Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1921-01-13
A GENTLEMAN
BY GRACE 0. wEATHERsy.


A. Davis, millionaire, climbed up the
steps OF the express to Boston, and
disappeared with the train. She sank
Into. the first vacant seat she came
70. and opened her purse for the tick
ct A goodly roll Of fresh. crisp vel
lowbacks cleaned from within, midi
eating that Bessie's stolen pleasure
trip was very generous. II was onls
shat they were too careful Of her
Goodness, couldn't she take care Of.
herself?
She smiled complacently. II guess
so !" She wondered II they had founc
her note vet. She'd be back on the
9 80 train so no one should worry
Bessie looked about her. The train
was quite full as X was only 3 o'clock
She glanced al the man beside her
lie was young and good lookiugl
In fact he looked the perfect gentle
man" Such a picture Bessie had
cherished In her heart for years. He
was her Ideall She had found him
lie 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
~
Hound for Boston7" he queried. his
voIee rich, and well cultivated
YES" shyly answered The girl while
an nnbidden flush mounted TO her
checks at her own unaccustomed bold
ness. "Are your"
lie nodded 1T was getting mighty
dull down at the house. Mother b
sick az company and won't have any.
so decided 10 take trip TO isos'
ION to see gnme."
ncfore Boston was reached. Bessie
had told him Of her escapade, He
laughed heartily when they reached
the gate at the station. Bessie looked
np At her new acqumiisEance "Goodhy
I hope you enjoy ths Fane~ She
turned away. but the bog hurried after
Tier.
"oh. aAN don't ga OF that why
listen, YOU'VE got 4 whole day TO
spend here. and 40 have l. Can we- .
won't yosl-whht maan IL viii yqu
spsnd Il With me7 .'IeaSe. Wen 70
ID Nnniasket beach. Come on. will
youY The girl glanced W 81 him
mo. cnat really Il isn't right
I cebln'sl plcase don't ask nse !
don't know you. si,s stammered aiia
fi,en laughed heipluNsly. I'D tage to
slie Ilnianpd
~fiaeag' h. exelassHea 80 was asl
hog
I4en fellcwtll paFad as II
~ 1poof listia 90 Rl1 s
81
.Sla Il
30 ~
They JIM ga cxpen
siveiy. the boz VIZ refusing 10
ailow tfIe rirl 10 icy her own biils
They thrilled over tha roller coaster
they a8iied IN Else captive airplanes
AZ 4 o'clock they sailed for hoine
and % arriving al Boston found they
had time fer more Ice cream. be
iiseen spooBfula The Perfect Gentle
ionu cried. "fIold stiIi there's bug
on your neck. Wait. III yet him !"
iseasle held still and presently enc
bug" was gone TheT dawdled 40
long after their lec cream that they
nnrrowts MISSED the six o'clock train
The hoy caught her wrist. Come ~
itis wnyi7 and prcssntly. painting, they
gouua themselves once more 10 train
cent bonewari hound They chat
tered all the way. ms hoy rather ner
suusly. When Hezsics station was
reached she ftirnca 10 him.
.-5o0siby. IKE hid d simply glorious
time. and Ahant you ever 30 much,v
Not goodby. bur 70 long the Per
feet Geniienan answered. "Pm com.
iug to see you next week.
80 son are 50 long, thenI" And
she was gone
She found her father waiting Tor
her IN the roadster. He was plain.
~ worried az bic daughters latest
escapade. and liz greeted her none too
graciously.
'You scampi DO you realize what
time Il Isl Where on earth have you
beenTr
Bessie snuggled close to her father,
eoaxingly "Oh, Daddy. darling. I've
had a perfectly wonderful tImer" She
proceeded 10 tell him all about II. He
listened stoicaliy, with only an occa.
donai ''humphr' to show he was rs
tcnlng.
"Am Ia time for supperg' asked
BESSIE, as she finished. glancing nj
her wrist Then she gnsped. Where
her dainty platinum watch had been
anw only licht streak IN the tan Of
her arm appeared, /, was gone "Oh,
Daddy" she moaned. my watch Is
cone"
"f1h. what's that7'' asked her father
Lost IT, did you2 Shouldn't wonder
after all that"
"oh, dearl" BessIe's hind went 10
her throat. ands she gasped anew. Her
iayalIierc was gone Where !, how
on earth7 Then IN flash Bessie
remembered the bug" remembered
how the boy had snatched her wrist
and pulled her through the crowds to
the train. Clever boyI More calm
W now she opened her purse, OF course
the roll OF yellowbaeks was gone.
Daddy. everything's gone |"
$50 he fished' you, did he7 Tough
luck r. aud he wisely RETAINED from
scoldlng her further She was already
sufficiently punished for her stolen
trip.
OF course money could buy another
watch, another lavnlliere, and another
relF of yellowbacks. but no money on
eafth could bring back her dream Of
tke "Pcrfeet Genileman." He was