The Washington herald., 1912-09-15

the situation with any degree Of pride
in the first place, still less 50 if sorns
one behind were apparently endeayor-
ing to suppress one.
| The Watermelon sfrowned. I'VE
weren't breaking any speed limit. unless
! the snail is the standard YOU regulate
4 your speed laws by The men nc
longer believed that they had caught
| the thief, but il they insisted on tax.
ing the party before a magistrate. each
would have to give his name. With
the general present, fictitious names
would only be so much waste of breath
and the Watermelon had no desire to
| give his assumed name to any one in
the employ of the law
| Nav sneered the man, splitting
with gusto There's other things to
break besides speed laws"
Yes. agreed the Watermelon; your
empty head"
Nov, don't get sassy" warned the
man, growing angry I'm an officer
of the law. and I'm not going to take
any of your sass"
AN officer of the law can't arrest q
law-abiding citizen" snapped the
Watermelon, with righteous indigna-
ton
'Law-abiding?" jeered the man.
What have we donei'
Try to guess" suggested the man,
pleasantly, and the other laughed.
Il can't guess" said the Watermelon
is it for riding through the cow lane?
We didn't hurt the lane any. / rode
through this same lane last summer,
and the Browns didn't kick up any row
over it. In fact, they were with me;
that is, Dick and Lizzie were"
The man stared and the Watermelon
frowned coldly.
DO you know the Browns!". de-
manded the fellow.
Not very WE'LL" admitted the Wat
ermelon. Il was through here last
summer and stopped overnight at their
place. They were fine people, all right
They told me if | ever came this way
again to drop in. and Said would
1t was sort of joke They gave ME
latchkey" He drew a key from his
pocket and held it out as proof of his
integrity -
Huh" said the man. duly, gazing
from the key to the Watermelon
The second man took it. Which
door does it ft:" he asked.
The front door," said the Water
melon, promptly. GO try it if you
want proof"
Not so fast" said the second man,
who had taken the affair into his own
hands. IF you know the Browns, tell
me something about them? No, you
chuffer feller, hold on. back there.
Don't try to slip by, for you can't !
You automobilists think that the Lord |
created heaven and earth for your ben
eft and then rested on the seventh day |
and has been resting ever since. That's
better. Now, then"-turning again to
the Watermelon-''hcw many in the
family"
How nany?" queried the Water
melon. Il don't know only saw Ma
and Pa and the three kids-Dick, and
Lizzie, and Sarah. Sarah was a young
ady about twenty. if ! remember right
"; Lizzie was eight, and Dick was a
think he said. | remember his birthday
came in January, anyway"
Well, goldaIn it," laughed tie first
say. amt we the easy marks"
Watermelon, gently. Father used to
ty. was worthy of admiration"
What did Dick look like" demand
ID the second man, loath to give up.
The Watermelon Strengthened up.
we are in hurry. You have detained
IS long enough. have told you as
much as am going to about tie
Browns. It's a year ago this summe.
lwelling on their beautiful counte-
lances in rapt and joyful contempla-
ion ever since. have seen a few {
'eoplc during the interval. Dick was
airly good-looking, but Lizzie was the {
utest. / took them through the COW T
ane to show them how they, could go q
or the cows in a motor car, farming {
p to date. see. Now move aside and t
ct US pass, please t
No, you don't" returned the man.
harply. Let that chuffer fcller in the I
ack car come up to the house with o
ne while | try this key. Tom, you t
eep the others. here till ! come back"
The Watermelon leaned back wear a
y, indifferent, and drew out his cigar I
tie papers. Alphonse climbed obedi-
ntly from the car, with his usual i'm I
Calmly and willingly. 5
e scaled the stone wall and Set off a
cross the field with his captor. Tom S
examined his gun, one eye il
n the motor cars. k
The generals desire to explain was l.
iperseded by still greater desire 70 Ii
It away. The grim faces of the two Il
ZEN impressed him with the gravity of "
le event If they were to escape. now b
as the time, when the forces of the ii
,emy were divided, but there was his b
IT: He could not leave that behind, tc
I'd the pan in the road was a fairly
BOD reason for him to remain where 81
. was and make no attempt to reach S,
Bachelor had put up a clever bluff, h;
1t II had been called. and they had to c;
there until the return of the other fe
an, when they would be exposed; for,