The Washington herald., 1913-10-26

"weIl. that somebody was you"
Come again"
Truly. You mustn't hate me. When
l heard you were going UP in that hor-
rid. awful airship. had to think of
cuse-an excuse" The tears were
now rolling down her cheeks
Betsy, don'tp' he pleaded. And in a
moment he had taken for granted that
which was granted him-the right to
console her in his arms.
II had to have you, dear!" she said
at last.
"'oh. you Betsy! And you said you
had to come to ZinkviIle about an i'm
portant family matter"
II fibbed- 1t had to be on account
Of something"
Brian grinned. There's . way to
make it family matter" he said.
What do you mean?'
1T can be doneP' announced the fer
tile Booster. pointing to the broad-ve-
randahed structure below, which bore
links HOTEL,
H. ZINK.
Blacksmith. Baker. Justice Of the
Peace.
The hamlet OF Zinkville, like many
another good American city, was of
German extraction; and Honus link,
who shod horses. entertained travellers.
and married runaway couples. had been
the local political boss since time i'm
memorial. whiskered and jolly as one
OF the gnomes who tempted Rip Van
Wrinkle, he stood in front Of his shop,
pitching horseshoes in company with a
Swede. cowboy, and a consumptive
boarder, when the giorfied lovers came
strolling down the road.
We'll! Prian Poru PIaneyr' he ex-
claimed. "Ach, Gott-how's your pa?''
Dead ten years" announced Brian,
without apparent emotion
Your vife?'L He nodded his beard in
the direction of Betsy, who stood at
distance.
about so worth Of tustice-of-the-peace-
ing done, p. d. a.
Honus, assuming his official manner.
began taking on his blacksmith's apron.
Wait till I wash mein hands und put
on mein coatg'
SLAM II through"
all due respect TO legal majesty, in the
dining-room Of links Hotel. a plain
redwood interior, clean. homemade, and
therefore attractive.
Mr.. link. in a greenish frock coat.
above faded overalls, went through the
form as feelingly as IL it had been the
Church Of England service. Mrs. link,
a fiotilla of little links, several German
farmers. and a scattering Of cowboys
watched the performance
Honest Honus kissed the bride as
soon as his work was finished. She ex-
perienced a sensation Of relief that the
other inhabitants did not follow the ex-
ample of their political boss. content
ing themselves with respectful hand
shakes.
"Ach. Herr Poru und der IeedIe Frau
-dey must trink some beer init u.s.
insisted plump Mrs. link, as she laid
a red cloth on the long table and
brought in vast quantities of German
fare
May telephone?" asked Brian,
looking rather pale.
After the usual distressing tie-up in
the rural service. he at last got San
Bruno on the wire.
That you. Ketchum?" he inquired
"Well-where in inferno have you
been?" roared the Big Booster.
In Paradise"
Stay thereI D'you know what hap
pened to that blash-dInged aviation
meet?'
Tell muh"'
THAT dipsomaniac Twigg come on
the grounds soused to the gills- He fell
into his machine. and. before they
could start the propellers, fell out again.
Then he went to sleep. The mob hoot-
ed and began tearing up the benches.
A gust Of wind came Salong and
wrecked Charley Husey's Idew-iapper.
Then the crowd went wild. Somebody
rescued Twigg. but before / could get
out they had burned the hangers and
soaked me in the head with a pop bot
tie. And what excuse d'you think that
besotted wreck of a Twigg made for
not fiying?"
Search me-"
Engine trouble"
Engine troubles got many a good
guy out of a bad hole" said Brian con-
solingiy.
Betsy, kid" said Brian to his bride,
as soon as the Germans and cowboys.
with a final salute Of beer and bullets.
had helped them down the road to their
car and tactfully departed. we've been
so joy-batty we forgot something. The
engines dead
Not dead. but sleeping she con-
fided, close to his ear,
Meaning which?'
.'You remember when you got out to
gather those wild flowers? Well, I got
out, too. and unscrewed this from the
cylinder
She took the porcelain button from
her bag and showed 1t to him.
"why?"
so you couldn't get back to the
darned aviation meet" she confessed
That's funny" chuckled Brian.
"o'MalIey telephoned me this morning
that Twigg had gone on another bat.
so had a hunch the meet would be
a fizzle. You remember when got
back from gathering those wild now-
ersg"
You took a long time going over the
engine" she said.
This is the reason" Brian pulled
from his pocket porcelain spark-plug.
the obvious twin OF, the one Betsy had
shown him Il unscrewed this one." he
said.
.'whyY.
so wouldn't have to 90 10 thas
darned aviation msetr'