Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1906-01-27


What. not dance? I should die of
Intermittent fever And II did dance,
my leg might give out"
You can ride a horse all right"
said John, in the way OF argument.
Il can do that easily wits my knees,
But / can't dance with my knees. No,
! shall stay at home. couldn't stand
II to see all those famous beauties.
and with me posing as a wall-hower."
But what will you do here all
alone?''
play with the kid. smoke and read:
make myself at home. You still smoke
.hat Louisiana. Jaek?"
Eyes. "-dubiously.
so. Now. don't let me interfere with.
YOUR plans for tonight I haven't been
in home in so long that il will take
more than one night for the novelty
to wear OFF. Besides. that nurse of
vours, Kit. is good to look at."-a bit
of the rogue in his eye.
"Bobi"-from both women.
Il promise not to look at her: I
promise"
We'll. l must be on" said John.
coast defenses to go over with an in
ventor of a new carriage-gun. Will
Won so with me. while l put you up
at the Metropolitan. or will you take
shopping trip with the women"
IN take the shopping trip. II will
be a 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. ! keep only two stable
men; one to take care u the horses
and one to act as groom. I'm off. I've
"A cracking good hunter, If you'd like
a leg up. Wen ali ride - 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 a horse from his oiled hoofs to
his curried forelock
This fellow ought to jump WE'LL,
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. !
IL was Mr.. Warburton's fault that he
did not take first prize He rode him
I'm 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 (ncts 60 say
young and salad) idea. II appealed to
him as being so rich an idea that the
stables rang with his laughter.
'Sir ?" politely inquired the groom. z
I'm not laughing at your statement,
my good fellow; rather at an idea
which just occurred TO me. In fact.
believe that I shall need your rs
sistance."
I'm 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 W. Oh,
sir. | couldn't do it. SIR" declared the
groom. shaking his head negatively.
IN 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 500 every
day for a simple thing like this"
Very well. sir. / dare say that no
harm viii come of it. But am an inch
or two shorter than you"
Wen 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.
Ill wager that you are up TO some
mischief, Master Robert. Please
tell" Nancy urged.
Later. later; at present you would
fail to appreciate the joke. In fact,
you might make It miscarry; and that
wouldn't do at all Have little pa
thence. It's a good joke. and you'll
be In II when the time comes"
out OF him.
CHAPTER V.