Catoctin clarion., 1918-08-08
JT FREDERICK COUNTY, MD, THURSDAY, AUGUST 8. 1918.

ley standing ut the corner waiting for
car
"lIcIlo. Nell" he grinned, as he slid
up to the curb. "Ilop in and I'll take
you home.
She hoped obedientIy, with little
laugh. You running II jitney bus,
MarkY she asked.
NO." he chuckled, as he reached
across her lap to draw the door smut.
And then rs they started with jerk:
"rhis Is II kiSsney bus-pay as you
ieave-klndly have exact fare ready
. Nv hy how funny" she thought, as
she laughed into his eyes. II never
knew he was like that" And she no.
ticcd how tastefuly he was dressed,
almost fastidiously in Il conservative
sort of way. But after few moments
of chatter on her part and most sur
prising silence in his, they drew up
In front of her home.
PAY as you leave" he reminded her,
as she stepped from the car.
silly" she said, turning away to-
ward the house.
"piker," said the commonplace Mar
Gus Barnes.
"Im not" she returned hotly.
"Well, told you what the fare was
when YOU got in he said firmly.
"You don't expect me to be kissing
you out here before all the neishbors,
do you?" she demanded.
Makes no difference to me where
it happens" he said, shutting off his
engine and vauting out over the door,
1t was the most uncommonplace mo-
ment Of the most uncommonplace hour
that the commonplace Marcus Barnes
had ever known, rs he marched the
somewhat surprised Miss Bradley up
the steps and into the hall,
She could see that she was In for It,
but then, what did 1t matter? She
would extend him one of those little
impersonal and indefinite kisses which
she reserved for very young or very
old and feeble male relatives. But
place Mr.. Barnes. The first thing she
knew she found that she fitted into his
arms as snugly ana lightly rs If she
were made to be there. She shut her
eyes and waited but he only held her
n little closer. She tiirtcd open her
eyes wee bit to investigate the cause
of the delay and flushed to find that
he was studying her upturned face
with q strange and puzzled wonder
mcnt.
Il never noticed before how lovely
you are, Nell" he murmured, and then
he collected his fare slowly and delib-
erately, not once, but seven separate
times, which wasn't SO bad for the
commonplace Marcus Barnes.
Everyday during the following week
Nell Bradley expected to hear from the
efficient fare collector, but II seemed
thai Marcus Barnes had had his mo-
ment and then shyly subsidized, Ten
days, whole third Of the allotted time
passed and still there was no word.
Miss Bradley was getting panicky, for
her time was getting short so with
II prim determination about the set of
her chin. and n suggestion of color un-
der the smooth skin of her curved
cheek, she decided to consult the as
sistant cashier of the First National
bank about some securities she held.
The commonplace Mr.. Barnes arose
from his desk and looked just once
into the eyes of Nell Bradley-and
then believing In preparedness, he dis
missed his stenographer.
The gallant Miss Bradley had begun
To get cold feet. "It'S-;--about those
securities of mine, Mark" she started
feebly.
"Securities nothing" said Marcus,
the commonplace, reaching for the girl
fnancier. "Southbound cars, pay as
YOU enter" And he hnd already rung
up three fares when the austere voice
of the banks president came testify
from the doorway.
"For heavens sake! Why don't you
two young people get marred-and do
your kissing at homef'
"Shall we?' demanded Marcus
Barnes of the girl in his arms.
LETS" agreed Nell Bradley with a
vague excitement in her humping
heart.
And the banks president chuckled
the news via the telephone into the
amused ear of his old friend and crony,
Nell's Uncle, George Bradley.
"Let this be Il lesson to you, George!
Never gamble with women-they have
such winning ways-ha-ha!
Great stuff, eh?" said the cynical
Mr.. Bradley. "Couldn't have lost bet
in a better cause now, could I? Youth,
and love and marriage-tine business" !"
Meanwhile the commonplace Marcus
Barnes, dragging Nell Bradley about
with II commonplace marriage license
in his pocket. was hunting a common
place preacher to perform a common
place ceremony.