Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1910-12-13
chasing her In circle. She was too


was agile. At every stop there would
be the pretty face Drumming with mis-.
chief her eyes riyeted ON him that
she should be ready for his slightest
move Finally he gave 1t up.
Did Cook send you out TO do this:"
Yes"
Well. suppose shall have To lose
the bet
THAT isn't necessary"
What do you mean?"
Ihat II you ask me 10 give YOU
what have taken will do So
"On what conditions?"
NO conditions"
mo conditions. What do you meauY'
Il mean that agreed with Hum
phrey for dozen pairs OF gloves to
come out aud delay YOU. Please don't
ask me why prefer not TO do So"
she cast down her eyes. aud her
meaning was plain. She had gone
soft on ChaInplin.
She handed him the nut. He re-
/ placed IL, and in another minute they
were shooting again along the road.
Champlin was delighted. Cook had
very nearly got ahead of him-would
nave got ahead OF him had IL not been
that the girl had taken so great
fancy TO him that she hadn the heart
to do" him. What q splendid joke il
would be on Cook and the party who
were present at the making of the bet
when Champlin and Miss Hood rolled
up to the - hotel on timci Miss
Hood hadn't even asked for the gloves
her cousin had offered her to help him
win them. Champlin told her that as
soon ms he received the stakes he
would give them To her and she could
change them for ladies' gloves. In
stead of being pleased at this, she ap-
peared to be very much hurt Champ
lin begged her 10 tell him why, and
she replied that she had not consented
10 be turncoat for bribe. This left
him TO understand that she had done
1t all for him. There was a very ten
Ter scene between them, at the end of
which the misunderstanding was made
UP. and for the rest Of the journey
Miss Cook held the steering wheel.
while Mr.. Champlln's arm was about
her waist.
There were no more delays. On APP
preaching the city, having still an
hours leeway. they concluded to stop
at convenient place and get the dust
out OF their threats with an ice.
Champlin left the lady for brief sea-
son while he poured out something
more effective than an ice I'm doing
away with dust. On rejoining her they
partook of the ices and resumed their
journey.
What are you smiling at?" asked
Miss Hood Of her companion.
oh, | was thinking how surprised
that cousin OF yours will be when we
roll up on time. That was a rascally
proceeding OF his, and it deserved TO
fail. IL you hadn't been the dearest
girl in the world 1t would have sue
ceeded. But just think Of his surprise
when he hears OF the other part of It,"
He managed to get hold of her hand
with his left, holding on to the wheel
with one hand, and they bowled along
In this way until they met another
conveyance
And now the dome of the capitol
with the figure perched upon it doomed
up faint in the distance. 1t was not
long before the outskirts Of the city
were reached. and half an hour before
the time limit had expired they stopped
at the ladies' entrance TO the -
hotel. A liveried servant advanced
and said:
Mr.. Cook aud party Of ladies and
gentlemen are in private dining room
waiting for you. sir"
Entering the room. Champlin expect
ed to find Cook eager TO know why his
scheme had failed. Instead Cool hand
ed his cousin dozen pairs of ladies'
gloves After this lie put out his hand
to ChampIin.
II congratulate you, old boy. with all
my heart ON your engagement"
Champin stood mute with astonish.
meut.
Champ. old boy" added Cool. you
need all explanation TO make YOU
lose / sent my cousin Jack out to ef-
feet an entrance into your auto and de-
lay you on the way. II she succeeded
she was TO have dozen pairs of
gloves for a reward. She has lost the
gloves"
That's plain" said Champlin.
We'll. there was a bet between Jack
and me OF another dozen pairs OF
gloves against II hundred cigars that
she would make you propose TO her on
the way"
| Cbamplin looked SO many emotions.
OF which, astonishment and shame
facedness were the most prominent.
that oil burst into a laugh, i'm which
lac finally joined. Then turning to Miss
Hood, he advanced with n puzzled, in
! quiring look Oh his face 40 So
Was it all a shamT' he asked
She made no reply i'm words. but a
slight color rising 10 her cheeks indi-
Gated that the brief period she had
passed. even Of a sham engagement.
bad not been unpleasant 20 her Be
I .inp4 { fituutp1fu vrue peoro rAoH 40 n.,,