Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1918-08-02

sewing machine agent that he had
known for a year or two halted his
outfit and came to the fence and said:
"Abe, it's not my play to NEEDLE
with what does not concern me, but IL
you would take a hint from me and
not get mad I would give it to you."
"Oh, 1 won't get mad" was the re-
ply.
"You know how news flies around
here in the countryT"
"Gosh, yes!"
"Well, I've heard that you and Polly
Andrews were engaged"
eyes, we are"
"And I've heard that a young Teller
"a cousin to Waldron-is there avis
iting."
eyes,"
"Is he a-visiting the Waldrons or
the Andrews? 1t seems that he divides
his time between the two houses. Bet
ter look out, Abe. The Teller don't
look good to me-" And with that he
drove on and Abe looked after him in
a dazed way and whispered:
HE means that the Teller is trying
to win Polly away from me. I thought
she had been acting rather queer o.
late. I must look into this thing a
bit"
When he made his appearance that
evening, Polly had a feeling that he
had heard things, and intended to 'lay
the law down to her" This feeling
had quickly bred another-that of de-
fiance-and she was ready for the quar-
rel. To her surprise, no quarrel came.
Abe was a bit more serious than usual,
but he was clear Of rancor. as he
asked:
SIS that young man Montgomery q
nice feller?"
every NICE" was the reply.
"He has been around the world a
good bit, I suppose?"
"He has been everywhere, and it's
very interesting to hear him talk Of
what he has SEEM"
eyes, it must be-"
"He has been in London and Paris
Abe. He was a captain in a Canadian
regiment in the first of the war. He
has killed over a dozen Germans. He
has killed a highway robber. He has
helped lynch a murderer. He was
once captured by brigands. He is go
ing to be elected to congress next
year."
Eyes," drawled Abe.
"And he can sing and dance and
play the piano." continued the foolish
girl. eyes, and he can play golf and
cricket and ride horseback. And he
owns an auto that cost five thousand
dollars. And after he is elected to
congress we are to live in Washing
ton"
In her excitement and enthusiasm
she had said "We." Her chagrin over
it was intense for a moment, and then
relief came as she saw that Abe hadn't
noticed it. Hadn't he, though! But
there were no criticismS-no quar-
reling-the same kindly Goodnight"
as Abe left for home.
"There will be an elopement," he
said to himself as he walked along.
Half an hour later, as he lay IN
bed staring at the darkness, he added:
"'That is, there will be an attempted
elopement."
Perhaps it was Polly's mother that
gave him the date, the hour and the
starting point. You must agree that
it would be her duty if she knew
them. There was no school at h
district schoolhOuse a mile away. 1t
was an excellent meeting place. Abe
had been there an hour when Mr.. Brian
drove up with a horse and
buggy from the nearest village. He
was there half an hour later when
Polly Andrews and her bundle ap-
peared.
"Thank heavenl" whispered Mr.
Montgomery, as he jumped down and
extended his hand.
Eyes," drawled Abe, as he sud-
denly appeared and got a secure hold
on the mans coat collar.
"What is the meaning of thisT'
"It means this-and some more!"
answered Abe, as he batted the fellow
between the eyes and shook him about
until his teeth ratified. "Mr. Mont
gomery, have you been in YurupT"
"N-o."
'aThen here's another n for lying
to Polly! Have you been to war?"
"No, but don't hit mel"
"Right on the nose for lying to PollyG
Have you killed Germans?
"Let me go!"
"Another lie to Polly, and this one
on the jaw to pay for it! Coin to-
congress next year?"
"No! No! mol"
Better go, and take this along with,
you! Now, then, have you been cap
tured by b~rigands"
"No.'
Abe turned the coward around and
kicked him three times, and then said
to the sobbing girl:
ssTako q seat in the huggu Polly