Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1917-09-27

business over With this Miss Pratt, 50
l and she can get things started. I'm.
goin' to keep her busy all day."
"Well don't be in such a hurry"
said Johnnie uncasily. "You can meet
her when we get out in the country.
if I get a chance, George"
"No, sir" George protested jovially.
II guess you're sad birds over in this
town, but look out! When l hit a town
it don't take long till they all hear
there's something dom! You know
how l am when l get started, John
MEL" Here he turned upon William,
tucking his fat arm a~ffectionately
through Williams thin one. Hi, SPORT!
Ole Johnnie's so slow, you toddle me
over and get me fixed up with this
Miss Pratt, and III tell her you're the
real stuff-after we get engaged"
He was evidently a true cloud com
peller, this horrible George.
Cars coming!!" sounded. The young
people poured out through the gate
and, as the car stopped, scrambled
aboard. William struggled a%nXiously
to push through to Miss Pratt and
climb up beside her, but Mr.. George
Crooper made his way into the crowd
in a beaming though bull-likc manner.
and a 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 himto a 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.. Croopcr 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 Croopcr, Sd, Johnnie
Watson's cousin. He was tryin' to in.
tradooce me before the car came along,
but he never got the chance. l guess
as this shindig'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 silvcry laugh,
murmured politely and turned no freez-
ing glance upon her neighbor. "Elopit
look so foot an t%unnin'," 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. l always was a good
deal bigger than the fellas 1 went
with. I dunno why it is, but / was al
ways kind of quicker, too, al 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
at home-and I keep my head better
than most people do, as 1t were. | 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. don't
mean that I 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 1t were.
"Well, fr instance, II I'd been livin'
here In this town and joined in with
the crowd to get up this party-well,
1t would Of been done q good deal
diff'rent. I won't say better, but
diff'rent. That's always the way with
ms-if I 90 into anything. pretty soon
I'm running the whole shebapgl I dun: