Payette enterprise. (Payette, Canyon Co., Idaho) 1909-1935, 1909-12-09
HIS LUCKY ESCAPE.
BY r. A. mitchell.

elaUOn.l
STolllng down TO st. Marks squar
on my arrival at Venice. / stood look
Ing at the pigeons hopping about afte
the grains Of corn fed them by tour
lists. There among the others was M
chum. Billy Humlston. / noticed a
once that &c didn't look clipper a
] all. After a fire Of questions between
Us asked him what was the mat
ter. He confessed that be bad fallen
In love with an American girl whom
be had seen OF window on the Grand
canal. She hadn't seen him. and the
only thing he knew about her was her
name. which was Hamilton Dora
Hamilton.
II know her we'll" / said. "You
have fortune, why should you not
win herr"
II don't want my fortune to win
her. / want 10 do II myself"
After long conference 1 proposed
to Billy 10 get himself up as a gon-
doller, take the lady out on the water
and do the trick in that fashion. Billy
was mighty we'll pleased with the
idea. and ! planned the whole thing
for blm. ! recommended my Condo
Her" to Miss Hamilton, and she in
vlted me and a couple of girl friends
to go with her the next evening on
the Grand canal. At s o'clock-it was
still daylight Billy, in a beautiful
white suit. jnunty straw hat with
blue ribbon streamers and blue gon-
doller's sash and neckwear, pushed a
/ chartered gondola to the steps of Miss
Hamlton's hotel. and our party got
aboard. Billy looked so funny that IT
was all could do to repress a smile
He didn't dare look at me for fear /
would betray him. We all got aboard
except Miss Hamilton, who stood on
the steps of the hotel.
"Do you speak any Engllsh?" she
said to Billy.
"Leetlew replied Billy.
How much for the first hour"
"Doue Ira 1.-TWO lirel.
"Doue lra You robber. The tariff
only allows you to charge one Ira and
eighty centesimo."
THAT will do" said Billy, coloring
little.
"And the second hourT
"rhe same"
"The same! The tariff is half for
the second hour"
Billy knew better, for he was ia.
miliar with The tariff. but he agreed
TO the reduction. Miss Hamilton
stepped aboard. and Billy showed the
gondola out into the canal.
"Gondolier," said Miss Hamilton,
pull up to that float over there"
Billy obeyed; but, not being an expert
paddler, other boats crowded in ahead
of him.
what stupid gondolier!" remark
ed Miss Hamilton. He doesn't look
as IL he knew enough to keep from
falling overheard" Then, checking
herself, IL wonder how much English
he understands.
by this time Billy was very mad.
It was still light enough for me to
see an ominous scowl on his brow.
The surroundings were certainly en-
trancing. Tue lion of st. Monies |
perched on its pillar The doge's pal |
ace aud the other buildings of the |
group about 1t. Illuminated as they .
were; the lighted floats, the simmer
on the water, all combined to produce |
city In the world.
what place for loyemakingw 1
exclaimed.
IL was too dark for me to see Billy's
face, but | heard an indistinct growl.
"Gondoller," cried Miss Hamilton,
don't you keep us out over two hours
and charge for third; know your
tricks
"Would the slguorina like to go to
the hotel!" asked Billy in broken Eng
lish
mo. indeed We have twenty min
utes left, she replied, looking at
bracelet watch.
"lt will take that time to reach the
hotel"
mo. 1t won't. If you don't get us
there within the time, it's your look
out. l only pay for two hours"
But l can't keep you here till the
time Is up and then take you mile
10 the hotel without beginning another
hour"
Il only pay for two"
Billy was very angry aud bound to
get us ashore as soon as possible. He
rowed us down toward the hotel at a
rapid pace, When we reached the
steps but i've minutes remained Of the
two hours TO be paid for. We rose
10 disembark, but Miss Hamilton stop
ped us.
1--WE don't get out of this gondola till
time is up" she said.
SO we sat still, waiting for the time
10 pass. Miss Hamilton remarSing
that It was just as pleasant there as
being out in the middle Of the canal.
When her watch marked the exact
lime of the expiration OF the two hours
she permitted us 10 leave the goudola.
She -paid the amount OF the legal hire.