The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1906-09-21


awhile. :"
"You are very good said Maude
eve would like to dry out a little before
going on
Have you come far today?" inquired
MIR. Doolittle genially, when his guests
were seated.
From Mount Hope, replied Phoebe
Mr. Doolittle laughed, and gave his
wife look which was equivalent to a wink.
That S a matter of sixteen miles, he
said. Better make it nearer home
Phoebe stared in naughty amazement,
but he went on ''Going far. y
"To Green River, said Maude
''We're on a walking trip
''Oh! To Green River? Well, that $
a long walk for two girls. You WASH t
thinking of doing it all today p Mr.
Doolittle leaned forward smilingly. There
could be no doubt as to the joeose imperti-
nence of his attitude Phoebe head went
up with gesture not unknown to Mr.
David White.
IL don t understand your manner, she
said sharply 1--WE have asked you to
drive US to the nearest village as soon as
the weather will allow, and
Don't you mind me, girls, - their host
interposed soothingly. Maybe l ain so
polished as the folks where you come
from he laughed with hearty enjoy
ment of his own wit-''but I'm we'll
meaning man. reckon we can strike a
bargain that'll satisfy you. I'd drive you
for nothing, if it comes to that. Don t
you worry.
Angry, puzzled, incredulous of the i'm
pertiuence, the girls looked at each other
Before they could reply their host had
ereaked into the dining room, closing the
door after him. In a few minutes his
voice, pitched at the unmistakable tele-
phonie key, droned out to them, but his
words were inaudible Mrs. Doolittle, in
penetrable, suspicious, sat still and stared.
Perhaps we could walk; the rain is
stopping, said Phoebe, gutturally whis-
pering in German.
My friend '-Maude pointed dramati-
eaily to her feet--''I can this day no longer
walk. After all, he can be lunatic, or
be wouldn' be at large And he cannot
harm us on the highroad in the middle of
the afternoon. And it ism far -
Meantime Mr. DoOlittle was closing his
conversation with the words. ''0h, it :
them sure Answer the description as
slick as you please. All right. III fetch
them over, Yes, three dollars Then
he hung up the receiver.
".
"WeIl, grumbled Mr. Geoffrey White,
turning from prolonged contemplation of
the dripping box borders and the drenched
flower beds of the Bluebell Inn yard, II
hope David satisfied. =
Mrs White, who held herself in slip
perry haireloth rocker by bracing her feet
against the polished guard Of the big base
burner which occupied half the room,
looked up FROM her book, 1t was "The
Wide, Wide World, falling to pieces
from much usage; and she had taken it
from the marble centertable, whose other
literary attractions was The Wonders of
America.
Satisfied p she replied to her husband,
He's Wild He pictures them as washed
away in a torrent You think summer
afternoon shower was the Johnstown food. -
How ON earth did be persuade me to
bring the machine over those hills ? re-
fected GeOffrey.
He told you you eouldn't do the forty
miles of the hill! route in a forenoon, and
you had to prove that you could, aud with
time 10 spare. Now, dear, don't inter
rupt me again. This is so exciting. i
haven seen this book in twenty years. -
.'Paular Geofrey White ignored his
vife's ; command of silence ''Don't you
think that David's a httle-hit? ? BY
Phoebe, | mean
Mrs, White regarded her husband with
unmitieaied soorn.
"What a mole you are, dearest Hav-
en-, they fought ike the Kilkenny cats
ever since they met
"Yes, but | rather thought-I didn' t
attach much Importance to that. Irather
thought David liked her,
"Butl Oh, you blind dearl Do you
mean to say you never guessed why they
fight p
An idea struggled to life in Geoffrey's
mind, and broke in a smile upon his face.
is it because
"Of course. They re so in love that
they re positively silly. Who's that riding
out of the yard p
GeofFrey returned to the window.
..It's David, he answered. ''What
a plugl Where did he get it :? The rain 5
holding up, and suppose he's off to scour
the roads for her.
MIR. Doolittle-- Phoebe spoke from
the back seat of the rusty vehicle in which
they were driving rapidly through the
fresheued glori6ed afternoon-'I think
you are going the wrong way. Have you
not turned off the Spedwell road /? That
finger post back there and my map"
''Now, don't you worry mite about
Spedwell, counseled Mr. Doolittle whip
ping his horse to brilliant display of
speed You're going to be taken ust
where you belongr'
He turned as he made this triumphant
announcement. He wished to mark its
effect. He had no fear of the result, and
he desired to enjoy the spectacle of rage
which his young prisoners would doubtless
present. There should be no halting, no
slow going, to give them opportunity for
spectacular jumps, even if they were fool
ish enough to image that they could gain
their freedom thus, He could afford to
smile and to reveal himself as the success
ful detective.
''What do you mean?" demanded
Phoebe
''Now, now, what the use of pretend
ing? The Homes the best place for
you. You were silly girls to run away.
You"
run away? The Home ?" 1t was
Maude's faint ejaculation.
"a nice, clean place, where they take
good care of you, feed you good, learn you
a useful trade. Mr.. Doolittle was going
on in the most approved catalogue style,
when Maude broke into hysterical laughter;
and Phoebe, rising, leaned over and tried
to snatch the reins from Mr. Doolittle's
sinawv hands