The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1911-01-28
Eklf
Her Hired Suitor
Copyright 1910. by Associated Literary Press.
BY T. S. STRIBLTNG

light song ought to be regular wild
west show. and few words whis-
pered In window lattice. a 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. ito court a girl?"
Moneys no object. Mr.. Hume;
want the work done. wouldn't
quarrel about lawyers fee when he
writes my will I lis is like that.
Yonder comes our car We can't tai:
J this inside. Is it a go?"
Sure thing"
/ The 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 thought struck him. He
leaned over to the hectic ear Of his
companion.
Suppose I should-supose-
Mr.. Boveril turned and gave him
steady look. I'D get somebody to
head you on"
She must be young"
TOO young to marry"
What age?"
Eighteen"
The car fed on up past Fairmount
park. There was full moon in the
sky that wove pale filtering of light
over the massed trees. AS they
passed the Wissahickon the tumbling
waters at the dam cleaned white and
managed to send note of its bari
tone into the rafting car.
"A fine night for It," suggested
Hume, his heart warming to his task.
Mr.. Boveril nodded. pulled out
fat gold watch. Nearly eleven That's
not very late. You might borrow
| 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 I'll stay away at the club. I'm
not much on music"
Sure" replied Hume easily; meth
er am l. l used to sing in my board
ing house until the gentleman below
came up one night and offered to
throw me out. You understand, he
just took 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 OF at
the next corner" he said.
The Boveril mansion was located on
a hillside in Manayunk over toward
Roxborough. 1t stood white and
stately in the soft light on a terraced
lawn. up which clambered many
flights of marble steps. Hume caught
a breath of admiration at the pile,
which was not wasted on the owner.
Ills pretty, isn't it?" he said, land
to think that wasted on drug clerk
she's my only child" The old fell
lows voice shook a little. Il 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 ap.
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 q
thrum of chords and then a rather
pleasant tenor voice singing "Cuddle
Up Little Closer" an air then run,
ming in popular musical comedy.
What a night" murmured Mr..
Boveril. and his voice isn't bad.
though 1t seems to me I'VE heard II
before somewhere"
Within the heavy window frame a
girls head appeared with the frst
notes. "Oh. Cranleigh." she whisper
ed. you must 90 away. darling. I'm
expecting Pop home any minute"
But Cranleigh's arms were about
her shoulders. He's already here.
down on the third terrace. listening
to me sing"
What. Cranleigh." she whispered
in establishment How did you get
away from the drug store?"
Cranleigh explained, struck his
guitar again, and once more Mr..
Boveril heard the Tilt. "Cuddle up a
little closer. lovey mirie, Iovey mine"
This time 1t was in duet, and Mr..
Boveril wondered.
Kings Glove Hand.