The diamond drill., 1921-02-26

~
smiled crookediy. "You and sat down
so hard together and you cried out.
My. what bumpr and laughed and
iauehed-Just like tonight. back there
at the stage-door OF the Crocodile"
/ Pamela stopped crying.
$50 you were that Awfully nice
boy" she said. disclosing tear-staIned
cheeks and looking him over as though
she were inventoryIng long list OF
points OF deterioration.
Robert Hervey Randolph. six feet
tall. freckled-nosed. open-faced. blue
eyed and broad-shouldered. looked up
at her almost appealingly MS II his
whole sum and substance were crying
out 10 be appraised at face value but
no less.
That's me-" he said vapldly. "My
name Is Robert Heryey Randolph.
Some people call me Bob some
Herv.' and the sIdey ones say
Randy"
And I shall call you Mr. Ran
dolph,'' said Miss Thornton brayely.
and then broke into: "After-after
I've th-thanked you again and--and
again from my heart I'm going now"
That's wrong guess" said Robert.
smiling happlly-he didn't know exact
~ why. am the one that's going, aft.
er YOU promise me that you'n stay
here until ten O'Clock tomorrow. But
before we come 60 that, please don't
thank me ever It's selfish, but I'd
simply love TO have you remember me
as Bob or Hery or. al the very worst,
Randy. Won't your
She looked this way and that before
she let her face ripple to its wondrous
smile
"rll 20 as far as Randy" she con-
ceded mlschieyously; then the smile
went and the shadow came. "But /
really can't stay here. you know"
i Mr.. Randolph leaped TO his feet,
reached her In single stride and
caught her By both wrists. Look az
me" he said. "If Won won't promis
10 stay here without break TIL ter
o'clock tomorrow and thereafter a
yonr pleasure, Til stay myself an,
hold you. Now. do you or don't you
One--tWo--"
II do"
"Do what?9 inquired Robert.
II promise"
MAKE yourself absolutely at home
then" he said. as he dropped hel
hands and turned toward the door.
81 feel like Christmas eve" sale
Miss Thornton meekly. won't yoJ
please tell me what's going 10 hap
peni"
you've guessed Christmas" h,
answered enlgmatically. tossed th,
Iatch-key on the table. and left her.
She can be excused for spyihg upor
him from the curtained window. She
saw him awake the cabman. and ther
watched the pantomime OF long col
loquy.
"Oh" she moanad. "No wonder
The awful awful price Of those horric
clock things Why did ! let him tell II
20 waltz
Presently she was amazed 10 see
both the driver and Mr.. Randolph dis
appear into the dark recesses OF the
cab and close after them It's door. For
twenty breathless minutes she
watched tormented by the thought
that they had retired 20 have II out
where they wouldn't be disturbed by
the police. But az last they issued
both Of them. Mr Randolph proceed
ed 10 crank the car and then walking
rather strangely. went Off. headed
west; the driver mounted his box
threw IN the clutch, and scurried 20
the east as though he were on 20
~Ineet the morning
Strange doings" :" thought Miss Imo.
gene Pamela Thornton. as she turned
from the window 10 start on a private.
~ conducted voyage OF discovery.
Strange doings. indeed. and stranger
still could fmogene Pamela have hea rd
ms we'll as seen. This Is what really
happened: Mr. Randolph awoke the
cabman gently but thoroughly: then
he said:
Look here want TO buy your
wagon"
"Gowan. boss wot dyer take me
f0r7 Here been freczin' most TO det'
fer two mortal hours an 4 gent like
you starts right IN kickin on the clock
widOut even readin' H."
"Shucks - said Mr. Randolph.
whats biting you? Never mind the
meterreading; here's twenty for you
20 forget that Now tell me: Who
owns your buzz-wagonl Your
Nav; the Village Cab company"
replied the saturnine cabman as he
stuffed the twenty-doliar bin into his
trousers pocket.
Well" said Mr. 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 20 see your.
self 10 another Job"
The driver showed no surprise: he
contemplated the offer with half-clOsed
eyes and dubiously working lips
More than that" went on Ran