Richmond daily palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1905-1906, 1906-01-26
CHAPTER vi.
THE MAN ON THE BOX.

CHAPTER vi.
THE MAN ON THE BOX.
At 1880 he locked up his book and
took to his room the mysterious bundle
which he had p%urloined from the sta
bles. It contained the complete livery
of a groom. The clothes fitted rather
snugly, especially across the shoulders.
He stood before the pier-glass, and a
complacent (not to say roguish) smile
fitted across his face. The black half
; boots, the white doeskin breeches, the
brown brass-buttoned frock, n the
white hat with the brown cockade.
Well, my word for 1t, he was
the ~handsomest jehu Washington ever
turned out. With a grin he touched
his hat to the reflection in the glass,
and burst out laughing. His face was
as smooth as a baby's for he had gen.
erously sacrificed his beard.
can hear him saying to himself:
Lord. but this is a lark! I'll have to
take another Scotch to screw up the
edge of my nerve. Won't the boys
laugh when they hear how / stirred the
girls ~frizzes! Well have a little par
ty here when they all get home. It's
q good joke"
Mr.. Robert did not prove much of a
prophet. Many days were to pass ere
he reentered his brothers house.
He stole quietly from the place. He
hadn't proceeded more than a block
when he became aware of the fac that
he hadn't a penny in his clothes. This
discovery disquieted him, and he half
turned about to go back. He couldn't
go back. He had no key.
"Pshaw! / won't need n money"
and he started of toward Connecti-
tut avenue. He dared not hail q car.
and he would not have dared had he
possessed the fare. Some one might
recognize lin. He walked briskly for
ten minutes. The humor of the es-
capade appealed to him greatly. and
he had all he could do to smother
the frequent bursts OF laughter which
surged to his lips. He reached absent
ly for his cigar-case, No money, no
cigars.
That's bad. Without a cigar I'm
likely to get nervous. Scraping on
that beard made me forgetful. Jove!
with these feshings, 1 feel as self-con-
scious as an untried chorus girl. These
toys can't be very warm in winter.
Ha! that must be the embassy where
all those lights are, carriages. Al
lons!"
To make positive. he stopped a pc
deStrian. "
Pardon me, sir" he said, touching
his hat. but will you be so kind as
to inform me IL yonder is the British
embassy"
1T is, my man." replied the gen
tlcman.
THANK you. sir"
And each passed on to his affairs
Nov for William; we must find
William. or the joke will be on Rob
ert."
He maneuvered his way through
the congested ~thoroughfare, searching
the faces of the grooms and footmen
He lodged hither and thither and wa:
once brought to a halt by the mounte.
police.
Here you! What dye mean by run.
ming around like this, Lost your car
riage, hey? I've a mind to run ye
in. Y know the rules relatin' tn leav
in Of yer box in times like these. Beer
takin' n sly nip, probably, an They've
sent yer hack down a peg. Get a gai'
on v, now"
Warburton laughed silently as III
made for the sidewalk. The first mar
he pumped into was William-a yer,
much worried William. too. Roher
could have fallen on his neck for Joy
All was plain sailing now
I'm very glad to see you. sir" saii
William. Il was afraid you could no
get my clothes on. sir. | was settin:
a trife worried, too Here's the car
rage number"
Warburton glanced hastily at IL an,
stuffed IL into n convenient pocket.
ITS 16 carriages up. sir. a bay an,
q gray. You can't miss them. TIL
bay. being a saddle-horse. Is a bit rest
i've in the harness: but all you hav
to do Is to touch him with the whiI
And don't try to push ahead of you
turn, or you will get into trouble wit
the police. They are very strict. An
don't let them confuse you, sir. Tn
numbers won't be in rotation. YOU
hear lis, and the next moment 30. Xix