The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1906-09-25

Though fully %. young Stamford
did not look a day over 10 in his light
fannels as he ran nimbly up the
yeranda steps Of the Etheredge home
and pressed the electric bell button
The door few open simultaneously
and stolid-vsaged parsonage in
livery stood confronting him
is Miss Etheredge in? ! wish to
see her at once, II possiblel" He
thrust card into the silver receiver
and sat down, somewhat out OF
breath. in the nearest chair.
A minute passed and the butler re-
turned, bearing slip OF paper
across the back of which was scrawled
in a hasty hand: Dear Dicks
am, unfortunately, too in to leave my
room. Can you not, just as well, com.
municate with me through Charley?'
Young Stamford was in a quandary.
Decidedly nothing could be done with
out the cooperation of Miss Ether
edge In person, and time was flying
He consulted his watch and found TO
his dismay that bareiy 40 minutes re
mained in which to act. He reflected
moment, then turned hastily to the
butler. Tell Mr.. Charley to come
down Immediately" be said.
When Charley Etheredge appeared
in response to this summons he found
Stamford pacing restlessly up and
down the long hallway.
The fact of the matter is, Ether.
edge he began at once, my uncle
is dying. He has always had his
heart set on D. on my marriage
with your sister For some unex.
planned and inexplicable reason. he
chooses to fancy at this late day that
one Of us will draw back from our
engagement because of the delay. The
bulk OF his property, as you have
heard, has been willed to me on the
specified condition of our marriage"
He paused and drew from his pocket
the small unmistakable yellow en-
velop. And now. the worst of 1t is,
he pursued anxiously, "he has but
few hours to live and sends this tele-
gram at the eleventh hour: If you
are not married before the breath
leaves my body-at my very bed
side-will shall be changed "
Etheredge pondered a second and
shook his head. Il can't see what's
to be done, my dear fellow, unless
you just simply explain that my sis
ter is physically unable"
so much chan. In his present
weakened, fapciful condition an ex-
PLANTATION Of that sort would serve ad- |
mirably to strengthen his unreason-
able whim, and $4,000 is no trife to
an impecunious fellow like-myself" |
"Of course not, returned the
other musingly
It's what we've been looking for
ward to all our lives, too"
Etheredge was dumb for several
minutes, such a thing as solution, |
at the present iuncture, seeming more |
impossible than the moving of
mountain.
Stamford took out his watch again |
and studied it's face critically Half |
an hour" he calculated under his |
breath
Suddenly Etheredge looked up with |
a daring inspiration in his eyes. Il
have IT," he cried Suppose what
# | might rig out in some of my sis
ters toggery and go on with you?
I've done that sort of thing before.
you know, pretty successfully Re
member those private theatricals last
summer"
Young Stamford started and red
dened furiously for an instant His
eyes clung resolutely to the carpet /
Then, after a minutes hesitation. he
glanced up Capital" he exclaimed.
enthusiastically 1T seems about the |
only thing to do. TIN simply have to
be done, that's all. Get ready as soon
as you can; we've precious little time
to squander."
Inside Is minutes Etheredge was
rugged out" in one of his sisters
smartest gowns, with a great loose
coat to hide his figure. The daintiest
of French toques surmounted his
curling, blonde hair.
Together they entered a coupe and |
drove rapidly away.
1T seems a fearful sham to prac.
tice on the old oodger" remarked /
Stamford as they clattered over the
cobble stones, but that 100000 Ger
tainly ought TO be sufficient argument
TO scatter dying persons illusions.
sis would never recover" laughed
Etheredge adjusting a refractory
rosette. Luckily it's getting dark. 50
that people won't have an opportunity
to observe this curious combination
of garb and visage I'm sporting
Five minutes rapid driving brought
them to the Grand Central depot, and
just in time to purchase tickets and
board the eastbound train.
A drizzling rain had set in by the
time they reached Springfield, and the
night was pitchy. After some diff
Guilty. Stamford succeeded in locating
his uncle's carriage, and once com
fortably installed they were whirled