Evening star., 1915-02-21

was on deck to be Duke, and-dear
mel what an outragel He sputtered in
shrill voice, and when he got the moose off
ran round and round trying to borrow
switch to whip somebody with. The girl
was pretty mad too; but she didn't do much
talking. She didn't need to: the near-Duke
was equal to that part. She spoke to him
sharply once when he was about to mention
her name.
~'And this lady, he squeaked, this is
Miss
"'Sir!' she said. Never mind that!'
"She recognized Bruce and me at first
glance, haven't the least doubt; but under
the circumstances there wasn't much tor her
to say. Then the bluecoats nabbed us.
What, why, and which? Bruce just sat on
his black, grinning careessly, and l wound
up nv rope unconcerned | saw Bruce stoop
and whisper a few words to one of the cops,
then something that might have been bill
passed between them, and all at once every
bluecoat busted his hands of us, stood off
grinning very friendly, and watched the
near-Duke trying to regain the saddle OF
his horse, which somebody had caught Tor
him.
Bruce had to ride close to the girl to get
his rope loose; he even had to touch her.
l thought she might lash him with her riding
whip; but she didn't.
heard him say.
"She didn't take the trouble to answer
him: lust turned away her head and bit her
lip. By that time the little man had climbed
aboard his horse and came up red and
putting.
you'll hear more of this! he threatened.
"'Forget it. Bruce said, laughing.
"There was general din of noise around,
the police were hustling the crowd back good
naturedly, and everybody guying the Brit
isher; so he spurred up his horse and rode
off, the girl with him, terrible uppish::
"'Who's your friend on the police force!
l asked Bruce as we rode away. You must
have said the right thing, anyhow.
"'Told 'em we were all with Doc Carsons
Wild West he said, and were advertising
the show. Told 'em that fellow you roped
was supposed to make a row and CLAIM to
be all kinds of a swell. l also slipped them
the price of at least one round OF some
thing decent. 1t was worth it, don't you
Think
"'That ought to even up the scores fairly
well, anyhow l said. She took you for
tramp up country, and you made the cops
believe she was showgirl in Central Park.
l should think you could call it square!
Under the circumstances that should
~ have been the last of it; but it wasn't.
noticed in few days that Bruce had some
thing on his mind. He got to going around
with a far-away look in his eyes, like calf
that's lost its near relatives. Once in awhile
he'd let word drop about the girl, and had
a sneaking idea OF what was worrying him.
One day he showed up all afre and full of
talk.
~Harve,' he said, what do you reckon
now? I've found out all about her. Who
do you think she is?'
@'Who do think who is?' l said. Don't
tell me you've discovered my cousin Elsie
from Kansas in this here town.
"'The girl, he said, not paying any atten-
ton. L know her folks, her brother every
thing. Why, Harve, her brother and 1
were old chums at colege!'
"'Then it's all off, l said. Give me
hint about what to buy for the wedding
present.
"'Shut up!' he said dreamy like. She
hates me worse than poison, | haven't a
doubt; but I'm going to call on the old
folks just the same. Her father is George
c. Coates,-the Wall Street Coates, s,-and
her brother is old Tom Coates, Yale's great
halfback. Just think of that! Amt that
funny?'
"'Tickles me to DEATH said. What's
her name, and how'd you find it all out
HaWkshaW?'