The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1919-05-22
b ALLEN CHAPPElL

that Jerry is contemplating matr1'
mony?"
"Surely not, but his sister is. Jer'
ry is something of a hero, Mr.. Drew.
It seems that his sister is to marry a
quite worthy young man next month.
Her people are poor and Jerry has
been working and scraping and saving
to surprise her by handing her the
price Of a complete bridal outfit"
"Well well!' commented Mr.. Drew
indulgently. 1--WE must keep track OF
this romance, encourage it and help the
happy couple along" He repressed a
slight sigh, and his eyes sought those
Of Miss Duncan. She smiled back at
him, flushing slightly, for she fancied
she surmised what was in his thoughts.
As to himself, there was a moment of
sadness as he thought Of a wife he
had loved and lost.
The hum Of industry caused the in
cident of the moment to pass into for
getfulness for the time being. Jerry
came in swinging the satchel contain
ing the mail. He placed it on a desk
as Miss Duncan called to him.
."Is the auto outside, Jerryw she in
quired.
Eyes, ma'am," he responded.
II must get to the branch plant with
the pay roll" she said. "You can
drive me over, If you like" a.,
"Crackey! that will be fine," chirped
Jerry. Eyes, ma'am, I'll take charge
Of It," as Miss Duncan went to the
safe and filed a satchel with pack
ages of bank notes and rouleaux OF
coin. He dropped the satchel to a
chair to open for Miss Duncan a ward
robe where her wraps Were. She had
some orders to leave with the stenog'
raphers and her other assistants.
Then: "All ready, jerry" and he hur-
ried out, satchel in hand, and tossed
it on the rear seat Of the machine.
Miss Duncan got in. Jerry proudly
seated himself at the wheel. and d.
rected the machine down the plant
alley, turned into the street, almost
came bump up against another auto
waiting there, and his jaw dropped
as one of the men sprang to the
front seat, the other to the rear Jer-
rvs eyes were like miniature moons
Miss Duncan screamed.
"Quit that, or you'll have trouble! ]"
sounded gruff, menacing tones and a
revolver cleaned. Its possessor shot
out his free hand, seized the satchel
and with his companion backed to-
wards the other automobile in waiting.
"Don't you make an outcry or a
move to follow" was ordered threaten
ingly to Jerry, "or there will be a rain
Of lead" Then the driver and his
colleagues spun away and Miss Dun.
can, white to he. lips, murmured
family:
"Give the alarm, Jerry"
Thunder! a real holdup," gasped
Jerry, and ran to the nearest factory
entrance and shouted out that the
branch pay roll had vanished.
All was excitement and turmoil as
once more in the Office Of the works
Lettie and Jerry we're surrounded by
an eager interested crowd.
Hold on"
It was Jerry who uttered the words
in a ringing shout and with a forward
pounce. OF a sudden his glance had
fallen to what he at first supposed to
be the mail satchel. Now he knew
better. He seized the object, lifted 1t,
gave It a swing and yelled hysteri-
cally:
"Hurrahi They got the wrong one"
. whats that2" demanded MI. Drew.
II made a mistake. Oh, sayl Miss
Duncan, we've fooled those hold-up
men grandly. It's the paper mail
satchel they've got, and the money
Jerry slipped q catch and the opu-
lent contents Of the satchel tumbled
out. He gloated over the heap Of
money. The color returned to Miss
Duncan's face. Mi. Drew looked Inn
mensely relieved and pleased. congrat-
ulated Jerry Of his fortunate mistake,
ana arranged with Miss Duncan to
promptly see that Jerry had q suit
able reward sufficient to more than
supply his sister with her trosseau.,
And he and Lettie were quite do
lighted In helping along 4 romance,
and somehow this nurtured the senti
mentality IN their own lives, and
there was the prospect q another wed
ding.
4AsIhat blessed boyr commentsd ~.
Drew. Forgetting the past stupidity q!
tie lad who hid brought about ~ TIL
happinsnA