The Democratic advocate., 1909-07-09

SHrsa8
But. no. they we're smiling as they
halted and drew up IN line And
then every hat came on as II at a con
corted signal
II was the youngest man who spoke
Are you Miss ElInor Barnea9" he
asked with a little bow.
Yes. the girl replied from the top
step.
The stout man at the left OF the
line looked around at bis companions
and nodded.
Good" he said In a deep voice and
with much satisfaction
The man next 10 the stout man
nudgcd him sharply
"Harvard's handlin' this. Scotty."
he cautioned him.
The youngest man spoke again
We are friends of the colonel. from
Montana, Miss Barnes"
She was down the steps IN an In
slant.
From Montana" ahe cried and
looked at him wildly.
The colonel n all right. Miss
Barnes" the youngest man hastily
answered her We managed 20 get
here a little ahead Of him"
The colonei7" Eiihor repeated.
Colonel Morse" the youngest man
explained,
Everybody back yonder calls him
colonel" said the stout man
Ellnor gave little gasp.
And you-~you have come all the
way from Montana7" abe cried and
! put out both her hands.
Harvard" the stout man warming
~ cried.
Excuse me." said the younxss,
man, Miaa Barnes. let me present
Ar Adams"
"scotty Adams. miss, al your ser
vice" aaid the stout man a. le put
out hts bis hand.
MIR Baylor. Mr.. Tawncy. Mr.. Toll
( liver. am Mr winthrop"
I Elinor shook hands with each of
I these guests from afnr
Come up on the porch, gentle.
T men. she said. and they followed her.
I the third man carrying the box and
I took The chairs she pointed out And
[ you hAye come all the way from Mon
tauaf' she Heid again alth growing
wonder
Jest to see you. miss" said the
/ stout man, with another smiling
glance at HIS companions.
And we're glad We came. miss. .
put Ia the third man
"Pikey!" said the second man IN
u reproyinK Whisper
A soft flush stole over Elinor's
/ pretty face.
And where did you leave the
the colonel7" she asked with a sud
den catch in her voice
You'll get used 10 II, ma'am.
laughed the stout man.
We left Colonel Morse In Chicago, .
the youngest man replied. "He wasn't
| with us. He will be more surprised
TO see us here than You were. Miss
Barnes. The fact IL. we meant TO get
here ahead Of him. We saw him IN
a jewalry store iD Chicago"
"Mebby you'll guess what he was
there for. ma'am." said the stout cali
er.
We were In the JeweIry store, too,
but the colonel didn't see us as we
slipped out" the youngest man went
ON. we hurried 10 the railway sta
ton and found that a train had been
| delayed In starting, caught II and
reached here just ahead Of the colo
nel'H train"
The stout man drew forth huge
/ gold watch
I'VE amt more'n half an hour
ahead OF him" he said. Talk fast,
Harvard"
Our train was delayed for three
hours at the junction" the youngest
man went on. THAT explains Scot
/ tvs remark" He hesltated a mo-
ment. 'Miss Barnes" he said, you
see here five OF the eolonel'a wnrmest
friends, These friends wanted to see
and meet you. They wanted to testi-
fy 70 you their regard In a practical
way. That explains the stop at Chi
eago aud our narrow escape from the
colonel"
scotty looked around with por-
tentous nod
"Haryard's right. boys" he said.
I'VE must get this out OF the way
first. Pikey toted it; let Plkey open
Il up"
The third man won't down on his
knees before the mysterious box and
quickly drew or the wrappings. AS
the Morocco covered lid was raised a
great and dazzling display of smrll
silver came to view
IT'S called Nat silver, ma'am."
Scotty explained. IAN it's tn biggest
box they had"
EIinor was quite dazed.
''Oh, ah," she cried, for me. How
lovely" And there were tears In her
eyes as she bent over. the box.
Whereat the five men from Nom
tana smilingly shook hands all
around
Then scotty pulled out the huge
watch again.
"Time!" he cried. You'll have to
excuse us, miss. but there's a little
business to transact, and It must be
transacted here an now"
"Scotty," demonstrated the second
man.
Let me alone, jim" said the stout