Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-12-15
COrdOn'S Last
 Chance.
 By TAYLOR WHITE.
Copyrighted. 1908, by Associated
 Literary Press.

[
 mandcd Maud TolIiver suddenly as
 her small brother came into the room.
 DO l walk on my feet?" demanded
 Jimmie in surprise. Pipe your lay
 angel face. I'll get you somehow
 even if your speaks are all to the
 muddle. Throw it off your chest"
 Its this way" explained Maud
 You know Mr. Gordon?"
 I've seen him once or twice." ad
 mitted Jimmie, with a grin. Gordon was regular visitor at the Tollivcr home.
 Papa wants me to marry him." ex. plained Maud. He's so strict and proper that l hate him. I thought that if were to talk slang and act up per haps he would leave me in peace. He hates slangy girl. He said so last night"
 Jimmie grinned appreciatively. He had no great liking for the eminently staid and correct Gordon. He hated men whose suits always looked as though 1t was the first time they had been worn.
 His own preference was for Barry Spaulding, who occasionally offered him a cigarette and who talked to him precisely as though be was a grownup.
 Gordon never seemed to see him, never laughed and toked, and Jimmie entered into the conspiracy with his whole heart after being assured that Maud would never disclose the source of her education in slang.
 Before the week was out Gordon looked troubled. He was very much in love with Maud after his own fash ion. There was no want of real affec- ton, but Gordon was no gallant wooer. lie had been accepted by the family and in his quiet, patient fashion he was laying siege to Maud's heart.
 He had fancied he had been making headway until she developed trick of interlarding her speech with slang ex pressions.
 At first he was shocked. but as Maud acquired proficiency and grew more and more slangy Gordon withdrew from his campaign Though he loved the girl as much as ever, he assured himself that wife who used slang was utterly Impossible.
 In secret Maud gloated over the fact, but bore herself demurely when her father sharply questioned her concern ing her treatment of Gordon, for the latter's visits had fallen off, and, though Gordon had pleaded business as an excuse, MT. ToIiver had an idea that there was something else that might explain the lovers sudden lack of interest.
 Then fate took hand, and so it hap pened that Jimmie Tolliver, crossing the avenue. slipped on the muddy pay ing and fell directly in front of rap idly advancing automobile.
 There was a cry of horror from the spectators. but one man sprang for ward and with an easy movement grasped the boys arm and carried him to safety.
 For a moment Jimmie was too dazed to comprehend; then he slowly came to realize that Gordon, unmoved as ever, stood beside him, answering the questions of the crowd, but refusing to give his name.
 All right, old man?" be asked as he saw that Jimmie was pulling himself together. Suppose we move on. This crowd is a little too eager"
 He signaled a passing taxicab and the driver to go to a tailor's where Jimmie's muddled garments might be made presentable. The rush of cold air drove the last of the cob webs from Jimmie's brain, and. gazing at Gordon, he decided that Maud was wrong in her estimate of the man. There was fire under the ice. red blood beneath the waxenlv lmmobiIe expression, and Jimmie's heart warmed 10 his rescuer
 Say, Bo,' he demanded suddenly, are you still dead nuts on Maud?"
 'I esteem your sister very highly" admitted Gordon.
 You're all right" declared Jimmie If you want to win cast your port ear over this way and make l noise like listen" The noise of a listener was contin. led long after the visit to the tailor's vas concluded. Gordon's face was as as ever, but there was twinkle in his eye. Some evenings later Maud. coming downstairs, reached the lower hall just IS Gordon was admitted by the butler. Jimmie had been cautioned under pain . f losing bis promised reward to say lothing of his rescue, so it was merely . that tiresome Kenneth Gordon" whom . daud greeted with perfunctory cor iaity.
 '1 butted in 10 tear off a piece of ak with the boss boomer wearer, Is ie in?" asked Gordon.
 If you mean my fathpr''- began iaud icily.
 That's the guy" interrupted Cor on. "Will you tell the delegate from be wax works to ask him to grease lis heels and slide down here?"
 "I will 90 myself" offered Maud ervously. Gordon was as coldly cor ect in appearance as ever. but per apS he was drunk
 "NiS on the scamper." declared Cor on raising dntaininc hand nI-sn