The herald., 1916-04-13
Biniinger's
Tramp
BY LOUISE B. CUMMINGS


oelore breakfast. and as To day'.
, walk he could DO forty miles, On,
uay ne was lounging in the Arlington
country club with Herbert Yorkc
DoastinS rs to what he could do on hi,
iess' when lorke offered to bet him q
OoA OF cigars that he couldn't walk
twenty miles in three hours.
BininSer took the bet, ana a course
was laid out forming an ellipsc, the
starting ana ending point being the
Arlington clubhouse.
BininSer had no sooner started than
1"rke telephoncd to his sister Kate.
i say, Kit. I've a bet with Charlie
blninSer that he can't do iob of
walking In a given time. want TO
take you across 10 Hilton, you to way
lay him there and keep him from win
ming the bet"
How can ! do that"
HOW can you do that? Why, by
stuff and nonsense"
"What'li you give me if succeedY'
"A five pound box Of candy"
when DO you propose to leave?"
III be with you in half en- hour"
| In thirty minutes Herbert Yorse was
| before the door of his home In his car
Ills sister got into 1t. and they pro-
ceeded along the minor axis of the
elllpse that Beningcr was walking TO-
ward Hilton. But Kit declared that
she would prefer TO tackle she pedes-
TRAN 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 ut the door Of the Mark
lands, with whom she was intimate:
then he returned 10 Arlington.
1t was about o'clock in the after.
noon that Biningcr came along. Kit
was on the front porch in walking cos
tune.
why, Mr.. Bininger." she exclaimed.
what are you doing here?"
BeninGer did not propose TO tell her
that he was walking TO win n bet from
her brother. He said that he was TAX.
Ing twenty mile constitutional and
was on his way TO Arlington.
How fortunaIe" said Kit. 81 am
Just setting out 10 walk home myself |
You wouldn't mind my going with |
you, would you?"
Il would he delighted if il were not |
that I must he at Arlington at a given |
time. | fear shall have to walk too |
fast for you"
Never fear for that. | love tramp
ing, and this is a fine. crisp morning
for a walk"
BininSer looked ut his watch and
frowned, but he had not the heart TO
refuse girl, and a pretty girl ut 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 a satisfac-
tory pace. but on the second she began
TO lag. Biningcr 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 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 a 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
md offered her his arm to lean upon
Presently, coming to log beside the
Dad, she sank down on 1t and told her
'scort to go on, since he preferred a
pedestrian feat to her. She would get
lome somehow or other
Instead of going on Bininger sat
lown on the log very close to her and.
ince she seemed exhausted. formed a
Jack for her to lean against with his
rm.
When time was up for the accom-
lishment Of the walk Yorke sat on
he clubhouse veranda with his watch
n his hand. looking up the road for
'ininger. At o'clock, there being no
ign Of the pedestrian, he put his
7atch back in his pocket, asked a
ompany of young men into the club
ouse and opened champagne.
Il don't care for the cigars have
von," he said gleefully, but / rejoice
having got ahead Of that boaster."
The conviviality was at its height
hen in walked Bininger. looking as
he had been dOused with joy instead
having made twenty mile walk
e directed the steward to produce a Y
Ok of Yorke's favorite brand Of CT
ars and called for more champagne. S
"You seem very happy over your de-
at" said Yorke somewhat uneasily.
81 am. Here's that you may be
eased when you hear why 1 am
lppyr'
Yorke said no more, but when the
Irty dispersed went home and asked
s sister why Bininger was so pleased
losing his bet.
why, because by losing a box of
CARS he won me-"
You! You don't mean that you had