The Snowflake herald., 1921-02-04
A GENTLEMAN
BY GRACE o. wEATHERsY.

station, Bessie, only daughter of y.
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 yel-
lowbacks cleaned from within, lndl-
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 CT
herself?
She smiled complacently. II guess
sol" She wondered IL they had found
her note yet. She'd be back on the
6 80 train so no one should worry.
Bessie looked about her. The train
was quite full as 1t was only 8 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 we'll cultivated.
EYES," shyly answered the girl, while
an unbidden flush mounted to her
cheeks at her own unaccustomed bold
ness. "Are your"
He nodded. "It was getting mighty
dull down at the house. Mother is
sick of company and won't have any,
so / decided to take a trip to Bos-
ton to see a 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,
hope you enjoy the game" She
turned away, but the boy hurried after
her.
"Oh, l say. don't go off that way.
Listen, you've got whole day to
spend here, and so have |. Can We
won't yOu-what | mean is will you
spend it with me? Please. Well go
to Nantasket beach. Come on, will
you?" The girl glanced up at him.
mo, | can't really. 1t isn't right.
couldn't! Please don't ask me-
don't know you" She stammered, and
then laughed helplessly. I'D love to-"
es,o 6nicbod
"Good!" he exclaimed He was all
boy.
Then followed a wondrous day TO
the "poor little rich girl" With
perfect gentleman at her side she
"did" ell the things she had wanted
to do since she was child.
They nched*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 4 o'clock they sailed for home,
had time for more ice cream. Be-
tween spoonfuls the Perfect Gentle
man cried, Hold STILL there's a 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 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. I'm COM
ing to see you next week"
$50 you are. SO long, then!" 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
beenY
Bessie snuggled close to her father,
coaxingly. "Oh, Daddy, darling, I've
had a perfectly wonderful time!" She
proceeded to tell him all about 1t. He
listened stoically, with only an occa-
sional "humph!" to show he was lis
tening.
"Am / 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 a light streak in the tan of
her arm appeared. 1t 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!"
"Oh, dearw Bessie's hand went tC
her throat, and she gasped anew. Her
Iavalliere was gonel Where :. how
on earth? Then in a flash Bessie
remembered the bug" remembered
how the boy had snatched her wrist