The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1905-11-24
Catlin and the
Multimillion-
AireSS
BY Frank H. Steer

u ~>O = n - ~ ~ u
9 By Frank H. SsOeef 9
= Copyright, 1905, by Frank H. Sweet z
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
They were sweeping along the coun-
try road, with the sun just rising over
the hills in the east. Birds We're flock
ing among the branches and in the
open fields, pre- airing for early mi
grafton south, and mingled with the
rich lesser notes We're the occasional
clear, dominating whistles of the quail
and the soaring medley of the bobo-
link. The road was not bad for a
country road, though they often had to
swcrve to one side or the other to
avoid 4 deep rut or washout, and there
We're many steep hills where they had
to dismount and walk and many
places where the descent was too alb
rupt to trust in brakes.
But the glorious morning cOmpen-
stated for it all, and presently they
yielded to its influence, and Catlin's
clear, mellow voice broke into a swing
ing bicycle song, which the other two
caught up and sent ringing across the
fields with the rhythmic fullness of
three strong, cultivated voices, whose
owners were allowing their hearts and
unformulatcd thoughts to we'll up I'M
consciously to their lips and which
rose and fell and wavered under the
swift motion of the singers. As it
finally died away and their speed
sIackened somewhat one of the riders
looked across at Catlin.
Its n shame to break up our outing
like this he called.
Il know. but Aunt Beulah tele-
graphed for us to come straight to
her country house"
Your rich aunt"
YES, the one l told you was going
to entertain us so lavishly at the end
of our trip"
and introduce you to the multimil-
lionairess?" grinned the other rider.
Precisely. The multimillionairess is
devoted TO my aunt, and my aunt Is de-
voted to me. Ergo, we join hands
around the triangle
But do you really mean that you
will marry her offhand?" incredulously.
Il really do, Burke. 4 multimillion-
airess means multimillion cares less,
and the very fact of my never seeing
her or her photograph adds the needed
tinge of romance But, hello" as there
came the dull thud of Il fall and then
faint call for help, somebody
dropped from one of those apple trees
above the bank. Hurry, fellows!
As they climbed the bank the call
was repeated, sounding very near. A
few moments later they found an old
man lying down upon his back under
the first tree.
Much hurt?" asked Catlin solicit
ously.
"N-no, l guess not" slowly and with
a long indrawn breath Of pain. Just
shook up cons iderable, l think, with
out any bones broken. But l expect
you fellows will have to help me
home"
"Of course" Catlin looked around
4 short ladder was leaning against the
tree. "That'll do very nicely" he said
Here fellows, gather up all these
empty sacks and spread them on the
ladder to make it more comfortable
Now, sir" when all was ready, wei
lift you as gently as possible"
"Oh, l don't mind little PAIN" the
old man answered, grimacing however
when they lifted him to the ladder
Its the apples that's worrying me
most. I've been sending them off t.
one firm, at about this time, for forty
nine years. This would make fifty"
"The firm will certainly overlook fht
slip, then," said Catlin consolingly.
The old mans face creased into {
smile. Il know, l know" he replied
"They won't mind, and the money par
| does not matter. But when man has
done a thing forty-nine years it's hare
| for him to miss the tiftieth. don
suppose l ought to have tackled the
apples alone Hello, there comes Ger
| ty. She heard me call, l guess"
A tall girl, with her face hidden by 6
sunbonnct, was hurrying through the
orchard toward them.
"Oh, uncle" she cried, with very
| much distress in her voice, sit is you
1 thought l heard cry, but was no
sure. Isis it very bad?"
Not so very. l think" the old mar
answered Just Il shakeup. Fortu
| nately these young men We're near
They will carry me to the house"
As she bent over him the girl al
| lowed her suubonnet to fall back. Cat
lin was directly in front of her, and he
| caught his breath little at what the
act revealed. The girl was not merely
pretty, as he had at first thought; she
| was beautiful.
An hour later the three were stand
| ing out under one of the trees on the
lawn.
Il tell you, fellows" Catlin was say
ing, its our duty to stay and pick the
apples for the old man. It's too bad fol
| him to miss the fiftieth year.
TOO bad for you to miss another
chance of looking into Miss Gerty':
eyes, you mean" suggested Burke.
Perhaps" composedly. They are
certainly worth looking into. But w
can pick two days and still have time
TO reach Aunt Bculahs on the date set
The trout fishing doesn't matter"
"All right, Catlin," Burke laughed
Il don't mind staying. But you hat
better keep your mind on the multi-es'
and leave me to talk with Miss Gerty.'
Two days later they stood under thu
same tree The apples had been picked
and barrelcd and shipped. Two bicy
cles were leaning against the tree, ap
parently ready for departure. Thu
third was missing. Catln looked coo
and composed; the others were plainly
annoyed.
You can give that letter to Aun
BeuIah," Catlin was saying to Burke
at tells her the multi-ess business i
off. She will look after you all RICH
and give you the good time as SEIZED
uled. You might add of your own &C
cord that you left me we'll"
"I'll tell her you are working on
farm as n common laborer," grumblct
Burke But, first, I've got a goo
mind to go in and tell the old man AM
} Miss Gerty just what you area vol
In sleeps clothing"