The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-01-28
HER GU.ARDI.4N -
- FROM AL1EJVLIE n
By BENNET MUySON

Frances Hartley stood near window,
and beside her was Henry Beach. who
looked imploringly at her tear-stained
face.
II cannot bear to deceive my father,
Henry she said, as Billie guilty. secured
his place of vantage.
1T is only for once, dear" Beach re-
piled, low and earnestly. I'VE can go il,
the cab have waiting and be back here,
safely married by the time your father
returns from the club. Then there will
be scene, and the worst that can happen
will be his withholding his forgiveness for
week or two'' and so the man talked,
I as many men have talked before. ...--
Frances demurred, but in the end her
head sank to Heury's shoulder, and Billie
knew she was the woman who hesitates,
and he stole softly away.
His idea of the duties of guardian was
elemental; it was to strike straight from
the shoulder. His first thought was to
get rid Of the cab, his next to notify Mr..
Hartley. .s.-..@. .-
Seating himself at the library table he
hastily printed the following note:
KUN Home to Onse 1 have took the
heritage. -- Billie
Addressing this to Mr.. Hartley he hur-
ried to the hail. grasped his cap, and ran
to the waiting cab. '.-.-
Gent wants t. see We at de house.
I'll hold yer horses he announced to
the cabman, relapsing in his excitement
to his familiar Avenue A dialect.
Billie waited until the man had turned
the corner. Then he climbed to the driv-
er's seat of the cab grasped the reins and
started the horses. Presently the door
man of a Fifth avenue club was surprised
to see a small boy in a green uniform
1mperiously beckon to him from the seat
OF carriage. When the man wondering
ly approa ched crumpled note was thrust
into his hand, with the injunction that
it be delivered to Mr.. Hartley at once
Billie's dominant idea was to keep the
cab away from the house until all danger
of an elopement should be over. The
thought that other cabs might be obtained
cid not occur. to him. He drove slowly
until he saw Mr.. Hartley hurry from the
club. Then he turned the horses down
Fifth avenue, and reconnoitered from 4
safe distance.
On the brown stone steps of the Hart
ley house stood Frances, Henry Beach
and the cab driver, the latter evidently
describing his loss, for he was violently
gesticulating. Presently Mr.. Hartley as
cended the steps and the attitudes of two
of the group changed entirely. .
1t was now evident to Billie McAdam
that the offices Of his guardianship had
been satisfactorily attended to. He
brought the whip down with a snap on
the backs of the horses, resolved to re-
store those steeds to their master.
The animals resented this treatment to
the extent of starting forward viciously
At that moment a tally tho dashed by, its
guard merrily footing his horn, and this
distraction completed the decentralization
of the hitherto docile beasts, for when
Billie reached the Hartley house the
horses were beyond his control.
A numbering electric bus swerved to-
ward the curb that i11nct11re tba
frightened animals, trying to avoid this
threa tening monster, took to the sidewalk.
There was crash as the cab collided with
an iron railing, and Billie, pale and I'M
| conscious was thrown into an area. ..-
That night as Billie lay in his bed in
his little room in the servants quarters,
With a separate ache in each joint of his
small body, the door was opened and Mr..
Hartley, Frances and Henry Beach en-
tered.
How are you feeling now, :William?''
inquired the old gentleman.
-. Pretty WELL Sir said Billie, manfuliy
subduing the aches So: - 49,, -
There seemed to be some sort of an
understanding between the young couple
and Mr.. Hartley, for he first regarded
them with a look Of recently. acquired
complacency, then he again turned to
Billie
"William." he said, Il have learned to-
day that extreme ideas of caste are I'M
satisfactory things to hold in republic,
as they often lead to drastic measures
the part of sentimental persons. Your
own mental and physical methods I can
commend, as being violent and dangerous
but effectual. Frances. Mr.. Beach and /
are paying you this final visit before re-
firing. for the purpose of thanking YOU
Billie blinked uncomprehendingly at ths
old gentleman, but the situation, not the
words impressed itself on his under
| standing. The aches and pains and the
Avenue A dialect were again asserting
themselves. He turned YEARLY on his
pillow. ...
IF dere's t be any runaways in dis
family. I'll take care of 'em,' he said
claapily