Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1904-03-18
!, Cupid Ammo :
, Domini +:
} By RICHARD
BARKER SHELTON {
Copyright. 1905, bp T. @. Mcclure


>O>O>O>0~O>O>o>O~O<
Clifford worthington Todd was lone
some, Indeed as he sat disconsolately
on the veranda rail swinging his short
legs he could not remember a time In
the whole course of his eleven years
experience in this vale of tears when he
had been so utterly alone.
Three days before his father and
mother had started for Ohio to attend
the wedding of DIR. Todd's favorite
niece, and Clifford Worthington, given
his own choice Of accompanying them
or remaining at home with Aunt ELL
nor, had chosen the latter course.
AS general thing, to stay at home
with Aunt Elinor in charge of the
household was about as near paradise
as one could hope to get. Aunt Elinor
was young and pretty and full Of fun
and. moreover, understood you. She
wasn't forever saying, Clifford, 1t 10
time for your nap" or Clifford, what
a dirty little boyl Go and cleanse your
self at once" She would go to walk
with you In the pine woods, and she
didn't mind how many pine needles
you threw over her. She would go out
in the bay with you in the naphtha
launch, and she could run the engine
as well as Tarpey. She would read
most delightful stories to you from a
book with red and gold binding, and
she knew just when you were hungry
and struggled you plate Of tarts from
the cook. In Clifford Worthington
Todds eleven-year-old mind Aunt ELL
nor held FIRST place. yet as he sat on the
veranda rail he gave utterance to his
most lurid oath. prolonged and dole
full "Oh, geer'
Yesterday afternoon a schooner yacht
with glistenlng black hull and trim
white sails had come into the bay and
dropped anchor opposite the Todd cot
tage. A gig had put out from her, and
a tall gentleman had disembarked at
the little pier which ran out from the
Todds' back lawn. This gentleman had
seemed to know Aunt Elinor very well.
She had introduced him to Clifford
Worthington as Mr.. Caverly.
The three had sat on the veranda,
and Mr.. Caverly had taken great inter
est in Clifford Worthington's converse
ton. When Mr.. Caverly discovered
that Clifford WorthingtOn was pos
sessed Of some guinea pigs and that the
said pigs were roaming about some
where, perhaps even as far away as
the woods at the end of the road, Mr..
Caverly evinced a sudden interest in
guinea pigs. He gave him 90 cents to
catch them and bring them to the vo-
randa for inspection.
Clifford had had a wild chase after
them, but finally. after he had brought
them back, struggling and Bquealing
and himself perspiring, he had bumped
into Mr.. Caverly, who was making
across the back lawn to the pier. At
the corner of the house stood Aunt
Ellnor, her face white and what looked
like tears In her eyes.
As Clifford Worthington reached her
he heard her call: Toni oh, TomP
But Mr.. Caverly strobe straight to the
pier and was rowed to the yacht. Aunt
Elinor had gone upstairs, and Clifford
xUorthin0tou had snant N at,,Did aftar.
non ,rith enc can,norr Rvs Witch
ended In a e1ht
TbIs ,nornino had hoen M hotter
proaL,os, ,yos q sorrv arso,r Nth Amt
EI,nor s,tting onnosito cbot,no with
every mouthful OF toast and dabbling
her eyes with her handkerchief. After
breakfast she had said:
az tbInk vou,II have IN do without ma
,his mornino ola cbonD
Her tome had a forced cbeerfulnesa
about n moro dolefuI than Rroans.
s,,II dahbi,no hor ovos abo went nm.
atoIra and Cltyord heard her lock the
door NJ ber room II was all yery dis.
hoorton,no
Eor n time ba uot IN the veranda
Tbon no decided to seek Tarnev Tar.
new was nm eighteen year-old mulntto.
gardener man of ali work and engineer
NJ tbe Ionncb Cunord found him Drop.
nod nm I'm the sbade of the boat house
reading some paper covered literature.
Tarpey rose as he saw Clifford. made
aome remark about fixing the nansv
bed and strobe leisurely AWAY. leaving
tbo hook behind. Clifford picked II uD
and began 10 read. II was Allied with
the adventures of Blackboard. the nj
rate and bis trusty lieutenant Yard
arm Bill. II was bully reading. and by
lunch time Clifford had read the book
nearly through and was burning for
adventure.
Aunt EiInor came down to lunch with
very red eyes. She said they'd spend
the afternoon in the woods. but clifford
said he had rather finish something he
was doing. Aunt Ellnor looked re-
heved.
After lunch he sought out Tarpey
and divulged his scheme. Tarpey laugh
ed and secuted II. Then Clifford showed
MIN the half dollar Mr.. Caverly nad 40
mated for the chase OF the guinea pigs
and Tarpey succumbed.
At D o'clock the launch put out from
the pier and headed for the yacht. Al