Courier Democrat., 1916-01-27

could stand no more, popped from be-
tween their peripheries like the inside
Of grape, landing in the solar plexus
Of tired uibernian, who had endured
more than enough.
Get out of my stomach, stockhoid-
err" he grutlly ordered and pushed lit
tie Henry's derby tightly down over
his ears just as another machine drew
out Of the frctting rearward line and,
stopped by the ragged gutter, rested
abreast of Marlcy's machine. The con-
ductor having restored the lights, the
attention of the uncomfortable passen-
gers was now directed to the new
conner, Il heavy jowled man Of middle
age, who sat as stolidly in his rum
about by the side Of his driver as If
he had been at home dining
Its Slcdge," said the man with the
frayed cigar. He gets his little old
rakeof, too. from jamming sixty people
| into forty passenger car. While he's
running the town this rotten Old line
won't have any competition"
MIR. Sledge is good customer OF
mine," observed the fat butcher.
| ''Theres one thing about Ben Sledge
he always keeps some big city im-
| provemeDt going on announced the
Irishman who had extinguished little
! Henry Peters.
Little Henry pulled his derby audi
bly, off his head and rubbed the red
circle it had left.
"Mr Sledge is the workingman's
friend he declared.
! law, shut up" ordered the gaunt
Celtic laborer and kicked his ankle by
way of accidental emphasis.
1t was strange that, while everybody
on the car kept the name Of Frank
Marley sacred to their hatred, the name
Of Sledge, who was notorious through
out the United States for his utterly
conscienceless methods of public theft.
was received with equanimity.
Meanwhile Sledge, turning to see
who his neighbors might be. met the
eye Of Frank Marley and nodded per
functorily and then bent his entire at
tention on Molly, gazing at her in stOl-
| id concentration. with no more change
Of expression on his heavy features
than If he had been reading time
table. Bert Glider noticed his rude
ness and tried i'll a mood OF intense
aggravation to catch Sledge's eye and
| reprove him with savage frown. but
he might as we'll have tried to catch
the eye Of an oyster. Sledge, perfect
| ly contented with the pleasing picture
which sat before him, continued to
stare calmly until Molly, discerning
from Bert's countenance that some
thing was wrong. turned to meet the
small gray eyes Of Sledgc fixed thought
fully upon her. She wheeled abruptly
to her father.
"Isnt that the scandalous Sledge?'
she asked, annoyed and still amused.
Her father nodded his head and
smiled. his nose becoming still more
pointed in the process.
"Well introduce him. | can make
him stop staring, then" she ordered.
"Iie can't drive on.
II say. Sledgc.' called Marley. lean
ing forward. This is my daughter.
Molly"
Sledge tuggeh at his hat and smiled
ton.
"Glad to meet you." he told Molly.
II didn't know you had such a fine
looking girl. Marley. She's a corker,"
and once more he viewed Miss Molly
with quiet appreciation. in which there
was a dawning glimmer Of quite un-
Sledge-like enthusiasm.
"I think so myself" laughed Marley
First thing l know she'll be getting
married.
"Sure" agreed Sledgc. contemplate
ing her earnestly in this new light
I'D marry her myself"
The street car ahead gave a forward
lurch. and the famingly indignant
Molly darted into the opening.
"The ugly brute!" she gasped.
There arrived on the morning train.
escorted to the platform by a distinct
ly worshipful porter. tall. big boned
gentleman in light gray suit of fine
texture. a plump. careless man to
whom one would instinctively turn for
Il tediously funny story, and hard
jawed man Of a most forbidding eX-
preston, who looked about as commu-
nicative as cabbage. This gentle
man loafed about the hotel with his
mouth shut. while the other two
secuted" Promptly at IL o'clock they
returned from their various directions
and gathered in the room of the smil-
ing tall one in the gray suit
"Well. Timbers. is it as cheerful as
we thought?" asked the host. settling
himself in the most comfortable chair
Looks gay and merry to me. Boz
zam.' replied Mr.. Timbers. folding his
hands on his fat knee and frowninG
intently at little slip of paper he held
between his thumb and forefinger.
"Sledge is, Of course. the whole works :"
whats the approach to Sledge?"
TON Bendix." returned Timber