The Detroit times., 1912-10-22

cality. Still, by good luck. quick work
and prompt connections, Bachelor
would be able TO reach Boston late
that afternoon or evening and New
York 6efore 10 a, m, Saturday morn
ing, and at 10 a. M, Saturday the
last fight was 10 be fought, the last
stand made. Without their brilliant
young leader, the opponents to the
cotton ring would be out-numbered
aud out-classed. hopelessly beaten.
Bartlett's lighting blood was " at the
thought. Was he to haze his week
spoiled by the worthless Alphonse's
deyiltry? Bachelor should not run
the slightest chance OF reaching Bos-
ton that day, II he could help II. Hen
rietta had a little money In her bag
that would tide them over. Better
avoid anything TO do with telegrap and
telephones as long as possible. They
could make an attempt to reach Har-
rison and get lost. But getting lost
wasn't as easy as it appeared. when
the general was along, thoroughly de-
termined not to gel lost. Bartletts
thoughts were broken In on by the
Watermelon in way that caused
him quick alarm. The young man
had at last awakened to the gravity OF
the situation, as Bartlett had been
expecting him to do ever since the
trip began.
I'VE had better telephone" said the
Watermelon, las Parker says. We
can telephone for money and have IL
sent to Harrison. and we can ride
to Harrison and probably get there
the same time as the money does and
get the train for Boston. It's time we
were back In New York, anyway"
The trip was ended and the sooner
he left Billy the better. He could
give them the slip at Harrison and
once more hit the road.
"Telephoning from here won't help
matters at all" objected Bartlett,
fighting for that opportunity to get
lost again, Just for one more day-12
hours would be enough. I'VE can
drive to Harrison and telegraph from
there. It is only 10-mile drive. We
can make it In Is minutes"
mo joy.riding," warned Henrietta,
when We haven't any money TO pay
the fines. don't want to do my time
in the workhouse."
I'VE will do II in twenty minutes,
then" laughed Bartlett, who saw an
other way to create delay that
might be used with advantage.
The Parkers scorned to accept the
few dollars Henrietta still had In the
dark recesses Of her bag.
"You can send II to u.s." said they,
and the farmer added. heaping Goals
of fire on the generals unfortunate
head, I'VE trust you perfectly"
|. The Watermelon looked sharply at
Bartlett and wondered II he were up
to any tricks. The Watermelon had
only ten more miles OF Billy and he
didn't want to shorten the precious
time by confession II there were no
need for one.
Let's hurry said he There was
no need of prolonging the misery In
the thought Of the parting
Worrying over his AFFAIRS" thought
Bartlett. He has come to at last.
The general insisted upon driving.
and as IL was his car, Bartlett per-
force had to be content He protest
ed however, that he knew the road
thoroughly. and could direct the gen.
eral with no instructions at all from
the farmer, waving them all good
naturedly aside.
| They were all quiet as they started
down the road. Henrietta was de-
pressed thinking about Alphonse.
She had always stood In awe OF his
superlative virtues, and the fact that
he lacked several was bit of a
shock. The general also was grieved.
He had trusted Alphonse and All
phonse had failed him. Billy was
silent, for she wanted TO think, and
all her thoughts were OF the youth
beside her. tall, slim, good-looking.
with his merry eyes and devil-may-
care indifference.
They could all go to New York
together, she planned, and later,
when her father and herself went to
their summer place on the coast OF
Maine, they would get him to visit
them there In their own home. And
in the winter-and Billy's thoughts
lost themselves In the haZy rosy
glow of the future, with Its possibil-
Isles and pleasures.
II was after three. The day was
intensely warm, even In the shady
wooded road on which they found
themselves. They had been running
through the woods for nearly an hour,
and apparently had not reached the
end OF IT, The last abandoned farm
house, gray, weather-beaten, forlorn,
tad long ago been passed. The birds
chattered shrilly In the leafy profu-
sion overhead; somewhere out OF
sight In the under-brush brook gur-
Eled refreshlngly over its stony bed
and once, far away and very family
they heard the wild looms dismal cry.
The general stopped the car and
turned sidewise TO face those on the
back seat. We are lost" said he.
Look at the odemeter We have
come twenty miles since we left
Stoneham and we are no nearer Har-
rison than when we started"
Lost again." walled Henrietta.
How very stupid we are!"
It's my fault" admitted Bartlett
tmthfully. but with contrition. II
said TO take this turn back there
near that barrel factory"
We can go back suggested Billy.
Parker told me last night" said
the general gloomily. that there was
no settlement north OF here for forty
miles. We have probably come
north"
"If we, have come twenty miles, we
can 60 twenty more without dying,
sad Bartlett
"I don't know (" laughed Henrietta