Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-02-03
8Er \ HE t$ s46 MAN ON THE BOX. { By HAROLD MacGRATH
 Author of The Grey Cloak The Puppst Crown" as ,u. se% T% r g3a SAs %& e@
By. HAROLD MacGRATH
Copyright, 1904, The Bobbs.Merrill Company.
Author of "The Grey Cloak" "The Puppst Gro,

Zee pipe! ne DurSt 1OrCn, zee pipe! You haf zee house full of gas!"
 James, blinking and sneezing. boil ing with rage and chagrin, remounted the chair and finally succeeded in Joining the two lengths. Nothing hap pened this time. But the door to the forward rooms opened. and Miss An nesley looked in upon the scene. 'Merciful heavens!" she gasped, what has happened?"
 Zee stove-pipe bust, Mees," ex- plained Pierre.
 The girl gave Warburton one look, balled her handkerchief against her mouth, and fed This didn't add to his amability. He left the kitchen in a downright savage mood. He had ap- peared before her positively ridicu- lous, Imaginable. A woman never can love man, nor entertain tender re- gard for him at whom she has laughed. And the girl had laughed, and doubt less was still laughing. (However, do not offer his opinion as infallible.) ) He stood in the roadway. looking around for some inanimate thing upon which he might vent his anger, when the sound of hoofs coming toward him distracted him. He glanced over his shoulder = and his knees all but gave way under him. Caught! The rider was, none other than his sister Nancy! It was all over now for a certainty He knew it; he had about one minute to live. She was too near, so he dared not fly. Then brilliant inspiration came to him. He quickly passed his hand over his face. The disguise was complete.
 James," Miss Annesley was stand ing on the veranda. Take charge of the horse Nancy. dear, I am so glad to see you,
 James was anything but glad,
 Betty. good gracious, whatever is the matter with this fellow? Has he the black plague? Ugh!" She slid from the saddle unaided.
 James stolidly took the reins,
 The kitchen stove-pipe fell down." Betty replied. and James stood in the immediate vicinity of it.
 The two girls laughed joyously, but James did not even smile. He had half notion to kiss Nancy, as he had planned to do that memorable night of the ball at the British em- bassy. But even as the notion came, to him, Nancy had climbed up the steps and was out of harms way.
 James" said Miss Annesley, go and wash your face at once"
 "Yes, Miss"
 At the sound of his voice Nancy turned swiftly; but the groom had pre- scented his back and was leading the horse to the stables.
 Nancy would never tell me the sub stance of her conversation with Miss Annesley that afternoon. but I am conceited enough 10 believe that a certain absent gentleman was the main topic. When she left. it was William who led out the horse He explained that James was still engaged with soap and water and pumice-stone. Miss Annesley's laugh rang out heartily, and Nancy could not help joining her.
 And have you heard from that younger brother of yours?' Betty asked, as her friend settled herself in the saddle.
 Not a line, Betty. not line; and l had set my heart on your meeting him. do not know where he is. or when he will be back"
 Perhaps he is in quest of adven- lures"
 He is in Canada. hunting caribou"
 You don't tell mel"
 What handsome girl you are, Bet ty."-admiringly.
 What handsome girl you are. Nancy" mimicked the girl on the va Tanda. If your brother is only half as handsome. do not know whatever will become of this heart of mine when we finally meet She smiled and drOl- ly placed her hands on her heart. Don't look so disappointed. Nan; per haps we may meet. I have an Idea that he will prove interesting and en tertaining; and she laughed again.
 Whoa. Dandy What are you laugh ing at?" demanded Nancy.
 "G was thinking of James and his soap. water and pumice-sfone That was all. dear. Saturday afternoon. then. we shall ride 10 the club and have tea. Good-by. and remember me to the baby"
 'Good-by,'-sn Nancy csntered away
 What a blissful thing the lack of prescience is, somelimes,
 When James had scraped the scot from his face and neck and hands and had sufsed it from his hair. James observed. with some concern. that Pirate was coughing si a great rate His fierce run against the wind the day before had given him a cold So James hunted for the veterinarian
 Where do you keep your books here:~ he asked William. Pirates go, a cold.
 Tn the house library Ton just 20 in and get + We alwsrs do that at home. Y0IU find it on the lower shelf. tn the right as yOu enter 'be dOoT
 It Vas half after four vhen James hsving taken final look al his hands and nails. prOcesded 10 folIOE Will Hams instructions He found 10 one