News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1913-01-29

; I'll think that maybe you had bet
? let us tow you to some garage" salt
+ the lady timorously, her voice barrel.
, audible above the old gentlemani
, noisy administrations.
Search me-" returned the Water
!, welon, standing by to lend assistance
with every tool from the box in his
! arms or near by where he could reach
it instantly at an imperious com
mand.
Automobiles" said the lady, care
like the modern schoolmarms, always
breaking down."
Like hoboes," suggested the Water
melon, always broke"
The old gentleman Strengthened up
There Is something the matter with
the gasoline inlet valve" he an
nounced firmly.
"The whole car must be rotten
surmised the Watermelon, catching
the oil-can as 1t was about to slip
from his already overburdened hands.
mo, no." returned the old gentle
man reassuringly, as he buttoned his
shaft seems to be all right, but the"
He knelt down, still talking, and
the Watermelon had horrible fear
for a moment that his would-be bene-
factor was about to offer up prayers
for the safety of the car. He reached
out his hand to stay proceedings,
when the old gentleman spoke:
|
Maybe it's all right" suggested the
Watermelon, who did not like the idea
of being forced to go after him with
the tools.
Father" the lady's voice was gen.
tie, but firm, and the old gentleman
paused. "Let Alphonse go. You know
we are to dine with the Bartletts. AL
phonse, please find out what the
trouble is"
Alphonse alighted promptly. He was
a thin, dapper little man, with
blase superiority that was impressive
as betokening professional knowl-
edge of the idiosyncrasies of motor
cars. He approached the car and an
noupced the trouble practically at
once.
There Is no gasolene:"
The old gentleman was not I'm the
least perturbed over his own slight
error in Judgment. "A frequent, very
frequent oversight" said he, rising.
I'VE will tow you to the hotel, my
dear sir. You can get the gasoIene
there"
Never mind" said the Watermelon. |
II can hoof it."
"Hoof it," The old gentleman was
panied and hurt "Hoof it, when Z
have my car right here! No, indeed |
Alphonse, get the rope"
The Watermelon protested. cav,
really, you know"
Weren't you gofng to the hotel?" .
'I was thinking some OF it. But !
the car"
"Alphonse, get the rope IT viii be
q pleasure. We have always got to
lend assistance to broken car. We
may be in the same fix ourselves some
day"
AIphonse brought the rope and the
watched them adjust it.
When the last knot was tied to the
old gentleman's liking, he turned to
the Watermelon and presented him
with his card. The Watermelon took
it and read the name, BRIG. Gen.
Charles Montrose Crossman, u. S. A,
Retired" Then, not to be outdone
he reached in the still unexplored
pockets of his new clothes with conf
dent ease, and finding a pocketbook
drew it forth, opened it on the mere
chance that there would be a card
within, found one and presented it
to the general with lofty unconcern,
trusting that the general and the
owner of the clothes were not &C.
quainted
William Hargrave Bachelor" read
the general aloud, while his round,
fat face beamed with pleasure. 81
have heard about you, sir, and am
glad to make your acquaintance"
The Watermelon grasped the ex-
tended hand and wrung id with fervor
'The pleasure is all mfne," said he
with airy grace and sublime seHf-assur-
ance.
LET me present you to my daugh>
ter. Henrietta, this is young Mr. Bat
chelor of New York. You have read
about him, my dear, in the papers. He
broke the cotton ring on Nall Street
last week. You may remember. Miss
Crossman, Mr.. Bachelor"
The girl put out her hand and the
Watermelon shook it. Her hand was
slender and white, soft as velvet and
well cared for. The Watermelon's
was big and brown and coarse, and
entirely neglected as to the nails.
Henrietta noticed it with fastidious
amusement. William Hargrave Bat.
chelor was not, in her estimation,
formed from the little she had read
about him in the papers, a gentle
man. He had started life as a news
boy on the streets of New York, and
doubtless had not had his suddenly
acquired wealth long enough to be
familiar with the small niceties of life.
Besides, he was so young and so good
looking, one could forgive him a great
q :