The Huttig news., 1911-02-18

An Old Man, coatless and sIippered,
 Opened the Door,
 half hour. Don't budge If catch you outside, I'll take you to the near est jail"
 Poritol drew himself up. "As an attache I am exempt" he said. with pitiful attempt at dignity.
 You are not exempt from the con- sequences of crime like this. Now, get on your knees"
 Whimpering, Poritol kneeled.
 Stay in that position
 "Oh, sir-oh, my very dear sir r."
 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 hack over the fence.
 "A puppy with sharp teeth" he re- piled, thinking Of what the girl had said We might as well forget him..
 She studied him in silence. then pointed to the chauffeur. who was down at the side of the car
 Anything damaged?" Orme quer- jed
 Yes. sir"
 "Much?"
 Two hours work sir"
 "Pshaw!" Orme shut his teeth sov-n hard; Poritol had he known it. m { have felt thankful that be near at hand. He tuIn , ee How much farther is it?"
 The chauffeur answered. About l three miles. sir"
 Three miles over dark country roaes and 1t was nearly II o'clock. He 1 glanced ahead. In the distance a fight twinkled.
 Bessie, he said. come with me to 1 that farmhouse. We must go on Or, 1 if you prefer to wait here--" I'll go with you, of course" They walked along the road to the farm gate. cur yelped at their feet as they approached the house, and an old man, coatless and slippered, opened the door, holding an oil lamp high above his head. Down Rover! What do you want?" he shouted. We've got to have a rig to take us to Winnetka,' said Orme. Our car broke down."
 The old man reflected Cant do it." he said. at last All shet up fer alone"
 A head protruded from dark upper window. Yes, you can, Simeon.' growled woman's gisttural voice. Wall don't know" Yes, you can" She turned to Orme. Hell take ye fer five dollars cash. Ye can pay me" Orme turned to Bessie. Have you any money?y he whispered. Heavens! I left my hand bag in my locker at the clubhouse. How stu pid!"
 Never mind" Orme saw that he must lose the marked bill after all. Respectfully he took 1t from his pocket. The woman had disappeared from the | window, and now she came to the | door and stood behind her husband. | Wrapped in an old blanket, she made l gaunt figure, not unlike squaw AS | Orme walked up the two or three steps, she stretched her hand over her | husbands shoulder and snatched the bill, examining 1t closely by the lamp light
 | What's this writin' on it?' she de- handed fiercely. "Oh, that's just somebody's joke. It doesn't hurt anything"
 Well, I don't know" She looked at | it doubtfully, then crumpled 1t tight in her fist q guess it'll pass. Git a move on you. Simeon" | The old man departed, grumbling, | to the barn, and the woman drew back 1 into the house, shutting the door care fully. Orme and Bessie heard the bolts click as she shot them home. "Hospitablei" exclaimed Bessie. seating herself on the doorstep.
 After a wait that seemed intermi- nabIe, the old man came driving around 1 tho house. To a ramshackle buggy he had hitched decrepit horse. They wedged in as best they could, the old man between them. and at a shuffiing amble the nag proceeded through the 1 gate and turned eastward.
 In the course of 20 minutes they crossed railroad tracks and entered the shady streets of the village, Bessie directing the old man where to drive. Presently they came to the entrance of what appeared to be an extensive estate. Back among the trees glim- mered the lights of house. Turn ! in" said Bessie.