The Elk Mountain pilot., 1922-09-21

4[['l ''''" % :,
Possessing Himself Of a Plate and a
coodIy Portion Of Chicken, shottIe
Returned and BraxenIy Seated Him
Self Near Them.
Brown probably, or maybe Jones.
Or 1t might even be Smith,"
Drace scowled his wrath at such
fippancy. "Look here. Lib" he said
'Tn give you twenty-five dollars to
find out her full name and where she
lives. I'll give you hundred If you'll
find somebody who'll introduce me to
her."
"It's bet." said shottle. "But I
must warn you you're late. Boyce
wants her to marry him, and he's got
hold on her father. But she stood
him of"
"H'm-she stood him off? My offer
stands, Lib. She couldn't possibly
throw herself away on low-looking
fellow like that"
Shottle asked for the twenty-five In
advance, was denied and took himself
off, grumbling. He found Boyce and
the girl called Nadine just leaving the
little alcove, and stopped them, bow
ing low. "Sir," he said, addressing
Boyce, II have been directed to in
form this lady that she has been
awarded prize as the best waltzer
in the room. II 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.
"Well" he exclaimed. II didn't know
they did that sort of thing here. What
is the prize and who is giving itf"
"The prize" replied Shottle blandly,
''is a-turkey. 1t is given by the
by leading butcher of the town."
Boyce laughed. and the girl added
her silver merriment. "Tm sure Tin
fiattered," she said. "The name is
Nadine la vitte, and the address"
She broke of, 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 astonishment. "And the ad-
dress?" he pursued.
The girl and Boyce exchanged a
troubled look. ~ think" interposed
Boyce, at would be better to take the
the fowl home tonight. Perhaps you
would be good enough to deliver it to
our carriage. 1t is ordered for one
o'clock-Number 297." Bowling with
pelican grace. Shottle departed. but
he delayed some ten minutes in dark
thought before he sought Drace again.
For Shottle wanted the hundred dol
lars, and If he were to tell Drace that
her name was La vitte! Could 1t be
possible that she was Stephos daugh-
ter?
He presented himself before Drace
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"
Listen, Master" went on Shottle
hurriedly. ct have scheme-a magni-
ficent scheme. Not only shall you be
introduced to this lady, but you shall
be presented to her in the role of
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 c97 will
drive past. From out the shadow of
garden wall two men 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, Vir-
gil. no pistol-and drive of the rob
bersI You are hero-the lady thanks
you. Tableaur''
"But-but-"
Leave it all to me-but give me
that twenty-five dollars. know fel-
lows who'd hold up the devil himself
for five."
At ten minutes past one o'clock vir-
gil Drace was standing In the shadow
of tree near the street-crosslng de
cided upon, cursing himself for hair
Drained fool and Shottle for an addle-
pated rogue. A rattle of wheels came
to his ears, and cab approached him.
As 1t came under the lamp at the
corner, Virgil was sure he recognized
the fiamingo neck of Liberty Shottle
rising from the turned-up collar Of the
cabby on the box. W
Good Lordi" gasped Drace. Hes
done 1t. Pray heaven Boyce carries
no pistol"
The cab passed him. And then from
the shadow Of a wall hundred yards
or 80 distant two dark figures darted