The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-03-03
DIGNlFlED MRS. SLADE

{, My friend, Mrs. Milton slade."
Clara murmured, reanzing what
potIteness required OF her.
warren could have groane4 In
despair. Why couIant Clara have
given him some flctiuous name in
stead of that OF real, though new,
, acquaintance? or course. he saw the
point the real Mrs. slade was Gig
nified, and he--er--well. ne was stif.
There the resem plance ended. WHAT
IL Mr.. Horton had seen the lady, even
though ne had not met her? 1t was
mot at all unlikely.
Bpt once more Warren's fears
proved groundless.
Pleased to meet you. I'm sure"
Mr.. Horton declared heartily. start
ing as IL to shake hands. but Warren
only half rose. inclining his head
slightly. He had no desire to shake
hands.
MIR. Horton was not one. however.
to be easily daunted.
Fine day for motoring" he con-
tinued volubly. II suppose you mo-
tored out. though l didn't see any
car outside"
The too dignifed Mrs. Milton sIade
murmured an inaudibie reply.
Eth. what's that?" queried Mr..
Horton.
MIS-. Ciaue says tNat Sne sent ueT
| machine back" explained Clara men
daciously. suddenly realizing poor
Warren's plight--he possessed deep
bass voice.
.'She has a terrible cold and it's
impossible for her to talk much. She
intends to return to the Albion
House, where she 10 living, you know,
by the neh trolley car
Warren drew a long breath Of
thankfulness for he had been won-
dering what he should do should Mr..
Horton persist In conversing.
II shall be very pleased to have you
return In my car" Mr.. Horton I'M
sisted. graciously. 1T will be pleas
anter and quicker"
The two guilty ones gaxed at each
other In dismay, but there seemed no
way out of the predicament.
II Warren refused to accompany
Mr.. Horton that astute gentleman
| would surely suspect something.
Warren slowly preceded Mr.. Hor-
ton down the stairs, in an agony Of
dread lest his shoes be noticed. He
walked. In quaking silence. beside Mr..
Horton through the yard. and let that
gentleman assist him into the waiting
runabout. The old gentleman sprang
into the chauffeur's seat beside him,
and they were soon whizxing away In
the direction of town.
Warren was lost In gloomy wonder
ing as to what he should do after Mr..
Horton let him down at the Albion
house. How was he to get out of his
present rig without attracting unde :
sirable attention? He could not shed
II on the street, and he certainly could
not appear at his boarding house or
at the ONCE in II.
He was suddenly aroused by littis
gasp from Mr.. Horton. He turned
about just I'm time to see that gentle
mans hands fall Imply from the driv-
Ing wheel.
warren sprang forward and gasp
ed the webbing wheel just in the
nick of time to prevent the cars col
liding with another rapidly approach
, ing machine.
As soon as he could. he brought the
car to q halt, and turned his atten-
ton 90 his companion. He knew that
MIR. Horton had had several slight
heart attacks. which he had kept from
the knowledge of his family. and he
feared the worst.
To his great relief. Warren found
that his employer had not even lost
consciousness.
My tablets--in my inner pocket"
he gasped feebIy.
AS soon as he had swallowed two
OF the tablets Mr.. Horton began to feel
better.
How can I ever thank you. mad
am" he began. Your presence of
mind undoubtedly saved our lives. But
for you this car would have collided
with the other" Then he broke OF
abruptly and stared hard at Warren.
In the stress of the past few min
utes Warren had forgotten all about
his disguise. He had pulled off his
goggles and the muffiing veil. and the
wide bonnet strings were united and
dangling about a, decidedly masculine
face.
''Clagett," gasped Mr.. Horton and
WarTens face assumed a horrified ex-
|, preston as he realized what recog-
milton meant
you young scamp" Mr.. Horton
chuckled weakly. II thought those
shoulders looked somehow familiar.
Well. well. since you were on hand
when needed l won't be too hard on
you. II you'd really been the digni-
fed Mrs Slade you probably wouldn't
have known enough to step ths car.
BY the way,4I heard you've been try
ing for a berth with Smith 4 Tuliar.
You'd better not go any further In
tho matter. I've always meant TO
| take my son-in-law into partnership