The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1910-08-19

hOndlu Wllu u Slul.t. " ell, can
ride bit; l am by way Of being
n decent shot; | held the cue at
Oxford. | Won the mile race of my
year; | was also champion light
weight; but I'm afraid there's no
money in any of these things, Smith
ers," he broke OFF impatiently
"Oh, yes, there is, sir" Smithers
assured him. with a mixture of con
fidence and admiration. "Fr in
stance, we could start a circus. you
could do the high school riding
YOU know, sir a gentleman in
frock coat and tall hat with
white gloves. on the top of a black
horse walking about on its hind
legs and cocld De- the clown I've
often cast an eye that way. or We
could run a shooting gallery. six
shots penny, with mugful Of
nuts if You hit the figger. which
you never do. cause the barrels is
bent o purpose; or We night open
a billiard saloon-not here in Lon
don, there's too many AT it but in
the country, where The flats grow; or
we might have boXingtent at
some of the fairs. But of course,
I'm only chaffing, sir, and | beg
your pardon, These sort OF things
are all very well for the likes O
me, but gentleman like YOU
couldn't stoop TO them, as the very
fat gentleman said when he dropped
his halfpence. Is there anything else
that you can think of, sir?'
I'm very much afraid there isn't,
Smithers," replied Ronald. 81 seem
to have spent my life acquiring
lot of painfully useless accomplish
ments"
Its the way with most of us.
remarked Smithers philosophically.
IF III been taught trade, car
pentering, plumbing-no, not plumb
ing, for I come of respectable fam
( ily--instead If readin', writin', and
| 'rithmetic, at the Board School, |
/ shouldn't be where | am now. |
was going TO say, sir; but. to tell
! you the truth, | don't know as ever
felt so happy and comfortable
in my life as l do at this minute 81
You're a good fellow, Smthers, -
said Ronald.
Thank you, sir" said Smithers.
/ He eyed Ronald's athletic figure
/ respectfully. I've often wished my
| self a gentleman, sir, such as you;
/ but I've noticed there's a disadvan-
tage in every line of business, as a
| chemist said when he swallowoi a
dose of his own poison, which he
had intended for his mother-in-law.
! Ii you wasn't gentleman you
could enlist as sodger; you can
always turn it up and desert when
you're tired of it,"
1--we done some soldering" said
Ronald absently.
II thought so. sir, from the way
you carried Yourself observed
Smithers, with increased admiration.
And | know something of sailor
ing" said. Ronald purposelessly Il
sailed my own yacht, and | got a
certificate"
Why it's the very thing, sir" ex-
| claimed Smithers jubilantly. 81 was
sure there was something useful you
could do, sir-begging your pardon.
It's the very thing!" he repeated.
You can get a berth aboard a
ship, as mate or something of the
sort; there's always an opening for
steady men like you, sir" He hesi-
tate slightly at the STEADY; and
Ronald laughed as he said:
IT'S not a bad idea, Smithers!
yes, sir" said Smithers, but in
a rueful voice and with engthen-
ing of his expressive countenance; !;
though | don't quite see exactly
where | come in But don't mind
me, sir. | shall manage to stick to
you somehow or other. can sneak
aboard as a stowaway, or ship as
odd man. It's capital idea, sir,
and We'll see about lookin' for a
ship at once"
That's all very we'll" said Ron
aid, in his easy way; ''but where
are We to go now? You don't pro
pose that we shall spend the night
here, Smithers?"
Well, it's a biggish room, and
the decorations amt bad" observ-
ed Smithers, glancing round him
critically. But the situations Il
bit too airy, not to say public, for
a gentleman like you, sir He pom
| dered for a moment then he looked