The Southern herald., 1911-05-05

wheelbarrow
Poritol kept his frightened eyes on
Orme's face. but be said nothing.
'Wen. l viii explain IT, You fol-
lowed the car when II started for Ar
radale. You waited here. found a
wheelbarrow. and tried to wreck us.
Il is further evidence Of your comic
equipment that you should use a
wheelbarrow."
Poritol got to his feet you are
mistaken. dear Mr.. Orme. ~"
orme smiled grimly, stop" he
said. Don't explain. Nov I want
you to stay right here in this field for
a half hour. Don't bulge. If l catch
you outside. I'll take you to the near
est jail"
Poritol drew himself up, "As an
attache am exempt" be said. with
a pitiful attempt at dignity.
"You are not exempt from the con-
sequences OF a crime like this. Now.
get on your knees"
Whimpering, Poritol kneeled.
"Stay in that position"
"Oh. sir-oh, my very dear sir, L"
"Stay there!" thundered orme.
Poritol was still, but his lips moved,
and his interlaced fingers worked con-
vulsively.
AS orme walked away, he stopped
now and then to look back. Poritol
did not move, and orme long carried
the picture of that kneeling figure.
who was it," asked Bessie Wal.
. lingham. as he climbed back over the
fence.
"A puppy with sharp teeth" he re-
/ piled. thinking Of what the girl had
, said. I'VE might as well forget him
She studied him in silence, then
3 pointed to the chauffeur. who wai
down at the side Of the car.
!. Anything damagedf" orme Quer
led.
|, Yes, sir"
/. "Much?"
1.-TWO hours work. sir
n "Pshaw!" Orme shut his teeth dow
/, hard; Poritol, had he known 1t, Nigh
e have felt thankful that he was no
l. near at hand. He turned to Bessie
How much farther Is it?"
II The chauffeur answered. "Abou
three miles, sir"
v Three miles over dark country road
Z. and 1t was nearly II o'clock. H
q glanced ahead. In the distance
light twinkled.
Bessie" he said come with me t
W that farmhouse. We must go on. o.
n. If you prefer to wait here"
'I'n go with you, of course"
They walked along the road to th
farm gate. A cur yelped at their fet
". as they approached the house, and a
,e old man, coatless and slippered, opene
at the door, holding an oil lamp hlg
n. above his head Down. Rover! VIII
,e do you want?" he shouted.
We've got to have rig to take I
lg to Winnetka," said Orme. Our CT
is broke down"
he The old man reflected. Cant {
je, It," he said, at last. "All shet up f
mt the night Can't leave the miss,
alone"
at A head protruded from dark upp
d, window, Yes. you can, Simeon
IF. growled woman's cultural voice.
WALL don't know"
n "Yes, you can" She turned
Orme. He'll take ye fer five dolla
cash. Ye can pay me-"
as Orme turned to Bessie. Have y,
,n- any money!" he whispered.
. Heavens! left my hand bag
lin my locker at the clubhouse. How 81
,n- pid!"
Never mind" Orme saw that
must lose the marked bill after a
Regretfully he took 1t from his pock
al The woman had disappeared from t
window, and now she came to t
II door and stood behind her husbar
Wrapped in an old blanket, she ma
gaunt figure, not unlike a squaw.
Orme walked up the two or thr
steps, she stretched her hand over /
husbands shoulder and snatched t
N bill, examining it closely by the Ian
~ light.
Whats this writin' on it?" she
manded, fiercely.
"Oh, that's just somebody's joke.
& doesn't hurt anything"
We'll, don't know" She looked
It doubtfully, then crumpled 1t til
in her fist. 'T guess it'll pass.
M move on you, Simeon"
The old man departed, grumbli
III to the barn, and the woman drew bs
iii into the house, shutting the door ca
Eb fully. Orme and Bessie heard
bolts click as she shot them home
"Hospitable!" exclaimed Bes
seating herself on the doorstep.
After a wait that seemed inter
nable, the old man came driving arol
the house. To a ramshackle bul
he had hitched decrepit horse II
wedged in as best they could, the
4M man between them, and at shufH
III amble the nag proceeded through
XII gate and turned eastward
In the course of 20 minutes t
|I crossed railroad tracks and ente
~ the shady streets Of the village, Be
{NH 5fraofipu tho old man whnra tn dr