The Bienville Democrat. [volume] (Arcadia, Bienville Parish, La.) 1912-1980, 1921-03-10

at her almost appealingly as II MS
whole sum and substance were crying
out to be appraised at face value out
no less.
"Thats me-" he said vapidly. MY
name is Robert Hervey Randolph.
Some people call me Bob some
'Herv,' and the sldey ones say
Randy
"And shall call you Mr.. Ran
dolph,'" said Miss Thornton bravery.
and then broke into: "After--after
I've th--thanked you again and-and
again from my heart. I'm going now"
"Thats a wrong guess" said Robert,
smiling happily-he didn't know exact
" why. "I'm the one that's going, aft
er you promise ME that you'll stay
here until ten o'clock tomorrow. But
before we come to that, please don't
thank me ever. It's selfish, but Ia
simply love to have you remember me
as Bob or Herv or, at the very worst
Randy. Won't you?"
She looked this way and that oetore
she let her face ripple to its wondrous
smile.
"Tll 60 rs far as Randy" she con-
coded ngschieyously; then the smile
went and the shadow came. but
really can't stay here, you know"
Mr.. Randolph leaped to his feet'
reached her in a single stride ana
caught her by both wrists. 6 Look at
me-" he said. IF you won't promise
to stay here without a break till ten
o'clock tomorrow and thereafter at
your pleasure, I'll stay myself ana
hold you. Now, do you or don't you!
One-twO--"
81 do"
"Do what?" inquired Robert.
81 PROMISE
make yourself absolutely at nome,
then" he said, as he dropped her
hands and turned toward the door.
81 feel like Christmas eve" said
Miss Thornton meekly. "Won't you
please tell me what's going to hap
pen?'
"You've guessed it-Christmas," he
answered systematically, tossed the
latch-key on the table, and left her.
She can be excused for spying upon
him from the curtained window. She
saw him awake the cabman, and then
watched the pantomime of long COL
loquy.
"Ohw she moaned. "No wonder
The awful, awful price Of those horrid
clock things! Why did l let him tell 1t
to waltz"
Presently she was amazed to see
both the driver and Mr.. Randolph dis
appear into the dark rccesses Of the
cab and close after them its door. For
twenty breathless minutes she
watched, tormented by the thought
that they had retired to have It out
where they wouldn't he disturbed by
the police. But at last they issued
both of them. Mr.. Randolph proceed
ed to crank the car and then, walking
rather strangely, went off. headed
west; the driver mounted his box,
threw in the clutch, and scurried to
the east as though he were of to
meet the morning.
Strange doings!" thought Miss 1mo'
gene Pamela Thornton, as she turned
from the window to start on private
ly conducted voyage of discovery.
Strange dOings, indeed, and stranger
still could Imogene Pamela have heard
us well as seen. T!is is what really
happened: M. Randolph awoke the
cabman gently but thoroughly; ther
! he said:
"Look here: want to- buy your
wagon"
"Gowan, boss; wot dyer take M
for? Here l been freezin' most to Diet
fer two mortal hours an gent lk'
you starts right in kickin' on the clocl
widout even readin' It." ~
"Shucks!" said Mr.. Randolph
"Whats biting you? Never mind TIL
meter-reading; here's twenty for 70,
to forget that, Now tell me: VIII
owns your buzz-wagon? You?"
"Naw; the Village Cab company,
replied the saturnine cabman as h
stuffed the twenty-dollar bill into hi
trousers pocket. 0
"Well," said Mr.. Randolph, "yo,
and l are about the same build an
I've got proposition for you. Chang
clothes, hand me over your cab, an
take two hundred dollars to see your
self to another job."
The driver showed no surprise; h
r contemplated the offer with half-close
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