The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1911-10-26
|Carter'SPrOxy
BY W. c. s SHERLOCK

Don't be so frivolous. Tag. I'm III
no humor today for romp."
Tag. in obedience to his masters
command, sat down on his launches
and fixed one brown eye on Carriers
troubled face while the other eye kept
strict watch on the movements OF
Tabby, who was enjoying sun-bath
on the windowsill. Tag and Tabby
were sworn enemies during the day
each ever on TIE alert to resent any
injury, real or fanciful, that might &C.
cur to either through the agency of
the other, but when the shades of
night fell, hostilities ceased and the
two slept side by side in Tags ken
mel.
Carter, meanwhile, filled and lighted
his pipe and meditatively watched the
smoke that arose. 81 don't know what
to do, Tag" he resumed slowly; I'm
in love with Helen Granger and be-
lieve, or ain trying to believe, that
she loves me. | want to find out, but
can't do that until l tell her all
| about It. A girl doesn't let man
know she loves him until she is GER
tain he loves her.
Tag gave sharp, omnous bark at
| Tabby, who had manifested some
signs of changing her position. But
Carter. more intent upon his own az
fairs, construed it as reply.
That is true, Tag" he assented
gravely. You are wise if you are
only a dog The proper thing to do is
to tell Helen that | love her and find
out the rest, but, Tag, therein lies the
trouble She will listen to me when
| talk about anything under the sun
except love, When | carefully lead
up to that subject, she evades the
question, changes the conversation. or
has convenient excuse to go some
where else at that particular moment.
I've tried a dozen times, but she has
always managed to escape answering
me. So, I'd like to know how I'm
going to propose to her when she
won't listen to me. Just tell me that,
old fellow
The terrier bowed his head and
scratched the floor with his right
fore-paw vigorously and Carter re-
garded the actions as an answer to his
question. NO. no, Tag; writing
won't do" he declared with conviction,
Helen told me the other day what
her opinion was of a man who wrote
an avowal of his love on paper and
sent it through the mail like any bust
ness communication don't care to
be in the class where she places such
men. | must do something else to let
her know | love her. but what shall it
be-"
Tag, however, was too intent upon
his daily feud with Tabby to take
further interest IN his masters love
affairs. Tabby had risen from the
windowsill, and. with arched back
and cleaning eyes, was bidding def
ance to her enemy. Tag rushed wild
ly to accept the challenge, but the cat.
with one swift spring, landed on the
big horn of the graphophone and
from that secure position breathed
continued defiance in several ominous
snarls The situation gave Carter an
idea.
Il have it," he exclaimed joyfully.
Its just the thing! Helen has a
graphophone just like mine. I'll tell
my tale of love into a blank record
and send it to her with instructions
not to set 1t off until she is alone.
I've sent her many records before
and I'm sure she will listen attentively
to it. Probably she will keep it go.
ing two or three times to make sure
of what | have said. It's a great
scheme, the best that could be de.
vised. She'll surely answer it. and
the matter will be settled"
1t was easier to plan than 1t was to
execute. Difficult as he had found
1t to confess his love to Helen in per.
son, he found it harder still to shout
his avowal into an uninterested ma
chine. 1t was hard enough to select
the proper words but more difficult
to pitch his voice to the correct lover,
like tone Record after record was
tried and discarded for one fault or
another, but at last Carter felt he had
done the best he could under the cir
cumstances, although he was far from
satisfied with his production.
Testing his waxen proxy once more
to make sure that it fully conveyed
what he wished to say. Carter care
fully placed 1t In box and marked
upon the outside the instructions that
1t must not be used except when
Helen was alone. The precious little
packet was then tied up In a paper
and placed upon the table, while Car.
ter left the room to obtain a trust.
worthy messenger to carry the packet
to its destination.
Tabby, not content with carrying on
a wordy warfare. descended from the
horn and engaged in open conflict
with her enemy. The skirmish was
sharp but brief, and Tabby, retiring
in confusion, sprang upon the table to
escape the onslaught of the now in.
furiated Tag AS she did so, the lit.
tie parcel that Carter had prepared so
carefully vas overturned and rolled
to the floor
The sound of the battle attracted
the attention Of the servant who rush.
ed into the room and, after picking up
the parcel that bore the name of Hell.
en- Granger, drove the belligerents out
of the house just as Carter reappeared
with q messenger boy. The latter
after receiving numerous admonitions
and instructions, departed with the