Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1904-04-14


am free to confess, Mr.. Grimes, that
I was never struck with their personal
charms. 1t Is a business that only
the most determined characters take
t>-women who partake more of the
man in their nature. You've seen em
often"
Mr.. Grimes Is shaking all over with
some emotion. He coughs as though
it Is a little tobacco smoke that has
gotten into his windpipe and choked
him.
"Of course. my dear fellow. But
you do wrong to condemn the whole
class. I've always found there were
exceptions to every rule"
"Come. don't think I'm throwing
out inuendoes against female travel
ers. I've met several wonderful wom-
en- who accompanied their husbands
into danger and threatening death.
I'm only stating fact that all with
| whom l am acquainted are strong
characters. with plain. resolute feat
ures. l presume the life they lead
makes them look SO mannish.'
Yet, they, too, may have been love-
| ly once" murmurs the pseudo silver
king.
1.-The name, Mr.. Grimes-the name?
Perhaps l have met the lady some
where"
"And am sure of It, 1t Is now less
than half an hour since you knocked
her dear old governor out in one
round"
Mynhecr Joe drops book and pencil
| and springs to his feet as If made the
recipient of 4 galvanic shock from
one of the electric ecls he Is SO fond
of telling about.
"Why, man. you don't mean to tell
me that it is Molly Tanner?' he bursts
out with, whereupon his companion
be!ys him to remember that others are
not far away, and one scene Of an even
ing is quite enough.
Ry this time Mynheer Joe. the erst-
while cool messenger from Khartoom.
has picked up his book and seats him.
self close beside Mr.. Grimes, upon
whose arm he fastens a clutch, while
with Il voice full of cagerness he asks:
Tell me the exact truth, my friend.
| There is no reason for concealment be-
tween us You say Molly Tanner will
come in for that million If l fail to
turn up!"
That is The whole of it, my dear
joe"
"Of course she knows the nature Of
the will|"
WORD for word"
81 am puzzled
How so?'
"Shc met me- heard my name, and
yet did not recognize me as the party
who coulu step between her and this
fortune"
bah! You forget something. You
assumed your uncle's name, which, it
seems. for reasons best known to
yourself, you have thrown off again"
True, Sir"
"The document speaks of Joseph NJ.
Carringford as the coming man. How
was she to know Mynhecr Joe as that
parry"
"Ah! You are right, Mr.. Grimes
you are right"
This young woman, as l told you,
is an enthusiast in the work of seeing
unknown countries. climbing mount
aims that have never yet been scaled,
and. in fact. accomplishing deeds that
you men love so dearly"
II remember she spoke Of being
fond of travel" he mutters thought
fully. This surprise has taken his
breath away, and for the time being
Mynheer Joe is not himself.
Just at present she has an object
In her travel beyond mere adventure
or sightseeing. She is searching for
man"
"Ah"
by name Joseph NJ Carringford."
con deck. What will she do when
she finds this same personage?"
"Endeavor to send him home to
Philadelphia in time to secure his in
heritance. She believes the old mans
will is unjust, and desires to set mat
ters right No one looks for the miss
Ing Carringford more earnestly than
this girl who would most profit by his
absence"
"Then Molly Tanner is one in a
thousand. l knew l could not be mis-
taken in her face Here Is another
peculiar tie that draws us together.
Make up your mind, Mr.. Crimes" as
be tosses his cigar away and jumps to
his feet, II 60 to india from mere. and
the chance Is now one in thousand
that turn up in Quakerdom in time
to secure the conditions Of the WILL
Mr. Grimes does not rise, but puffs
away at his Havana, brought across
the water, while he looks after Myn-
heer Joe's retreating form.
WELL" he says, with a chuckle,
"two and two make four. The mag
net draws-he goes to meet her. l
may be beaten in one sense, but there
are more ways of accomplishing
thing than enter into your philosophy,
uoratio. Kismet! 1t Is, indeed, fate"