Iron County record. [volume] (Cedar City, Utah) 1893-1982, 1920-12-24
A GENTLEMAN
BY GRACE o. WEATHERBY.

With last furtive look around the
station, Bessie, only daughter or "
A. Davis, millionaire. climbed up the
steps of the express to Boston, ana
disappeared with the train. She sank
into the first vacant seat she came
to, and opened her purse for the tick
ct. A goodly roll Of fresh, crisp vel
lowbacks cleaned from Within inoi-
eating that Bessie's stolen pleasure
trip was very generous. 1t was only
that they were too careful OF her.
Goodness, couldn't she take care or
herself?
She smiled complacently. II guess
sol" She wondered If they had found
her note yet. She'd be back on the
$3.50 train so no one should worry.
Bessie looked about her. The train
was quite full as 1t was only o o'clock.
She glanced at the man beside her.
He was young and good looking!
In fact he looked the perfect gentle
man. Such a picture Bessie had
cherished In her heart for years. lie
was her ideal She had found him
He was returning her stare, and find
ing her very lovely. Then. perhaps
because they were both very young,
and happy they smiled at each other.
The man Strengthened himself slight
ly.
Bound for Boston?" he queried, his
voice rich, and well cultivated.
"Yes," shyly answered the girl, while
an unbidden flush mounted to her
cheeks at her own unaccustomed bold
ness. "Are your"
He nodded. 1T was getting mighty
dull down at the house. Mother is
sick of company and won't have any,
so I decided to take a trip to Bos-
ton to see game"
Before Boston was reached, Bessie
had told him of her escapade. He
laughed heartily. When they reached
the gate at the station, Bessie looked
up at her new acquaintance. "Goodby,
I hope you enjoy the game" She
turned away, but the boy hurried after
her.
"Oh, say, don't go off that way.
Listen, you've got whole day to
spend here, and so have l. Can we
won't yOu-what l mean Is will you
spend 1t with me? Please. Wen go
to Nantasket beach. Come on, will
you?" The girl glanced up at him.
mo, l can't really. 1t isn't right
couldn't! Please don't ask me. l
don't know YOU" She stammered, and
then laughed helplessly. "Id love to!"
she finished.
"Good!" he exclaimed. He was all
boy.
Then followed wondrous day to
the poor little rich girl" With a
perfect gentleman at her side she
did" all the things she had wanted
to do since she was child.
They lunched extensively and expen-
sively, the boy laughingly refusing to
allow the girl to pay her own bills.
They thrilled over the roller coaster,
they sailed in the captive airplanes.
At o'clock they sailed for home,
and on arriving at Boston found they
had time for more Ice cream. Be-
tween spoonfuls the Perfect Gentle
man cried, 'Hold still there's bug
on your neck. Wait, I'll get him !"
Bessie held STILL" and presently the
bug" was gone. They dawdled so
long after their Ice cream that they
narrowly missed the six o'clock train.
The boy caught her wrist. "Come on
this way" and presently, painting, they
found themselves once more In a train
seat homeward bound. They chat
tered all the way, the boy rather ner-
vously. When Bessie's station was
reached she turned to him.
"Goodby, I've had simply glorious
time, and thank you ever so much"
mot goodby, but so long," the Per-
feet Gentleman answered. "Tm COM
ing to see you next week."
$50 you are. SO long, thenW And
she was gone.
She found her father waiting for
her In the roadster. He was plain
ly worried at bis daughters latest
escapade, and he greeted her none too
graciOusly.
you scamp! DO you realize what
time it Is? Where on earth have you
been?"
Bessie snuggled close to her father,
coaxingly. "Oh, Daddy, darling, I've
had perfectly wonderful time!" She
proceeded to tell him all about 1t. He
listened stoically, with only an occa-
slonal "humph!" to show he was lis
tenlng.
"Am l In time for supper?" asked
Bessie, as she finished, glancing at
her wrist. Then she gasped.' Where
her dainty platinum watch had been
now only light streak in the tan Of
her arm appeared. It was gone! "Oh,
Daddy" she moaned. my watch Is
gone"
"Eh, what's that?" asked her father.
Lost 1t, did you? Shouldn't wonder,
after all that!"