St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1922-05-20

; hao Deen leading up to. but I'd
tie a can to that dude fellow that hangs
around-the Bromfleld guy. o. course
l know he amt one, two, three with
you while Clay's on earth, but / don't
reckon I'd take any chances, as the
old sayin' Is. Better get shet Of the
| dude"
Miss Whitford bit her lip to keep
from exploding In sudden gale OF
mtrth. But the sight of her self-ap-
pointed chaperon set her Off into peals
OF laughter in spite OF herself. Ey-
; ery~stime sac looked at Johnnie she
went Off into renewed chirrups. He
was so homely and SO deadly earnest.
The little waif was staring at her in
perplexed surprise, mouth open and
chin fallen. He could see no occasion
Tor gayety at his suggestion. There
was nothing subtle about the Runt.
III his social code wealth did not fig
ure. A forty-dollar-a- month bronco
buster was free to offer advice to the
daughter Of millionaire about her
matrimonial prospects IL 1t seemed
best
Clay amt one O. the common run of
coWpunchers, maam. You bet YOU.
by jollies. he amt. Clay he owns a
half-interest In the B-in-a-Box. o.
course it amt what he's got, but what
he is that counts. He's the best darned
pilgrim ever did see."
Hes all right, Johnnie" the girl
admitted with an odd smile "Do you
want me to tell him that I'll be glad
to drop our family friends to meet his
approval? I don't suppose he asked
you to speak to me about it, did hep
The little range-rider missed the
irony Of this. mo, ma'am, Jest but
ted In. Mebbe hadn' ought to Of
spoke"
"You needn't feel bad, Johnnie.
There's no harm done-if you don't
say anything about it to Mr.. Lindsay.
But | don't think yon were Intended
for a matchmaker. That takes quite
a little finesse, doesn't it?''
The word "f1nesse" was not in john
MES dictionary, but he acQuiesced In
her verdict.
II reckon. ma'am, you're right"
Clay was waiting for lunch at a rot
tsserie on Sixth avenue. and In order
to lose no time-Of which he had more
just now than he knew what to do
With-was meanwhile reading a news
paper propped against water-bottle.
From the personal column there popped
out at him three lines that caught his
attention:
If this meets the eye Of c. L. Of
Arizona please write me, Box M-21,
The Herald. Am in trouble.
Kitty NJ"
He read it again. There could be
no doubt in the world. It was ad-
dressed to him, and from Kitty. He
that on the bus he had
casually mentioned to her that he
usually read the Herald
After he had eaten, Clay walked
down Broadway and left note al the
office Of the Herald for Kitty.
The thoseht OF her was In his ninf
Ill day. He had worried good deal
over her disappearance. 1t was not
alone that he felt responsible for the
loss Of her place Us cigarette girl. One
phase Of the situation was
that Jerry Durand must have seen her.
What more likely than that he had
arranged to have her spirited away7
Lindsay had read that hundreds Of
girls disappeared every year in the
city. II they ever came to the surface
again 1t was as jewellers in that un-
lerworld in the current Of which they
had been caught.
He had an engagement that after
noon to walk with Beatrice Whitford.
They crossed to Morningside park
and moved through 1t to the northern
end where the remains OF Fort Laight,
Quilt to protect the approach to the
,ity during the War OF 1872, can still
)e seen and traced.
Beatrice had read the story Of the
In the midst Of the tell
ng of it she stopped to turn upon
him with swift accusation, "Ycnre
lot listening"
That's right, I wasn't" he admit
ed.
Have you heard something about
your cigarette girl7"
Clay was amazed at the accuracy
# her center shot.
Eyes" He showed her the news
PAPER.
She read. The golden head nodded
Il told you she could
ook out for herself. You see when
,he had lost you she knew enough to
ldvertise."
Was there or was there not faint
tote of malice In the girls voice1
Clay did not know. But it would have
neither surprised nor displeased him.
He had long since discovered that his
mperious little friend was far from
IN angel.
At his rooms he found note await
ng him.
Come tonight after eleven. am
ocked In the ,sess rear room OF the
second story. Climb up over the back
porch. Don't make any noise. The
window will be unbolted. friend IL
mailing this. For Gods sake, don't
all me-"
The note was signed "Kitty." Be
ow were given the house and street
n. II 4