Richmond daily palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1905-1906, 1906-01-24


my leg miaht give out
Snr c9a ride a horse all rivht.'
| said John. in the way of argument.
Y can do that easily with my knees
I But ! can't dance with my knees No.
| shall stay at home couldn't stand
| it to see all those famous beauties.
/ and with me posing as wall-fower."
Il ''Bnt what will you do here all
| alone2"
| PLAY with the kid. smoke and read;
make myself at home. You still smoke
that Louisiana, Jack?"
| "Yes."-dubiously
| so. Now, don't let me interfere with
| your plans for tonight. | haven't been
| in home in so long that it will take
more than one night for the novelty
| to wear off. Besides. that nurse of
/ yours. Kit, is good to look at."-a bit
| of the rogue in his eye
| "Bob.'-from both women.
| Il promise not to look at her; /
promise"
| well. 7 must be off," said John
! I'm late now. I've a dozen plans for
coast defenses to go over with an in
ventor of new carriage-gun. Will
you go with me, while I put you up
at the Metropolitan, or will you take
shopping trip with the women?"
"I'll take the shopping trip. 1t will
be sensation. Have you any horses?"
six"
six. You are lucky pup: hand
| some wife. a bouncing boy, and six
| horses! Where's the stable?"
'In the rear. 7 keep only two stable
men; one to take care of the horses
and one to act as groom. I'm off. I've
leg up. Well all ride to Chevy Chase
Sunday. By-by. till lunch"
Mr.. Robert Immediately betook him
| self to the stables, where he soon be-
came intimately acquainted with the
English groom. He fused about the
harness-room, deplored the lack of a
McClelland saddle, admired the En-
| glish curbs, and complimented the
men on the cleanliness of the stables.
The men exchanged sly smiles at first,
but these smiles soon turned into grins
Of admiration. Here was a man who
knew horse from his oiled hoofs to
his curried forelock.
This fellow ought to jump wel1,'
he said, patting the sleek neck Of the
hunter
HE does that, SIR replied the
groom. ''He has never taken less than
a red ribbon. Only one horse beat him
at the bars last winter in New York.
1t was Mr.. Warburton's fault that he
did not take first prize. He rode him
in the park the day before the contest
and the animal caught cold, SIR
And then it was that this hero of
mine conceived his great (not to say
young and salad) idea 1t appealed to
him as being so rich an idea that the
stables rang with his laughter.
"Sir?" politely inquired the groom.
'T'm not laughing at your statement,
my good fellow; rather at an idea
which just occurred to me- In fact,
| believe that / shall need your as
sistance.'
'In what way, sir?"
Come with me-"
The groom followed Warburton into
the yard A conversation began In
low tones.
Its as much as my place is worth
sir. couldn't % Il, sir,v declared the
groom, shaking IN head negatively.
"I'll guarantee that you will not suf-
fer in the least. My brother will not
discharge you. He likes joke as well
as do. You are not handed $40 every
day for simple thing like this
Very well, sir. dare say that no
harm will come of It But am an inch
Or two shorter than YOU"
We'll tide that over"
Il am at your orders, SIR But
the groom returned to the stables,
shaking his head obviously. He was
not thoroughly convinced.
During the morning ride downtown
the two women were vastly puzzled
over their brothers frequent and in
applicable peals of laughter
For mercy's sake, what do you see
that is so funny" asked Nancy
I'm thinking, my dears; only think
ing"
Tell uS that we may laugh too.
I'll wager that you are up to some
mischief. Master Robert. Please
tell, Nancy urged.
Later, later; at present you would
TAIL to appreciate the joke. In fact,
you might make it miscarry; and that
wouldn't do at ALL Have a little pa
thence. It's a good joke, and you'll
| be in it when the time comes.''
And nothing more could they worm
out of him. ... st..