The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1911-04-02

myself are somewhat perturbed,
hiding ourselves OF a sudden In q
situation wherein we would not dis
dain assistance. Now, you fellows
are strangers to me, and the first
question Is whether you would be
willing to come to the assistance OF
this lady in our emergency. III you
are willing to speculate insight and
unseen, I'll let you in on the ground
floor of our secret; II not. speak UP
real loud and distinct and we'll bid
You adios and no harm done. SO
now, which Is it?"
Red Strengthened up on his toes
and began to bristle and grow
hoarse. He made me think of ten.
pound rat-terrier trying to out-bluff
a mastiff, but even at that, If I had
mt known him, would have got
behind something at the mere sound
of him.
I'm with you and you are safe, y
he rumb,ed. so what's the partic-
ular brand Of your trouble?"
The man turned upon him.
Its like this. My name Is Strong
-lineal descendant of Peokaway OF
that name. This lady is Miss Ride
out, and she is the daughter Of
Washington Rideout, popularity and
vulgarly known as Wash, and whose
reputation may possibly have perco-
lated thus far into the foothills"
He stopped speaking and cooked
his ear over his shoulder, and in that
instant my memory cleared. had
seen both Strong and Rideout, way
back in the mildewed past, and now,
as the cobwebs of time fell away, !
saw their faces plainly with my
minds eye. There could be no doubt
about it. These fullblooded, curied
and groomed fly-by-nights were their
son an daughter, for could see
the family resemblances standing
ou. like the eagle on a gold piece.
But the difference was this: The
ones before us were young and fresh
tinted and full of rich life, like a
new oil painting, whereas Wash and
Peck were but couple of poor old
battered tin-typers.
The young fellow turned upon us
again.
The fact is, you are now gazing
upon a man and woman who are
soul-bent upon committing the helm
GUS crime of matrimony, with malice
aforethought and consequences be
hanged, and that, too, in the very
teeth of our parents stern injunc-
tion. For, unreal as it may seem,
while they encouraged us during our
preliminary love-jockeyings, yet,
when the lady and myself took the
bits in our teeth for the hurdle of
matrimony. they arose frothing az
the mouth and swearing that they
had been double-crossed and whip
sawed. Neither could we pacify them,
for both seemed to feel that child
murder would be an inconseQuential
misdemeanor compared with such a
mesalliance as our marriage. Then
came the open rupture and our pres
ent sprint for the altar.
Now, of course, our parents are a
couple of fine Old boys in their way,
but they are Of the vintage of 1860
and have soured some. They have
never seen a ninety horsepower mo-
tor-car on the rampage, and they
don't realize that when one comes
along, pack-mules have got to take
to the timber or get mutilated. And,
on the same principle, they don't
seem to comprehend that ninety
horsepower car is but a baby-car-
riage beside Cupid's chariot, when
the latter vehicle comes amuck down
the highway. Now, / don't want TO
De COIuptlltu W odht phy oiNoi NV
ties with their anatomical structures,
but I'm going to pull off this we'd
ding as per schedule or tear up
considerable natural scenery. Hence,
| make this appeal to you, on behalf
of this lady, who deplores bloodshed
incidentally. | might mention that
our pursuers are probably raging
not over a mile behind u.s."
Red began to bloat.
ITS a shame and an outrage, and
won't stand for it, he gritted.
Just let me at the old griffins."
He droped his hand on his hols-
ter. but Strong stopped him with
gesture.
None of that. The help ! need is
not brute-force, but strategy and
diplomacy" e..
Alfalfa slid in front of Red and
stood smirking before the queen.
Diplomacy is my long suit ard
strategy my pastime," he began with
simper. Presidents have attended