Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1911-06-29
Old Baine's
Chauffeur

richer and was liked in his clubs and
person spoke of him as Mr.. Baine
1t was always as Old Baine. He
came to know 1t and accept the title.
persons spoke of him as Mr.. Baines.
There were lot of bright young fell
lows in the Acorn club who were
friendly with Old Baine.
Old Baine had beautiful home in
the suburbs. In that home. besides
a wife, he had a handsome daughter
named Maude. She often came TO the
by sight to score of the Acornites.
A number ofs them had sought invi-
tations to The Elms, but the owner
had pretended not to understand. Old
Baine had a husband picked out for
Miss Maude and that gentleman didn't
belong to the Acorn club. He was
out west in the railroad business and
trying to climb to the top There
should be no providers coming around
The Elms.
II the father had been asked which
young man he took to" most at the
Acorn club, he would have answered
Harry Campbell. There was a bright
young man, making his way as civil
engineer and to be heard of some day
among the best. Old Baine sized
him up as having plenty of ambition,
but no guile. So great was his trust
in him that he confidently informed
him that he was going west to be gone
three months and that his old chauf-
feur having quit his job the ladies
must go to the trouble of getting an
other after his departure.
Two days after young Campbell
had shaken hands with Old Baine
and hoped him pleasant stay In the
wild and wholly and was sorry he
couldn't go along, he appeared at The
Elms in a $12 suit, ready-made, and
made application for a chauffeur's
place.
1t was Miss Maude who was to do
the engaging and she looked upon the
applicant with surprise and suspicion.
He looked anything but the real thing.
Some gentleman who has suffered
misfortune" unused Miss Maude to
herself. will he keep to his place or
take advantage? | will at least give
him a trial"
MIR. Harris" as he was supposed
to be, returned to town after his outfit
and was duly installed in his place.
The first time he ran the auto Miss
Maude watched him with critical eye
and her mother was in tremble.
Harris was given weeks trial and
he suited the place admirably. Per-
haps the only fault to be found with
Harris was the reserve.
He was on his third week and the
city papers had chronicled the "mys-
terious disappearance of a club man
and civil engineer" when the mother,
who had been out alone paying calls,
returned home to say to the daughter:
We'll, what do you think has hap
pened this afternoon"
IL had just come out of Mrs. Pom
pon's and Harris stood beside the auto
to help me in when young lady driv-
ing past bowed and smiled at him and
he lifted his cap. 1t was young lady
from the city, too"
"Ha! And she had on a hat that
never cost less than $40! What do
you make of it?"
II don't make anything"
But just the same, Miss Maude de-
termined to find out more about Har'
ris without delay. Was he Rallies?
Was he hiding from the police? Had
he abandoned his young wife? Was
he-he-?
The mystery should be solved and
If he were an impostor in the slight
est degree something should be done.
Next day she ordered out the auto
and took a spin alone. She had things
in view, but of course she must have
a little time to get them in due order
in her mind She was working by the
card system and glancing now and
then at the back of Harris head when
loud explosion was heard from
around a bend in the highway. 1t
fairly halted the auto.
To her screams of terror Harris an.
swered with the one word: "Dyna-
mite!" AS the word was out he
jumped to the ground, tore at the rails
Of the fence on the right-la-d side
for a moment and then sprang back
into the machine and bumped II
through into the field.
And he was not moment too soon!
Four horses and two wagons belong
ing to farmers came tearing around
the bend a. mad gallop, frightened
by the explosion in the quarry. They
went by with a rush and roar that
meant death to anything in their path
for the next mile.
"Oh!" whispered the girl as she
looked and began sobbing
Shall we go home. ma'am?" quietly
asked Harris.
The girl shivered and wept all the
way back. The quick wit of Harris
had saved them from death. That
evening he was called into the sitting
room and asked:
MIR. Harris, who and what are
your"