The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1917-05-25
IT decline to do So"

cnasing ner In q circle. She was too
feet for him. He was strong, but she
was agile. At every stop there would
De the pretty face brimming with mis-
chief, her eyes rivetcd on him that she
should be ready for his slightest move.
Finally he gave 1t up.
did Cook send you out to do this?"
"Yes."
well, 1 suppose shall have to lose
the bet"
THAT isn't necessary"
"What do you mean?"
"That If you ask me to give you what
I have taken I will do SOL
ION what conditioner"
mo conditions"
mo conditions! What do you meanr
II mean that agreed with Hum
phrey for a dozen pairs Of gloves to
come out and delay you. Please don't
ask me why prefer not to do So"
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.
Champlin was delighted. Cook had
very Yearly got ahead Of him-would
have got ahead Of him had 1t 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 Il
would be on Cook and the party who
were present at the making of the bet
when Champlin and Miss Hood rolled
up to the - hotel OH time! Miss
Hood hadn't even asked for the gloves
her cousin 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 ap-
peared to be very much hurt. Champ
lin begged her to tell him why, and
she replied that she had not consented
to be turncoat for bride. This left
him to understand that she had done
1t all for him. There was very ten
der scene between them, at the end of
which the misunderstanding was made
up, and for the rest Of the journey
Miss Cook held the steering wheel,
while Mr.. Champlin's arm was about
her waist.
There were no more delays. On APP
preaching the city, having still an
hours leeway, they concluded to stop
at convenient place and get the dust
out Of their threats with an ice.
Champlin left the lady for brief sea-
son while he poured out something
more effective than an Ice In doing
away with dust On rejoining her they
partook Of the ices and resumed their
journey.
What are you smiling at?" asked
Miss Hood Of her companion.
"Oh, / was thinking how surprised
that cousin of yours will be when we
roll up on time. That was rascally
proceeding of his. and It deserved to
fail. II you hadn't been the dearest
girl In the world 1t would have sue
ceeded. But just think Of his surprise
when he hears of the other part of it."
He managed to get hold Of her hand
with his left. holding on to the wheel
with one 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 doomed
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 - ho-
tel. A liveied 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, Champlin 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.
Il congratulate you, old boy, with all
my heart OH your engagement"
Champlin stood mute with astonish-
ment
Champ, old boy" added Cook, you
need an explanation. To make you
lose 1 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 dozen pairs Of gloves
for reward. She has lost the gloves"
That's plain" said Champlin.
"Well, there was bet between Jack
and me of another dozen pairs of
gloves against 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 laugh. in which
he finally Joined. Then. turning to
Miss Hood, he advanced. with a puz-
zled. inquiring look on his fSce.
WAS 1t all sham?" he asked.
She made no reply In words. but
slight color rising to her cheeks indi-
Gated that the brief period she had
passed, even of sham engagement.
had not been unpleasant to her. Be-
sides, Champlin was regarded as one
Of the best catches In Washington
Since he could get no word of con-
firmation he concluded to apply test.
Putting an arm around the girls waist,