The Twin City star. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1910-19??, 1910-12-30
Her Hired Suitor
Copyright 1910. by Associated Literary Press
BY 7. S. STRIBLING

ISOLATED Literary Press,
| flushed face under the arc light, after
this burst Of confidence. ..a
| What am I to do?"
well, when she told me a soda
singer looked daredevil I decided
right then to fight a daredevil with
fire. I looked you over. like your
cut and twill, Hume. I want you
to pitch in now and make that drug
clerk as dead an ISSUE as free silver
or abolition. Can you sing-play a
guitar?"
"A little Bit"
"All right, I fancy If drawing sodas
looks daredevil. guitar and a moon
light song ought to be a regular wild
west show, and few words whis.
! pered in window lattice. a charge
up San Juan hill. Are you on-sal
airy twenty-five per week till the drug
| clerk fades?"
TWENTY-FIVE per-" laughed Hume
In amazement, Ito court a girl?"
Moneys no object, Mr.. Hume;
want the work done. wouldn't
quarrel about a lawyers fee when he
writes my will. T..is is like that.
Yonder comes our car We can't tai:
, this inside. Is it a go?"
7 Sure thing"
: The two men boarded the car and
I were flying on their way to Mana
yunk. They sat side by side, and Mr..
Boveril handed the blue coat dime,
lifting two fingers. 1t takes some
think like three-quarters of an hour
to ride from the heart of Philadel-
phia to Manayunk. Hume could not
forbear smiling at this whimsical ad-
venture upon which he was engaged.
Suddenly thought struck him. He
leaned over to the hectic ear of his
companion.
Suppose shoVld-supose--"
Mr.. Boveril turned and gave him
steady look. I'D get somebody to
head you off,"
"She must be young"
TOO young to marry"
What age"
Eighteen"
The car fed on up past Fairmount
park.
"A fine night for It," suggested
Hume, his heart warming to his task.
Mr.. Boveril nodded, pulled out a
fat gold watch. Nearly eleven. That's
not very late. You might borrow
guitar from somewhere. I'll listen
to you a little bit to see how you
perform. After tonight let me know
when you're coming around to sing,
and I'll stay away at the club. I'm
not much ON music"
Sure" replied Hume easily; Meth
er am I. used to sing in my board.
ing house until the gentleman below
came up one night and offered to
throw me out. You understand, he
Just took fancy to do something for
ma, just as you did. I stopped, how.
eves. not wanting to put him to any
trouble"
Mr.. 9overil smiled. I'VE get OF at
the next corner" he said.
The Boyeril mansion was located on
a hillside in Manayunk over toward
Roxborough. 1t stood white and
stately in the soft light on a terraced
lawn, up which clambered many
flights Of marble steps. Hume caught
a breath of admiration at the pile,
which was not wasted on the owner.
"'Tis pretty, isn't it?" he said, "and
to think that wasted on a drug clerk
she's my only child" The old fel.
lows voice shook little. 81 wish
could buy her half a dozen drug
clerks until she got tired of EN-"
AS they walked through the streets
Of the suburb Hume visited many Of
the despised drug steYes until he hit
upon a guitar that could be had.
Armed with this the Two plotters ap.
preached the mansion.
When they had climbed the third
terrace, Mr.. Boveril took seat on an
iron settee, and lookei at the summer
moon while his a.complice stole
around to the designated window for
his work.
Presently Mr.. Bogeril heard a
thrun Of chords and then a rather |
pleasant tenor voice singing "Cuddle |
Up Little Closer" an air then run.
ming In popular musicsj comedy.
What a night" m4lmured Mr..
Boveril, land his voice isn't bad,
though 1t seems to me I'VE heard It
before somewhere"
Within the heavy windc.v frame a
girls head appeared with the first
notes, "ch, Cranleigh," she whisper
ed, you must go away, darling. I'm
expecting Pop home any miaute"
But Cranleigh's arms we've about
her shoulders. Hes already here.
down on the third terrace, l.atening
to me sing"
What, Cranleigh," she whispered
In establishment. How did you get
away from the drug store?"
Cranleigh explained, struck his
guitar again, and once more Mr..
Boveril heard the lit, "Cuddle I'D a
little closer. lovey mine, lovey mine"
This time it was in duet, and Mr.
Boveril wondered.