The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1906-02-01


When the big engineer finally rejoin-
ed his group the Italians We're scurry-
ing down the road, and Hattie was
ready to be carried upstairs.
Its nothing" explained John lazily.
1--WE had lynching at Switchback
three years ago-bad affair; three Ital-
ians. I was sure that girl was one Of
! the two who escaped. She insists not.
Is it too near dinner time for an apol-
linaris or lemonade?'
ut will take something more than
| lemonade to square this, j. B." declar-
| ed Howard Tiff, with dignity, where
upon John offered to pay whatever pen
atty might be inflicted.
It was the regular night Of the Law
| ford dance, and the Lynn crowd from
| Stelle's had come over in force. The
| autocrat, If anything, sleeper than
| usual. trailcd with the Buffalo con-
| tingent
"Aren't they just too swell?" ex-
claimed Hattie excitedly. "Oh. why
| don't they make shoes in Buffalo.
John? See that baldheaded man. Is
| 1t his picture we see on the billbOards,
John? I'm going to meet some of those
people or die. Howard Tiff knows that
| stunning fellow with the mustache,
John. There she comes" 1t was the
| Lynn girl with the queens sweep and
the basket hat
| Green dress and black hat - and
green shoes. Did you ever? Well it
Is swell. isn't it? Why don't you wake
up?" ratified Hattie. "Oh, there comes
Howard-by by"
| 1t was not until long after the dane
under the shadow of the Lynn mus
tache. But on the other arm leaned an
especial priZe-she whose costumes had
so long been Hattie's despair she Of
the black hat.
| ooh, John. Come down. brother.
want to present You" The autOcrat,
staggering bit within, stepped out
on the dancing floor.
| "My unknown friend. Miss Rucker,
John. My brother. Miss Rucker.' Miss
Rucker hardly bowed under her prize
hat 1t was more of Il nod, which just
frightened the black plumes and set
them shivering.
| "John," added Hattie after more
| presenting. 81 have dragged Miss
Rucker all the way from Lynn for an
ice with US
| II could not escape her"
| my sister is never satisfied with less
than the rcddest apple" bowed the
| autOcrat.
"The greenest apple this time, dear"
retorted Hattie, eying the Lynn gown.
| you confuse the leaves with the
fruit" persisted the autocrat, not look
ing at Miss Fucker
"Your brother is not dancing to-
night" remarked Miss Rucker, looking
at Sister Hattie. Il am sure she
added. with the easy Indifference Of
society, because | have noticed him
sitting SO long in this corner. And |
thought she continued, with il little
pause perfectly mastered, that he APP
| peared absorbed. Are we to be seated?
Oh, thank you, Mr.. Blair. No; you sit
there, Miss Blair. Leave me the shad-
ow."
why"
There's still a number on my card,
and I've no mind for it,
"John," interposed Hattie. don't for
get your table manners. Get your re-
freshment started this way. You know
how slow they are. We may have to
make it Il breakfast order"
Lets adjourn to the porch them
suggested her brother. ''I'he tables are
less crowded"
Cooler. isn't it," remarked Miss
Rucker as the night air struck her
shoulders. Il shall need Il wrap" And
| after all the gentlemen had offered to
go for it Miss Rucker decided that she
| herself must go, and. the orders being
given, John Blair went with her. She
started through the dance room.
"Not that way" he begged.
(Which way" she asked, with a ST.
lent laugh.
| "Round."
She turned on an impulse. "TheA l
must take your arm" she said, almost
| in a bubble of mischief. AS they went
on his silence, growing like portent,
seemed to alarm her, and she said pref
ty little nothings to ward it Off. The
autocrat responded not At the cloak
room he took her wrap from the at
| tendant and held it silently over her
shoulders. She smiled as the web set
tied across them THANK YOU
1T is l who have you to thank. l
am trying-to think-how to do it."
pray, for what do you thank me-"
she asked.
| For coming tonight"
She stood, pausing in the glare of an
arc light. He was looking with his dus-
ty lashes hardly raised.
IL don't understand" she responded,
in the gentle infection which only sug-
gests a question.
Il am not sure that do" he cOntin-
ued evenly, but the heavy eyes were
burning Its this" He took from his
pocket the gray kerchief of Switch
back "Unless l am very wrong, this
is yours"
What Is it?' she stammered pant
ing little in spite of herself as she put
| out her hand
| "You have forgOttenT
She gaZed ut the clnging thing,
speaking evaslvely. you are so mys-
terious."
81 have staked good deal" he per-
sisted, ION being right"