The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1908-08-11
By EMELINE BARR.


For the first time In his life John
Amidon found himself In New York.
Il was warm spring day-much too
warm and too glorious to spend in
visiting a round Of stuffy offices. He
would make holiday of it and let
business wait until tomorrow.
An inspiration seized him. and after
some search through the various COM
partments Of his leather wallet he drew
out dingy visiting card.
"H'm,v he mused- "Thats funny.
/ was sure had his address. Richard
Malloney,' that's all 1t says. though.
that's sure"
he put the card back thoughtfully.
at was something about Washing
ton" he reflected.
But the something" had eluded him
impishly. He drew map out Of his
pocket and studied 1t carefully. With
an air Of triumph be at length pounced
upon the words Mount Vernon" He
had It'll
Should he consult telephone direct
Org? What was the use? 1t would
be more fun to give Dick surprise
Dick was just the kind Of fellow to
enjoy the unexpected. On the way
out on the train Amidon INDUCED In
pleasant "reminiscences Of college days
when he and Dick had been such jolly
good chums Was it possible a whole
ten years had gone since they had seen
each otherf
'But Dicks all right" he solilo-
quized. Its great thing to be sure
Of welcome. He'll be just as glad
to see me as l will"
Mount Vermont shouted the con-
ductor. and Amidon got of hurriedly.
~Can you tell me where Mr.. Richard
Malloney livesr he asked the first per-
son he happened to run into at the
station. Before the person addressed
had time to reply six-year-old boy
piped up:
Il can"
Us that so7" returned Amidon gen.
tally. well. suppose you show me
then. Will your
For answer the knowing one turned
to lead the way Importantly. When
be came to the end of the station plat
form he stopped beside shining auto
mobile
Get in" he said to Amidon hos
pitably.
Anidon hesitated
why. thank you, young man." he
replied. you are very kind. but If
you'll just be good enough to tell me
where Mr.. Malloney lives I'll walk
there
But we're going right there" per
sisted Amidon's personal conductor,
"Mr Richard Malloney is my father
I'm Richard Malloney. Jr.. you know"
In spite of his amazement Amidon
was alert enough to be conscious Of
the chauffeur's silent chuckling. Rich
ard Malloney. Jr.. was proving most
unexpectedly sprightly pilot. 1t might
be well before committing oneself ir-
revocably to his management to ask
a few definite questions. So Amidon
addressed the amused chauffeur.
81 arrived from town on this last
train." he stated Can you tell me
II Mr.. Malloney is at homer
Every sorry. sir" returned the chauf-
feur cIyilly Hes just started for
town himself"
"And--Mrs. MalloneyT
"She went with him. SIR"
krnidon reflected moment.
"Barbara's home" volunteered NAL
loney junior.
Amidon's face lighted instantly. Bar
bara-t that was Dicks sister. of course.
He remembered. but this was no time
for "reminiscences.
us she, indeed?' he exclaimed joyiaL
ty "rhen will run out" And he
jumped in beside Richard.
Let's see." he unused. hardly con-
scious that he spoke. "how old must
Barbara be nowY'
"About thirty" Richard suggested
Amidon glanced at the chauffeur
He was quite sure he was chuckling
again.
about thirty?" repeated Amidon.
1T doesn't seem possible"
"She's grown up awful fast" Rich
ard commented. "She was only just
girl when she went away to school.
but now she does her hair up and stays
up evenings | wish | was thirty"
This yearning was accompanied by
a very genuine sigh, but Amidon had
quite forgotten to listen to the child's
prattle His own thoughts were more
absorbing
Had he or had he not met Dicks sis
ter? So many fellows at college had
sistersI If so, what had she looked
like? She must have been very young
land to think of Dicks being married
and never letting him know-more
than that, to think Of there being
Richard Malloney, Jr.!
Here we are," exclaimed the boy,
..and there's Barbara on the porch
Hoo-oor'
Barbara came to the top of the steps,
looking at Amidon curiously.
AS for Amidon, he was seized with a
panic of misgivings Surely, If he had
ever in his life seen that girl, no mat
ter how many years ago. he would
never have forgotten her.
But he must say something, for
young Richard had already climbed
out Of the machine and announced,
'Here's a man to see you, Barbara"
an introduction that certainly needed
calculating
Amidon braced himself.
81 am John Amidon." he stated sim
ply. standing below her. with hat in
hand. "Your brother and I were
friends at college. hoped to find issk
here
To his astonishment Barbara burst
out laughing. revealing two very beau
tiful dimples In her glowing cheeks.
She recovered herself with evident ef-
fort
Il beg your pardon, Mr.. Amidon
There must be some mistake. You see,
this Is my only brother" she said as
she lifted Richard Junior Off his feet
and then let him down again with a
suddenness that evidently ickled that
young mans fancy.
"WeIl, 1t couldn't have been your
fatherp' yentured Amidon.
At the absurdity of this suggestion
Barbara and John both laughed hearth
~. Then Barbara had an iiea.
why. of course. you mean Cousin
Dick. Are you Harvard man"
John nodded. Ninety eight" he In
formed her.
How stupid of me not to have
thought of that at oncer' Barbara ac-
cused herself. But, you see, '98 is
pretty long time ago. and Dick has been
abroad nearly ever since he left col
lege."
It.was all such ridiculously mixed
up state of affairs-the idea that Cousin
thnt Ili.l,.. I'd |