The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1921-03-11

Pamela Thornton Oh, who are
you? why did your She dropped
her face In her hands and sobbed as
though her heart had broken.
Randolph did not leap to comfort
her this time; ne did not even watch
her. With bis eyes on the edges Of
fire that paeped from between and
round her ankles, he begun to talk.
II knew you; knew Sport knew
Maggie. Just once met you all, and
I've never forgotten ! couldn't He
smiIedscrookedly. -You and | sat down
70 hard together and you cried out,
MY, what a bumpi and laughed and
| laughed just like tonight, back there
at The stage-door Of the Crocodile"
Pamela stopped crying.
$50 you were that awfully nice
hoy. she said, disclosing tear-stained
cheeks and looking him over as though
she were inventorying a long list Of
points or deterioration.
Robert Heryey Randolph, six feet
fall, freckled-nosed, open-faced. blue
eyed and broad-shouldered, looked up
ats her almost appeallngly as II his
whole sum and substance. were crying
out to be appraised at face value but
no less.
"That's me- he said vapfdly. my
name IS Robert Heryey Randolph.
Some people call me Bob, some
'Hery,' and the sIdey ones say
Randy"
"And / shall call you MIR. Ram
dolph, said Miss Thornton bravely,
and then broke into "Afterafter'
I've th--thanked you again and-and
again from my heart. I'm going now"
"That's wrong guess" said Robert,
smiling happily-he didn't know exact
ly why. SIN the one thht's going, aft
err 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 I'd
simply love to have you remember me
as Bob or Herv or, at the very worst,
Randy Won't your
She looked this way and that before
she let her face ripple to Its wondrous
smile.
'sI'll go as far as Randy" she con-
coded mischieyously; 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 single stride fnd
caught her by both wrists. Look at
mel'' he said. IF you won't promise
to stay here without break, till ten
| o'clock tomorrow and thereafter at
| your pleasure, I'll stay myself and
hold you. Now, do you or don't your
| One-tWo--"
II do"
"Do what?n inquired Robert.
II proWise.
MAKE yourself absolutely at home,
them he said as he dropped her
hands and turned toward the door,
Il feel like Christmas eve," said
Miss Thornton meekly. won't you
please tell me what's going to lap
/ penn"
you've guessed Christmas" he
4 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 a long coll
loquy.
i "Ohr' she moaned. "No wonder
The awful, awful price of those horrid
clock things Why did let him tell It
to waltz"
Presently she was amazed to see
both the driver and Mr.. Randolph dis
appear into the dark recesses of the
cab and close after them its door. For
twenty GREATNESS minutes she
watched, tormented by the thought
that they had retired to have It out
where they wouldn't be 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 tc
the east as though he were off t.
meet the morning.
Strange doingsl" thought Miss Irno
gene Pamela Thornton, as she turned
from the window TO start on private
J | ~ conducted voyage Of discovery.
Strange doings, indeed, and strange,
still could mogcne Pamela have hear
MS well as seen This Is what reall,
happened; Mr., Randolph awoke tn,
! cahman gently but thoroughly; theI
! he said:
Look here: want to buy you
wagon"
uypvap hosS. yvot ,l,,a, ,oi-, -.
; forl Here | been freezin' most TO Diet
| fer two mortal hours an gent lik,
! you starts right IN kickin' on the clocl
/ wilout even readin' IT,"
"Shucksl' suid Mr. Randolph
+ whats biting you? Never mind tn
! understanding; here's twenty for yor
i 70 forget that. Now tell me: VIII
owns your huzz-wagon2 Your
+ NAV; the Village Cab company,
I'LL AZ. o.. .