The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1916-03-09
Biniinger;s
Tramp
BY LOUISE B. CUMMINGS

blnlneer was q great walker. lie
thought nothing Of five mile tramp
before breakfast, and as to a days
walk, he could do forty miles. One
day he was lounging in the Arlington
Country club with Herbert Yorke,
boasting rs to what he could do on his
legs, when Yorke offered to bet him a
box Of cigars that he couldn't walk
twenty miles in three hours.
Bininger took the bet, and course
was laid out forming an ellipse, the
starting and ending point being the
Arlington clubhouse.
Bininger had no sooner started than
Yorke telephoned to his sister Kate.
II say, Kit, I've bet with Charlie
Bininger that he can't do job of
walking in given time. I want to
take you across to Hilton, you to way
lay him there and keep him from win
ming the bet"
"How can I do that?"
"How can you do that? Why, by
stuff and nonsense"
"What'll you give me if 1 succeed?'
"a five pound box Of candy"
when do you propose to leave?"
I'll be with you in half an hour"
In thirty minutes Herbert Yorke was
before the door of his home in his car.
His sister got into it, and they pro-
ceeded along the minor axis of the
ellipse that Beninger was walking to-
ward Hilton. But Kit declared that
she would prefer to tackle the pedes-
trian about three miles before he
reached the goal, and their course was
changed to Glendale, where Kit had
friends. Arriving there, her brother
deposited her at the door Of the Mark
lands, with whom she was intimate;
then he returned to Arlington.
1t was about o'clock in the after
noon that Bininger came along. Kit
was on the front porch in walking CO.'S
tune.
"Why, Mr.. Bininger," she exclaimed,
what are you doing here?"
Beninger did not propose to tell her
that he was walking to win bet from
her brother. He said that he was tax
ing twenty mile constitutional and
was on his way to Arlington.
How fortunate!' said Kit. II am
just setting out to walk home myself.
You wouldn't mind my going with
you, would your
II would be delighted if it were not
that I must be at Arlington at given
time. I fear 1 shall have to walk too
fast for you"
Never fear for that 1 love tramp
ing, and this is fine, crisp morning
for q walk
Bininger looked at his watch and
frowned, but he had not the heart to
refuse girl. and pretty girl at that
He said that he would be very happy
to have her company, only he must
leave her behind if she couldn't keep
up with him.
Kit did the first mile at satisfac-
tory pace, but on the second she began
to lag. Bininger was always several
yards ahead Of her. Finally he turn
ed and told her he must leave her or
fail to do his tramp in the time set
for its accomplishment. Kit said new
er a word, but the look she gave him
said very plainly that she was hurt;
that she had expected Mr.. Bininger
would prefer her to completing walk
on time, He had admired her, but
It had never occurred to him that he
was any more to her than any other
friend. What was box Of cigars COM
pared to that look? He went back to
where she was dragging herself along
and offered her his arm to lean upon.
Presently, coming to log beside the
road, she sank down on it and told her
escort to go on, since he preferred a
pedestrian feat to her. She would get
home somehow or other.
Instead Of going on Bininger sat
down on the log very close to her and,
since she seemed exhausted, formed a
back for her to lean against with his
arm.
When time was up for the accom-
plishment of the walk Yorke sat on
the clubhouse veranda with his watch
in his hand, looking up the road for
Bininger. At O'Clock, there being no
sign Of the pedestrian, he put his
watch back in his pocket, asked a
company Of young men into the club
house and opened champagne.
II don't care for the cigars I have
won" he said gleefully, "but I rejoice
at having got ahead Of that boaster."
The conviviality was at its height
when in walked Bininger, looking as
II he had been doused with Joy instead
Of having made twenty mile walk.
He directed the steward to produce q
boz of Yorke's favorite brand of CT
CARS and called for more champagne.
you seem very happy over your de-
feat" said Yorke somewhat uneasily.
II am. Here's that you may be
pleased when you hear why I am
happyy
Yorke said no more, but when the
party dispersed went home and asked