News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1913-02-26
He
Comes
Up
Smiling
BY
CHARLES
SHERMAN
-
BY
CHARLES
SHERMAN
Illustrated by Ray Walters
Copyright 1912 by Bobbs-Merrill Co.


genial. He forgot that he was kidnap
Ding famous young financier and tolt
all his enjoyable stories with the skill
of many repetitions. When they hac
finished no one for while made any
motion to clear up the table prepare
tory to leaving. Billy, with her CHR
1on her hand, thoughtfully gathered VI
the crumbs still on her plate and trans
ferred them to her mouth. Henrietta
leaned back in her chair, her hands
Nclasped behind her head, gazing dream
lily at the Pickering lamp. Bartlett
ana the general smoked in contented
silence and the Watermelon rolled a
cigarette with his long, thin fingers,
his old clay pipe discarded with his
rags. Alphonse was already asleep. A
snore from his corner drew their at
tention.
The Watermelon licked his cigarette
paper and glanced at Billy. "Hes got
his nerve" said he, putting the cigar
cite in his mouth and reaching for a
match.
Il don't think that any of us have
been lacking in nerve tonight" said
the general, with no little pride.
You're dead game sports, admit
ted the Watermelon. Lets stay all
night"
It's morning already" said Henriet-
Ia I'VE have stayed all night"
Lets sleep here" said the Water
melon. 1--WE can leave early"
"Er-er-are there any beds?"
asked the general.
Father, father" cried Henrietta,
"you are backsliding"
The general protested, immensely
battered.
The general always looked back on
that night and the week that followed
with wonder, thankfulness and pride.
When the Watermelon, waiting for no
further consent, picked up the lamp
and started to investigate the bed
rooms, the general was the first to fol-
low him.
They found two bedrooms on the
ground floor, and though the beds only
had mattresses and pillows on them,
even the Watermelon did not suggest
search for sheets and pillow cases.
The girls took one room, the men the
other.
The Watermelon was having the
time of his young life. Abstract prob
lens of right and wrong did not trou-
BILE him. He took each event as it
came and never fretted about it when |
1t was over or worried about the next |
to come. Bachelor would probably |
try to make trouble, but if Bartlett |
were as successful as he hoped to be, |
and kept on getting lost, there was lit
tie danger from that source. Bartlett,
desiring secrecy as much as the Wa
termelon, had effectually silenced the
enterprising reporter at the hotel
, 1t was early when Bartlett awoke.
He yawned and stretched, glancing
with amusement at the general, still
raising melodious sounds of slumber
from the couch at the foot Of the bed.
Then suddenly he became aware that
the place at his side was empty that
the Watermelon was gone. He crawled
stealthily out of bed and dressed, filled
with misgivings.
Bachelor had consented so readily
The day before to come with them that
now, when he had had time to think it
over, he might have regretted his de-
.cision and be already on the way to
the railroad, somewhere. His had been
the master mind to conceive the check
and ruination of the cotton scheme,
and surely he would see the folly in
what he had done the day before, when
eured on by the pretty, bewitching
Billy. He would realize now in the
clear light of day that he must return
60 the city or get word to his brokers
somehow. He might even then be in
a telegraph office, sending a dispatch
of far-reaching Importance.
Bartlett dressed with feverish haste
and hurried out to the side porch.
The Watermelon was there, sitting in
the sun, his feet hanging over the
edge of the porch, talking carelessly
with the immobile Alphonse. Both
were smoking and both had apparent
ly been up for some time. Had Batch
elor been to the village and tele-
graphed already? He would have had
time to go and return if he had used
one of the cars.
The Watermelon looked up. "Hello,"
said he.
"Hello," said Bartlett. "Been up
long,"
Not so long," said the Watermelon.
care the cars all right?" asked Bart
lett.
'T haven't been to see," said the
rolling another cigarette.
Bartlett drew sigh of relief and
started after Alphonse for the shed
beside the barn. The Watermelon
had not had time to walk to the viii
lage and back, besides telegraphing.
Bartlett paused and glanced over his
shoulder.
aren't you coming?"
NO." said the Watermelon. Il amt
bugs about the gasoline buggisA."
Bartlett walked on, shrewdly guess
lng that the languid youth was wait !