The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1919-10-16

How about iuncheOnl VIII Won
/ Join me- ar twelve-fhlrtvf"
| That's quite another matter" said
/ Mr. Ru~hcroft readily. Luncheon Is
/ IN esihetic tribute 10 the physical in
teiligence Of man. If YOU know what I
mean ] shall be- delighted 70 Join YOU.
'Iweive-thirty. did you sayf"
IN would give me great pleasure II
your daughter would also grace the
fesfal board. ] think IL is too bad that
she has 20 90 about IN the gown she
wears. Mr.. Rushcroft." said Barnes.
"She's much too splendid FOR that.
have a proposition III ike 10 make 10
you later on. ] cannot make g. how
ever without consulting Miss Thack-
cray's feelings"
NY dear fellow beamed Ruzh-
croft. seizlng the Others hand "One
frequently reads in books about Il
coming Ike this. a. first sight. bur
dnmme. I never dreamed that II ever
really happened. Count on me, She
ought 10 leave the stage. the dear
child No more fitted 10 10 than an
Easter lily. Her place Is In the home
the"
Good Lord I am not thinking Of"
And Barnes aghast. stopped before
hurting out the words that leaped 70
his lips Il mean 10 say this Is prop
osition that may also affect your tx
celient companions. Bacon and Dilllng-
ford as well as yourself"
At ty-elve-thiEty sharp Barnes came
down from his room freshly shaved
4 "A a H. T. -
croft and Miss Thackeray awaiting
him IN the Office hut the Messrs. Dill
llngford and Bacon as well.
II took the liberty. old fellow" said
Rushcroft. addressing barnes. "of ask
Ing my excellent cO-wOrkers 10 join US
IN our repuSt."
Delighted 70 have you with Us. gen
ueinen." said Barnes affably.
The sole topic Of conversation for
the first half hour was the mysterious
Staying Of their fellow dodgers. Mr..
Rushcroft complained bitterly Of the
outrageous. high-handed action Of the
coroner and sheriff in imposing upon
him and his company the same re-
strictions that had been applied 10
Barnes They were not 20 leave the
county until the authorities gave the
word. one would have thought, 20
hear the stars indignant lamentations.
that he and his party were IN a posi-
tion 10 depart when they pleased. II
would have oeen difficult TO imagine
that he was not actually rolling IN
money instead OF being absolutely
penniless.
Barnes had been Immersed in his
own thoughts for some time. \ slight
frOW2 as Of reflection. darkened his
eyes. perhaps impOlitely-
ne Interrupted Mr.. RushcrOft's flow Of
TlOauence
"Have you any objection, Mr.. Rush
croft. 20 more or less personal ques-
ton concerning your own private-e-
misfOrtunesf" he asked, leaning for
ward
For moment one could have heard
a pin drop. Mr.. Rushcroft evidently
held his breath. There could be nc
mistake about that
ITS rather delicate but would you
mind telling me Just how much you
were stuck up for by the-er-was II
a writ of attachment
1T was" said the star. "a writ |
OF inquisition. You might as well sub |
stitute. The act OF a polluted. impe- |
cGnious. parsimonlOus-what shall ]
say? Well. / Will be as simple as pos
sible-hotel keeper. Ninety-seven dol
lars and forty cents. For that pitiful
amount he subjected me to"
well. that isn't so bad" said /
Barnes, vastly relieved. He was Gov
ertly watching Miss Thackeray's half
averted face as he ventured upon the
proposition he had decided 10 put be
fore them. II am prepared and viii.
ling 10 advance this amount. Mr.. Rush
croft. and 10 take your personal note
as security"