The Holly chieftain., 1915-02-12

He yawned and stretched. giancfns
with amusement at the general, sttil
| raising melodious sounds of slumbeI
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 crawied
stealthily out of bed and dressed. hlled
with misgivings.'
Bachelor had consented SO readily
the day before to come with them that
now. when he had had time to think II
over, he might have regretted bis 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
lured on by the pretty, bewitchins
Billy. He would realize now In the
clear light of day that he must return
to the city or get word to his brokers
somehow. He might even then be in
telegraph ONCE. sending a dispatch
Of far-reaching Importance.
Bartlett dressed with feyerish 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 60 and return IL 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.
Are the cars all right?" asked Bart
lett.
II haven't been to see," said the
Watermelon, rolling another cigarette.
Bartlett drew a sigh of relief and
started after Alphonse for the shed
beside the barn. The Watermelon
had not had time to. walk to the vii
lage and back, besides telegraphing.
Bartlett paused md glanced over his
shoulder
Aren't you coming?"
"No," said the Watermelon. II amt
bugs about the gasoline buggies."
Bartlett walked on, shrewdly guess.
ing that the languid youth was wait
ing for Billy. Her charms. 1t seemed,
had not grown any less effective. He
decided that he would not try to get in
touch with his broker He could trust
him to take care of the city end Of
the business If Bachelor were to be
eliminated until the following Sunday.
Bartlett admitted to himself, as he
gazed abstractedly at the shining
cars, that the young man had not ap-
peared visibly impressed either by
himself or the general But Batchelor
was clever and would hide his elation.
The Watermelon's slow drawl 1t
last aroused him.
Cut It." said the Watermelon.
THE cops are coming
One OF New York's leading citizens,
bank president and corporation direc-
tor. felt slow. cold. clammy chill
creeping up his spinal column. His
first ipHtinctive desire. like that OF
the small boy caught robbing an apple
orchard, was to hide. Last night was
one Of those unfortunate occurrences
1t were best to pass over in silence.
He turned and glanced at the house.
The place looked deserted In the morn.
ing sunshine. The blinds were drawn,
the doors shut The general and the
girls apparently still slept. and no
country variety Of New York's finest
with warrant and shotgun could be
seen approaching. Alphonse looked
up from the car and gazed a moment
at the house with the scornful indif.
ference for the law and its minions OF
the confirmed joy-rider.
Il do not see anyone.I y said Bartlett
with calm dignity.
They are creeping up on u.s." said
the Watermelon cheerfully. Trust
the rube to do the thing up in style
Three men came along. They stopped
down by the gate and talked, pointina
up here. then one ran on to the vii.
lage to get help. suppose. and the
other two are waiting down there"
Il will go and explain that 1t was q
mistake" said Bartlett.
Now, don't do that" adjured the
Watermelon. 1t was Just possible that
the police had already picked up his
trail and he preferred the chance OF
escaping in car to stealing away by
himself. through the woods. a tramp