Mexico weekly ledger., 1922-11-02

IT'S a bet" said Shottle. "But l
must warn you you're late. BOyce
wants her to marry him, and he's got
a hold on her father. But she stood
him off"
"H'm-she stood him off? My offer
stands, Lib. She couldn't possibly
throw herself away on a l~owIooking
fellow like that"
Shottle asked for the twenty-five in
advance, was denied and took himself
off, gruInbling. He found Boyce and
the girl called Nadine Just leaving the
little alcove, and stopped them, bow
ing low. "Sir," he said, addressing
Boyce, 81 have been directed to In
form this lady that she has been
awarded a prize as the best waltzer
in the room. If you will be so good
as to give me her name and address
in order that 1t may be delivered to
herr"
Boyce regarded Shottle suspiciously.
swell !" he exclaimed. II didn't know
they did that sort of thing here. What
is the prize and who Is giving itT
"The prize" replied Shottle blandly,
sis a-turkey. Ii is given by the
by a leading butcher of the town"
Boyce laughed, and the girl added
her silver merriment. "Tm sure Tin
battered" she said. 1.-THE name IL
Nadine la Vitte, and the address"
She broke off, and flushed a little.
Shottle's jaw had dropped; then he
gulped with an extraordinary contor-
ton of his face in the endeavor to
mask his establishment. "And the ad-
dress?" he pursued.
The girl and Boyce exchanged a
troubled look. 81 think" interposed
Boyce, ut would be better to take the
the fowl home tonight. Perhaps you
would be good enough to deliver 1t to
vi carriage. 1t is ordered for n
o'clock-Number 297." Bowling with
pelican grace, Shottle departed, but
he delayed some ten minutes in dark
thought before he sought BRACE again.
For Shottle wanted the hundred dol
her name was La Vitte! Could it be
possible that she was Stepho's daugh-
ter?
He presented himself before BRACE
at length. Master" he announced,
"her name is Nadine Brown and her
address is Carriage Number 297."
Carriage Number Two But that
is no address. And"
"I.isten, Master" went on Shottle
hurriedly. II have a scheme-a magB-
ficent scheme. Not only shall you be
introduced to this lady, but you shall
be presented to her in the role Of q
protector and rescuer."
"How in the world will you manage
that?"
every simple. At ten minutes past
one, you are to be standing on Blank
street just beyond the lamp at the
corner Of x street. Carriage 297 will
drive past. From out the shadow Of
a garden wall two lei will spring out
and stop the carriage-attempt to rob
this Boyce fellow and that girl. You
will rush up with a cane-a cane, Vr-
gil, no plstol-and drive off the rob-
bersl You are a hero-the lady thanks
you. TableauW
"But--but--"
"Leave It all to me-but give me
that twenty-five dollars. I know fell
lows who'd hold up the devil himself
for FIVE"
At ten minutes past one o'clock Vir-
gil brace was standing in the shadow
Of a tree near the street-crossing de-
cided upon, cursing himself for a hair
Drained fool and Shottle for an addle-
pated rogue. A rattle Of wheels came
to his ears, and a cab approached him.
AS 1t came under the lamp at the
corner, Virgil was sure he recognized
the flamingo neck Of Liberty Shottle
rising from the ~turned-up collar Of the
cabby on the box.
"Good LordW gasped Drace. Hes
done 1t. Pray heaven Boyce carries
no pistol"
The cab passed him. And then from
the shadow of a wall a hundred yards
or so distant two dark figures darted
out. There came a hoarse command,
a stlfled scream, a cry for help. Drace
ran forward and found Boyce, Nadine
and the supposed cabman standing
with uplifted hands beside the vehicle
while a masked desperate threatened
them with a pistol and a second robber
demanded their valuables.
Now Drace played his part right
CALAMITY, rushing upon the robbers
with uplifted cane. The fellow with
the pistol fred once--then a blow on
the wrist from Braces stick sent the
weapon flying. The pain Of the blow
enraged the fellow, however, and as
Drace made at the second robber, the
first one struck him heavily, momen-
tarily dazing him. The two supposed
| robbers now took to their heels, pur.
sued ~half-heartedly by Cabman Shottle
and theoretically by Boyce. who had
been robbed In good earnest. And
to complete the melee, the poor cab
horse, frightened by the ~pistol-shot,
galloped of with the ramshackle We
hicle lurching behind 1t.
Nadine turned to Drace, her face
lighted with gratitude. She held forth
her hand. With a grace that would
not have Knocked q Highlander who.
schooled Ia France, had followed home
the Queen Of Scots. he bent W II
and ~reverently touched 1t with HIS
lips. Wild was her nature, this half.
barbaric maid, and she snatched her
hand away, but repenting instantly,