX-
PRESS nor had word come from him.
Oakley had waited for the older man,
had accepted an invitation to dine, and
now he sat With Florence and watched
the moon creep toward the Orange
mountains.
'There is still an hour or so of moon
light, and 1 shall have a bright road
to New York." he said.
Il thought father would surely be
here on the'S o'clock train" said Flor
enca.
Oakley held the face Of his watch to
his cigar tip. "Half pas 8 now" he
answered. when does the next train
aTrive?"
cat o."
"Your father may be on that. Why
don't you run down to the station with
me and meet himY Oakley said.
.. Florence looked up at him quickly
"Why, I-I'- she began, but Oakley
was leaning toward her. the moonlight
shining on his face and lighting his
gray eyes, which were fixed on hers.
Five minutes later the automobile
was running along the country road
containing one uneasy and one tri
umphant person and followed by 6
white, four legged creature whose un
der jaw protruded at the angle of de
| uAo N11O H1S1SAIAS OiihSA ~
, away the dust aroused by the flying
) monster in front.
The hands of the little red facet
clock in the tower of the station point
} ed to a quarter of the hour. and the!
passed on. Oakley saying that the!
would have five minutes Of speeding
before returning to wait for the train.
J The lights of the village disappeared
: and the moon was hidden by the over
: hanging trees of the road along which
. they flew. Puffs stretched his leg
l and galloped his hardest. The machin
= drew rapidly away from him, but b
E followed, with the perseverance of hi
Il kind.
1--WE had better turn back" said Flor
ence as they reached an open stretc
, of road.
r Oakley consulted his watch. "Afte
!, g." he said, in apparent surprise. "W
: can't meet your father now. Shan
, we keep on?"
II prefer to 60 home" Florence re
!. piled coldly.
! Oakley leaned over the steering leve
n as the machine sped on its way. The
? he turned and his eyes met Florence