The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1921-01-27

mei' he said. III you won't promise
to stay here without q break till ten
O'clock tomorrow and thereafter ut
your pleasure, TIL stay myself and
hold you. Now. do you or don't your
One-two-
II do"
do whatl'' inquired Robert.
II promise" Y
Make yourself absolutely at home,
them" he said, as he dropped her
hands and turned toward the door.
e" feel like. Christmas eve" said
Miss Thornton meekly. Wont you
please tell me what's going to hap
pen1" @s
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 q long col
loquy.
"Oh!" she moaned. mo wonder!
The awful, awful price Of those horrid
clock things! Why did I let him tell 1t
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 breathless minutes she
watched, tormented by the thought
that they had retired to have 1t 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 oil, 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 Imo-
gene Pamela Thornton, as she turned
from the window to start On q private
~ conducted voyage Of discovery.
Strange doings, indeed, and stranger
still could Imogene Pamela have heard
as well as seen. This is what really
happened: Mr.. Randolph awoke the
cabman gently but thoroughly; then
he said. ,>>1>5 -. -
look here: 1 want to buy your
wagon" 3. IT,
"Gowan, boss; wot dyer take me
for? Here / been freezin' most to det'
fer two mortal hours an a gent like
you starts right in kickin' on the clock
widOut ever readin' It,"
"Shucks !" said MI. Randolph.
whats biting your Never mind the
m~eter-readtng; here's twenty for you
to forget that. Now tell me: Who
own your buzz-wagon? Your
NAV; the Village Cab company"
replied the saturnine cabman as he
stuffed the twenty-dollar bill into his
trousers pocket.
"Well," said MI. Randolph, you
and I are about the same build and
I've got a proposition for you. Change
clothes, hand me over your cab, and
take two hundred dollars to see your
self to another job" ID
The driver showed no surprise; he
contemplated the offer with %half-closed
eyes and obviously working lips.
More than that" went on RAN
dolph: I'm not taking your job just
FOR tonight; I'm going to hold it. The
only thing I want you to promise il
that you'll keep your trap closed If
you see any ads in the personal col
umns looking for me-"
"How do I know you won't lift the
car and whoop 1t up fer New Haven?"
Randolph fixed him in the eye.
"You know I won't, because I say
It,"
"surez1that's all right, boss" said
the driver c~onciliatingly. mo bones
broke. Now, there's just n thing
more: have you 1ggered that it's five
hours to the opening of secondhand
Sixth avenue or the Bowery, an I'd
have to wear those clothes Of yourn
all that time3"
whats the matter with these
clothes7", asked Randolph, a little
peeved. "Well, you've heard my offer.
Take 1t or leave it."
"Sure I'll take til" said the driver
promptly. IT I wasn't a-goin' to have
took it from the first, what would I a.
been standin' here talkin' fort"
Whereupon they entered to the
cramped privacy Of the cab and ex-
changed garments. Randolph was
ready IN ten minutes, but It took him
another ten to complete the apparel
ing Of the puzzled chauffeur. That
worthy added to his investiture in
R~andolph's best evening suit q sickly
grim.
"Say," he asked, 'how do I lookf"
Mr.. Randolph surveyed him.
"Oh, you'll do, all. right. You look
about the way ! would II I'd been on 4
bat. Better have q few drinks, II You
can find them, and the world win fail
for your clothes. What time do I turn
the wagon IN, and what time do / 20
- 1910 49, AZ Ea