Richmond daily palladium., 1906-01-29

Here our conversation was inter-
rupted by the entrance of policeman.
"a note for Mister Osborne, ,"-ironi-
cally. He tossed the letter to. War
burton and withdrew
Mister Osborne eagerly tore open an
end of the envelope very aristocrate
ic envelope, as / could readily discern
-and extracted the letter. closely
! watched his facial expressions First.
/ there was interest, then surprise, to be
succeeded by amusement and a certain
exultation. He slapped his thigh.
"By George. Chuck, III do it,"
| do it? Now WHAT"
Listen TO this" He cleared hts
throat, shifted of the family scented
paper and cleared his throat again.
He looked up at me drolly.
"Well?" said I, impatiently. | was
as eager to hear it as he had been to
read It. / believed that the mystery
was about to be solved
James osborne. Sir: have been
/ thinking the matter over seriously. and
| have come TO the conclusion that there
| may have been a mistake. Undoubt-
| edIy my groom was primarily to blame.
| have discharged him for neglecting
| his post of duty. distinctly recall the
manner in which you handled the
horses last night. 1t may be possible
| that they ran away with you. How
ever that may be, find myself in need
of a groom. Your horsemanship saved
us from a serious accident. If you will
Lat I, tel al Ino
bringing me a recommendation, and
are without engagement. call at the ell.
closed address this afternoon at three
o'clock | should be willing to pay as
much as $40 month. You would be
expected to accompany me on my
morning rides I"
! "She must have paid the fine," said
l. well, 1t beats anything ever heard
of. Had you arrested, and now wants
to employ you! What name did you
say?" I asked carelessly.
"T didn't say any name. Chuck
smiling. "And I'm not going to give
any, you old duffer."
"And why not?"
For the one and simple reason that
! am going to accept the position,"-
with GOODNESS that staggered me.
"What?" bawled.
"Sure as life, as the policeman said
/ last night"
You silly ass, you! Do you want to
make the family laughing-stock all
over the town." I was really angry.
Neither the family nor the town
will know anything about it,"-imper-
turbably.
'But you will be recognized" / re-
monstrated. Its clear case of in.
sanity, after what has just happened
/ to you" a#s E|e
II promise not to drink any. whisky"
soberly. t.-.....
/ Bob, you are fooling me-"
| mot the littlest bit, Chuck. I've
worn a beard for two years. No one
would recognize me. Besides, being a
groom. no one would pay any particular
attention to me. Get the point?"
/, But what under the sun is your OBJ
ject?" l demanded There's some
thing back of all this. It's not sim
pie lark like last nights"
! "Perspicacious mani" -railingly.
/ Possibly you may be right Chuck,
you know that I've just got to be doing
something I've been inactive too long
| am ashamed to say that / should
tire of the house in a week or less.
/ Change, change, Of air, of place, of oc.
cupation; change-I must have it.
It's food and drink
you've met this woman before,
| somewhere"
Il neither acknowledge or deny 1t
will be very novel | shall be busy
from morning till night. Think of the
fun of meeting persons whom You
know, but who do not know you /
| wouldn't give up this chance for any
amount of money"
Forty dollars a month";" said l
wrathfully.
Cigar money,"-tranquilly
| Look here, Bob; be reasonable. You
can't go about as groom in Washing
| ton. If the newspapers ever get hold
of it. you would be disgraced. They
wouldn't take you as clerk in third
, rate consulate. Supposing you should
/ run into Jack or his wife or Nancy; do
you think they wouldn't know you at
once?''
''I'll take the risk. I'd deny that
knew them: they'd tumble and leave
me alone. Chuck, I've got TO do this.
/ Some day you'll understand" IS
! But the womans name, Bob; only
/ her name"
! ''Oh. yes And have you slide around
and show me up within "a hours. No,
thank you. | am determined on this
You ought to know me by this time.
! never back down; it isn't nJhe blood.
And when it is said, where's the harm
in this escapade? l can see none.
1t may not last the day through"
Il trust not,"-savagely.