The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1920-03-11
736e
Bottle Wagon
By CECILLE LANGDON
copyright. 1919. Western Newspaper Union)

by 1EOlLLE LANIDON Z
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Copyright. 1919. Western Newspaper Union)
i've got great scheme!" an
nounced homespun Dave .Wolcott as he
came into the office of Alvin Marsh,
young lawyer Of Brentwood.
"Glad to hear it, Dave" replied
Marsh heartily. Lets have it. l am
always interested in anything concern
ing you and your affairs
Il know you are Mr.. Marsh" said
Dave, "and that is why came. Since
l married Fife Barclay we have been
living at her old fathers little farm.
He is still able to look after the place,
and have been clerking at the gen
eral store. Well, it doesn't pay me
very much, and I have an ambition to
do BETTER
Sand you want me to help you,
Dave? I'd be glad to do it. I haven't
forgotten that but for you those road
robbers would have got over two thou
sand dollars carried about me. You
my appreciation of your brave serv-
ices"
II don't want any reward except
your good WILL" asserted Dave stanch-
ly. There's just this. I've got
chance to buy horse and wagon that
I need in my new business. can
pay for it inside of two months, but
lack about $50 of the cash that will
buy it."
Marsh reached for his check book.
"Tell me about your new venture,
Dave" he invited.
Here's the layout said Dave: "We
have great abundance Of grapes,
little else down at the farm, and the
idea struck me Of going into the grape
juice business. I know where a lot
of bottles can be bought cheap, and
l propose to try the scheme Of sell
ing to small stores and residences
see? Pure Home Made Grape juice"
1T looks feasible" declared Marsh,
"and that sweet, neat little wife of
yours can be great help corking the
bottles and labelling them"
''That isn't the best of it, proceed
ed Dave. II can buy a wagon, the body
Of which is built like giant bottle. It
has been used to advertise a patent
medicine. 1 can paint it over, carry
my wares in the hollow inside. and
boom my wares wherever I CO."
The following week Marsh saw the
bottle wagon in action, with Dave as
it's driver Dave was doing a thriv-
ing business, going all over the coun-
try, and Marsh was glad that he had
helped an honest, worthy fellow on
in life Marsh was in love, and his
affections had received a decided set
back. Gladys Barclay loved him in
return. but as soon as her parents.
heard of their engagement the doors
of their home were closed against
Marsh. Gladys was practically impris-
oned in the house and Marsh heard
that she was to be sent away to a
relative.
Marsh managed to get letter to
Gladys, and she had replied. Both
were fervent in their determination
to wed, and elopement seemed the only
way out. TO a minute Marsh arranged
how they should meet at precisely
eight o'clock in the evening. He was
to drive his automobile to the lane at
the rear Of the Barclay home.
Gladys made her departure from the
house at an suspicious moment and
reached the rear gate No auto was in
sight, and back at the house she heard
the excited voice Of her mother call
ing to her husband that the bird had
flown,
Gladys realized that vigorous pur-
suit would transpire. In desperation
she ran to where an alley intersected
the lane. AS she turned into it she
slowed down. There doomed up the bot
tie wagon driven by Dave Wolcott. He
was momentarily absent delivering
some of his goods at the rear of resi-
dence fronting the next street.
Gladys gave up all for lost as she
heard the shouts Of her father echoing
in the lane she had just left. The
round rear door in the bottle wagon
was open. Gladys sprang to the step,
shrank back amid the obscurity of a
space filled with bottles and crates,
and awaited developments.
They came in the appearance of
Dave, who slammed the door shut and
sprang to the drivers seat, and the ar
rival of her father, frantically demand.
ing if Dave had seen anything of his
daughter The latter gave dissent
ing reply, drove on, and Gladys ut.
tered a sigh Of relief.
For mercy's sake!" calculated Dave
as, reaching his home two miles dis
tant and opening UP his queer wagon
he faced the agitated Gladys. He
knew her and something of her af
filiation with Marsh. The rest Gladys
quickly disclosed. }, The faithful frien6
Of the young lawyer FASTENED to 10
cate Marsh, to find that the reason
of his non-appearance was that his
auto had been detained by collision