Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1917-09-26

and, as the car stopped, scrambled
aboard. William struggled anxiously
to push through to Miss Pratt and
climb up beside her. but Mr. George
Crooper made bis way into the crowd
in a beaming though bull-like manner
and fat back in a purple and white
blazer" fattened Williams nose, while
ponderous heels damaged Williams
toes. He was showed back and just
managed to Chamber upon the foot
board as the car started.
The friendly hand Of Joe Bullitt
pulled him to seat, and William found
himself rubbing his nose and sitting
between Joe and Johnnie Watson, d.
rectly behind the dashing Crooper and
Miss Pratt. Mr.. Crooper had already
taken Flopit upon his lap.
dogs are always crazy bout me-"
they heard him say in his high voice
dogs and children. l dunno why it
is, but they always take to me. My
names George Crooper, Sd, Johnnie
Watson's cousin. He was tryin' to in
tradooce me before the car came along,
but he never got the chance. guess
as this shindis's for you, and I'm the
only other guest from out O. town.
we'll have to intradooce ourselves, the
two guests of honor as it were''
Miss Pratt laughed her silvery laugh
murmured politely and turned no freez-
ing glance upon her neighbor. "Flopit
look so foot an tunnin'," she was
heard to remark. "Flopit look so little
on dray, big. 'normous mans lap"
Mr. Crooper laughed deprecatingly.
He does look kind of small compared
with the good ole man that's got charge
Of him now. Well, always was good
deal bigger than the fellas l went
with. | dunno why it is, but ! was al
ways kind of quicker, too, as it Were
and the strongest in any crowd ! ever
got with. I'm kind of muscle bound,
| guess, but | don't let that interfere
with my quickness any. Take me in
an automobile, now-I got a racin' car
ut homeland | keep my head better
! than most people do. as it were. l can
/ kind of handle myself better. l dunno
| why it is.
My brains seem to work better than
other peoples; that's all it is l don't
mean that | got more sense or any
thing like that. It's just the way my
brains work. They kind Of put me at
an advantage. as it were.
/ We'll, fr instance. If I'd been livin'
here in this town aud joined in with
the crowd to get up this party-well,
it would Of been done good deal
different. I, won't say better, but
diff rent. That's always the way with
me-if go into anything, pretty soon
I'm running the whole shebang. l dun
no why it is The other people might
try to run it their way for awhile, but
pretty soon you notice 'em step out of
the way for good ole George. l dunno
why it Is.
"Well, if I'd been running this party
I'd of had automobiles to go out in,
not a trolley car, where you all got to
| sit together, and I'd Of sent over home
for my little racer, and I'd of taken
| you out in her myself I'd like you to
see that little car. Well. anyway, |
bet you'd Of seen something pretty
diff rent and whole lot better if I'd
of come over here to get up this party
for your
"For u.s." Miss Pratt corrected him
sunnily. "Bofe strangers-party for
US two-all bofe!' And she gave him
one of her looks.
Mr.. Crooper flushed with emotion.
He was annexed. He became serious.
Say" he said, that's mighty smooth
hat you got on" And he touched the
fluffy rim of 1t with his forefinger.
His fat shoulders leaned toward her
yearningly.
WED cert'nly Of had lot better
time sizzin' along in that little racer
got" he said. I'D like to had you see
how handle that little car. Girls over
home, they say they like to 60 out with
me just to watch the way handle her.
They say it amt so much just the ride,
but more the way l handle that little
car. dunno why it is, but that's what
they say.
That's the way l do anything l
make up my mind. to tackle. Just
femme make up my mind once, and
it's all off. l dunno why it is. There
was a brakeman on the train got kind
Of fresh He didn't know who l was.
Well, just put my hand on his Shout
der and pushed him down in his seat
like this" He set his hand upon Miss
Pratt's shoulder. Il didn't want to
hit him, because there was women and
children in the car, so / just showed
my face up close to him, like this. 4
guess you don't know how much stock
my fathers got in this road l says.
Did he wilt? Well, you ought of seen
that brakeman when l got through
tellin him who l wasr'
"Nassy ole brateman!' said Miss
Pratt, with unfailing sympathy.
Mr.. Choppers fat hand, as II uncOn-
sciously, gave Miss Pratt's delicate
shoulder little pat in reluctant with
drawal. well, thst's the way with
me-" he said. Much as been around
this world. nobody ever tried to put
anything over on me and got away
with It. Say, that's a mighty smooth
locket you got on the end O. that chain
there" And, again stretching forth
his hand In proprietor-like way. he
| began to examine the locket.
Three hot hearts just behind pulsat-
ed hatred toward him, for Johnnie
Watson had perceived his error, and