Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1923-07-26


her. with his eyes on the edges Of
are that peeped from between and
round her ankles. he began to talk.
Il knew you; knew Sport; knew
Maggie. Just once met you all. and
I've never forgotten. I couldn't" He
smiled crookedly. you and I sat down
30 hard together and you cried out.
Ny. what q bumpr and laughed ana
iaughed--just like tonight. back thers
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 a. though
she were inventcrying q long list ce
points Of deterioration.
Robert Hervey Randolph. six feet
tall. frcckled-nosed. open-faced, blue
eyed and broad shouldered, looked M
AZ her almost appealingly NJ n his
whole sum and substance were crying
out to be appraised AZ face value but
no less.
that's me-" he said vapidiy. my
name IL Robert Hervey Randolph.
Some people caIl me Bob some
'Herv.' and the sidey ones say
Randy"
@And shall call you Mr.. Ran
do,ph.'" said Miss Thornton bravely.
and then broke into: "After--after
i've th---thanked you again and--and
again from my heart. I'm going now"
'srhat's wrong guess" said Robert.
smiling happily--he didn't know exact-
y why. I'm the one that's going. aft
Or you promise me that you'il stay
here until ten o'clock tomorrow. But
before we como to that please don't
thank me ever. IT'S selnsh. hut ia
simply love to have you remember me
a. Bob or Herv or. a. the very worst.
Randy. Won't Jour
She looked this way and that before
she ist her face ripple 10 its wondrous
smile.
"ril 20 a. far A. Randy" she con-
coded mischievously then the smile
went and the shadow came. But I
really can't stay here. you know"
Mr.. Randolph lsaped to his feet.
reached her In single stride and
caught her BY both wrists. look at
NOR he said. III you won't promise
to stay here without q break TIL ten
o'clock tomorrow and thereafter ~
your pleasure. I'll stay myself and
hold you Now. DO you or don't your
0ne--two--"
II do"
"Do whatr' inquired Robert
II promise"
snake yourself absolutely az home,
them" he said M he dropped her
hands and turned toward the door.
II feel like Christmas eve" said
Miss Thornton meekly. won't you
please tell me what's going to hap
penY'
you've guessed 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 long col.
loquy.
"Ohr she moaned. mo wonderi
The awful. awful price Of those horrid
clock things Why did let him tell II
20 waitf"
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 It's door. Fer
twenty breathless minutes she
watched. tor1nented by the thought
that they had retired to have II 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 on, headed
west; the driver mounted his boz.
threw In the clutch, and scurried to
the east a. though he were on to
meet the morning.
"Strsnge doingsi" thought Miss limo
gene Pamela Thornton, as she turned
from the window to start on q private
ly conducted voyage Of discovery.
Strange doings. indeed, and stranger
still could Imogene Pamela have heard
rs well as seen. This In what really
happened: Mr.. Randolph awoke the
cabman gently but thoroughly; then
he said:
Look here: want to buy your
wagon"
"Gowsn. boss: wot dyer take me
fort Here I been freezin' most to det'
fer two mortal hours an a gent like
you starts right In kickIn' on the clock
widout even readln' H."
"shucks" said Mr.. Randolph.
whats biting your Never mind the
meter-reading; here's twenty for you
to forget that Now tell me: Who
owns your buzz wagonf Your
NAV; the village Cab company"
replied the ssturnlne cabman AZ he
stuffed the twenty-doilar bill into his
trousers pocket
well" said Mr.. Randolph. "yoa
and are about the same build and
I've got q proposition for you. Change
clothes. hand me over your cab. and
take two hundred dollars to see your
self TO smother job"
The driver showed no surprise; he
contemplated the offer with half-closed
eyes and obviously working lips.
more than that" went on RAN