Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1917-08-02
II decline to do So"

sided around the auto. He followed,
chasing her in a circle. She was too
fleet Tor him. He was strong, but she
was agile. At every stop there would
be the pretty face trimming with mis-
CHIEF, her eyes riveted on him that she
should be ready for his slightest move.
Finally he gave it up.
Did Cook send you out to do this?"
"Yes.'
well, / suppose I shall have to lose
the bet"
"Ihat isn't necessary"
what do you mean?"
"Ihat if You ask me to give you what
l have taken 1 will do So
ON what conditions?"
mo conditions.'
mo conditions! What do you mean?"
Il mean that l agreed with Hum
phrey for a dozen pairs of gloves to
come out and delay you. Please don't
ask me Why 1 prefer not to do 500
She cast down her eyes, and her
meaning was plain. She had gone
SOFT on %Champlin.
she handed him the nut. He replaced
1t, and In another minute they were
shooting again along the road.
ChaInplln was delighted. Cook had
very nearly got ahead of him-would
nave got ahead of him had it not been
That the girl had taken so great a
fancy to him that she hadn't the heart
to do him. What a splendid joke it
"ould be on Cook and the party who
were present at the making of the bet
Wnen Champlin and Miss Hood rolled
up to the - hotel on time! Miss
Hood hadn't even asked for the gloves
her coNsiu had offered her to help him
WIN them. Champlin told her that as
soon as he received the stakes he
would give them to her and she could
change them for ladies' gloves. In
stead of being pleased at this, she APP
peared to be very much hart. Champ
lin begged her to tell him why, and
she replied that she had not consented
TO be a turncoat for a bride. This left
him to understand that she had done
it ali for him. There was a very ten
der scene between them, at the end of
which the misunderstanding was made
up, ana for the rest of the journey
Miss Cook held the steering wheel,
while Mr.. %Champlin's arm was about
her waist.
Ihere were no more delays. On APP
proaching the city, having still an
hours leeway, they concluded to stop
at a convenient place and get the dust
out OF their Threats with an ice.
Champ.in left the lady for a brief sea-
son While he poured out something
more effective than an ice in doing
away with dust. On reioining her they
partook OF the ices and resumed their
journey.
What are you smiling at?' asked
Miss Hood of Der companion.
"Ob, | was thinking how surprised
that cousin OF yours will be when we
roll up on time. That was a rascally
proceeding Of his, and it deserved to
fail. IL you hadn't been the dearest
girl in the world it would have sue
ceeded. But just think of his surprise
when be hears Of the other part Of it."
He managed to get hold of her hand
with his left, holding on to the wheel
with n hand, and they bowled along
in this way until they met another
conveyance.
And now the dome Of the capitol
with the figure perched upon it loomed
up faint in the distance. 1t was not
long before the outskirts of the city
were reached, and half an hour before
the time limit had expired they stopped
at the ladies' entrance Of the - no.
tel. A liveried servant advanced and
said:
Mr.. Cook and a party Of ladies' and
gentlemen are in a private dining room
waiting for you, sir"
Entering the room, Champlln expect
ed to find Cook eager to know why his
scheme had failed. Instead Cook hand
ed his cousin a dozen pairs Of ladies'
gloves. After this he put OUT his hand
to Champlin.
l congratulate you, old boy, with all
my heart on your engagement"
Champlin stood mute with astonish-
mcnt.
Champ, old boy added Cook, you
need an. explanation. To make you
lose I sent my cousin Jack out to eff
feet an entrance into your auto and de-
lay you on the way. If she succeeded
she was to have a dozen pairs of gloves
for a reward. She has lost the gloves"
That's plain" said Champlin.
well there was a bet between Jack
and me Of another dozen pairs of
gloves against a hundred cigars that
she would make you propose to her on
the way"
Champlin looked so many emotions.
Of which establishment and shame
%facedneSs were the most prominent,
that all burst into a laugh. in which
he finally Joined. Then, turning to
Miss Hood, he advanced. with a puz-
zled, inquiring look on his face.
WAS it all q sham?" he asked.
She made no reply in words, but a
slight color rising to her cheeks indi-
Gated that the brief period she had
passed, wen Of a sham engagement.
had not been unpleasant to her. Be-