Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1912-06-07


his friends that if they ever appeared
In the place again he would call the
bet of. This scared them of, as far as
appearing openly on the forbidden
ground was concerned. but SO eager
were they to see the game that they
made themselves up in different dis
guses and took frequent trips there
for the purpose. Though Rowland OLD
not know it, many time when he hao
forgotten that he was lackey ana
was deeply engrossed with young
lady in the vehicle with him rather
than with the horses the two spies were
witnesses to his behavior. They came
to know the different ladies he drove,
and it was not long before the young
men began to bet as to which one OF
the sisters would get him.
1t should be understood that what
ever of rivalry Rowland excited he
was always spoken Of In the family
and treated as Patrick, the coachman.
Miss Delano never even admitted to
herself that she looked upon him In
any other light. Miss Annette once
spoke Of him with enthusiasm to her
sister Edith and received a severe
frowning down for her admiration Of
serving man. Miss Gertrude per-
mitted herself to think Of him occa-
sionally when reading novels, wonder
ing If he would turn out hero In
disguise. 1t was Jacqueline alone who
lu will tpto
ton with the coachman, who never
betrayed herself to any member Of the
family as taking any interest in him
whatever But Jacqueline was one Of
those apparently proper young ladies'
in whose mouths butter wouldn't melt.
And so the comedy went on. How
land. who did not realize just how he
Stood wrote Stevens that he was sure
to win both bets and as soon as the
test was over he would blow in" his
winnings In an evenings entertain
ment at the Hunt club, to include the
three persons interested. He was not
aware that Stevens and Galloway had
taken rooms in q house near Castle
Delano, where they could see him
drive out, and knew more about how
fast he was getting on than he knew
himself. Stevens had darkened his
dressed like one of the common people
Galloway had reversed the process by
shaving a part Of his beard and whit
ening his face, his dress being that of
newly imported Britisher. In an au
tomobile they followed the spurious
coachman when he drove the young la
dies, sometimes keeping at distance
behind him and sometimes debouching
and going much faster than he. head
ing him Off. at first they were fear
full he might notice that he was being
Swallowed. but soon discovered that
when with the youngest Miss Delano
he was too absorbed in her to permit
his noticing any one else.
Gradually they began 10 know the
days and the hours that Rowland and
Jacquel1ne went out together and that
these outings were becoming more and
more frequent. Indeed, SO frequent
were they that the two shadowers Won
dered if the young lady's family did
not suspect something was going on
between the two. The truth Is that
Jacqueline was 50 adept at making
excuses for going out attended only by
tie coachman and put on 50 much in
nocence in the matter that she was
not suspected, or. if she was, it was
only by some of her sisters, who were
trying to play the same game, for it
must be admitted that Rowland was
too gallant to repress any favor they
might show him.
The time was now rapidly coming on
when the bets must be lost or won.
One afternoon Stevens and Galloway.
who were ever on the watch, saw
two wheeled cart driven I'D to the
porte -cochere Of Castle Delano by their
TREND. While he was waiting they
saw him pull out and push back suit
case under the seat. Presently Miss
Jacqueline Delano came out with an.
other suit case. which she handed to
Patrick"
Come" said Stevens. I'VE must
get out the auto. Those suit casas
seem to indicate that something is up."
1t was not long before they were be-
hind the couple in the cart and, keep
Ing at a safe distance, followed them
to village where, stopping before a
house next a church, the coachman
tied his horse and the two went In
side.
I've won the second bet" said
Stevens.
What makes you think soT"
They've gone into a parsonage"
The two young men waited a few
minutes, then. going up on to the porch
OF the house the clippers had entered
and finding the door unlocked, went In
quietly. attracting no attention. The
couple We're being married, and the
clergyman was calling upon whomso-
ever knew aught why they should not
be Joined together to speak or ever
AFTER hold his peace when Stevens
stepped forward and said:
Il forbid the banns!"
Rowland turned and saw his friend
smiling at him. The bride. naturally
looked astonished.
i need a best man." cried the
tAxx,1