The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1911-01-06
fIklE
Her Hired Suitor
BY 7. S. sTRIBLING



Literary Press.
flushed face under the arc light, after
this burst of confidence.
what am ] to do?"
well, when she told me soda
singer looked daredevil decided
right then to light a daredevil with
fire. looked you over. | like your
cut and twill, Hume. want you
to pitch in now and make that drug
clerk as dead an issu, as free silver
or abolition Can you sing-play a
guitar?"
"A little Bit"
"All right, / fancy II drawing sodas
looks daredevil, a guitar and a moon
light song ought TO be a regular wild
west show and a few words whis
pered In window iattice. 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, "to court a girl?"
Moneys no object, Mr.. Hume; |
want the work done wouldn't
quarrel about a lawyers fee when he
writes my viii I is is like that
Yonder comes our car. We can't tal.;
this inside. Is It a go?"
Sure thing"
TIE two men boarded the car and
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 a thought struck him. He
leaned over to the hectic ear of his
companion.
Suppose ! should-supose--"
Mr.. Boveril turned and gave him a
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 a
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 III stay away at the club I'm
not much on music"
Sure, replied Hume easily; meth
er am |. l used to sing in my board
ing house until the gentleman below
ame up one night and offered to
throw me out. You understand, he
lust took a fancy to do something for
me, just as you did. ! stopped. how.
ever, not wanting to put him to any
trouble"
Mr.. Boveril smiled. I'VE get off at
The next corner" he said
The Boverll mansion was located on
hillside in Manayunk over toward
Roxborough. 1t stood white and
stately in the soft light on a terraced
lawn. up which clambered many
fights 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 a little. II 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 stores until he hit
upon a guitar that could be had
Armed with this the two plotters
preached the mansion.
When they had climbed the third
terrace, Mr.. Boveril took a seat on an
iron settee, and looked at the summer
moon while his accomplice stole
around to the designated window for
his work.
Presently Mr.. Boveril heard a
thrum of chords and then a rather
pleasant tenor voice singing "Cuddle
Up a Little Closer" an air then run
ming in popular musical comedy
What a night" murmured Mr..
Boveril, "and his voice isn't bad,
though it seems to me I've heard It
before somewhere"
Within the heavy window frame a
girls head appeared with the first
notes, ooh, Cranleigh," she whisper
ed, you must go away, darling. I'm
expecting Pop home any minute
But Cranleigh's arms were about
her shoulders. Hes already here,
down on the third terrace, listening
to me sing"
What, Cranleigh," she whispered
in astonishment. How did you get
away from the drug store?"
Cranleigh explained, struck his
guitar again, and once more Mr..
Boverll heard the lit, "Cuddle up
little closer, Iovey mine, lovey mine
This time it was in duet, and
overil wondered.