The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1924-01-18
Three Men and a Maid

upset the boat. plunge In
suppose you can swim?"
"No, sir"
."Oh7 Well, never mind. Youth
manage somehow, / expect Cling, to
the upturned boat or something, ]
shouldn't wonder. There's always a
way. Yes, that's the plan. When Is
the earliest you could arrange thisrS
II fear such a course must be con-
sidered out Of the question, sir. 1t
really wouldn't do"
II can't see flaw in It.
swell, in the first place. 1t would
certainly jeopardize my situation. :"
"Oh, hang your situationl You talk
as If you were prime minister or
something. You can easily get an
other situation. A valuable man tike
you," said Sam, ingratiatingly.
''No, sir" said Webster firmly.
From boyhood up I've always had
regular horror Of the water. can't
so much as go padding without an
uneasy feeling"
The image Of Webster padding was
arresting enough to occupy Sans
thoughts for moment. 1t was an In
spring picture, and for an instant up
lifted his spirits. Then they fell
again.
"Well. / don't see what there is to
be done" he said, gloomily, TITS no
good making suggestions, II you have
some frivolous objection to all Of
them"
my idea," said Webster, "would be
something which did not involve my
own personal and active cooperation,
sir. Fit is all the same to you. should
prefer to limit my assistance to advice.
1 am anxious to help, but am man
Of regular habits, which / do not wish
to disturb. Did you ever read Foot
paths Of Fate, in the Nosegay series,
sir? I've only Just remembered it, and
it contains the most helpful suggestion
Of the lot, There had been miSun-
Outstanding between the heroine and
the hero-their names have slipped my
mind, though l fancy his was Cyril
and she had told him to hop It /. ~
ITO what?'
ITO leave her for ever, sir. And
what do you think he did?"
Glow the deuce do known
HE kidnapped her little brother, sir,
to whom she was devoted, kept him
hidden for a bit, and then returned
him, and In her gratitude all was for
gotten and forgiven, and never 7. -"
II know. Never had the bells Of the
old village church /. y
"Rung out blither peal Exactly,
.sir. Well there, II you will allow me
to say so. you are, sirl You need seek
no further for plan Of action"
miss Bennett hasn't got little
brother"
mo. sir. But she has a dog, and is
greatly attached to it,
Sam stared. From the expression on
his facesit was evident that Webster
imagined himself to have made a sug
gestion Of exceptional intelligence. 1t
struck Sam as the silliest he had ever
heard.
"You mean ought to steal her dog?"
Precisely. sir"
But, good heavensl Have you seen
that dog?'
1.-THE one to which 1 allude is a
small brown animal with fluffy TAIL"
Eyes, and bark like steam siren,
and. in. addition to that, about eighty
five teeth, all sharper than razors. !
couldn't get within ten feet Of that dog
without its lifting the. roof OF, and,
If 1 did. it would chew me into small
pieces"
II had anticipated that difficulty, sir.
In 'Footpaths of Fate there was a
nurse who assisted the hero by drug
ging the child"
by Jove! !" said Sam, impressed.
HE rewarded her." said Webster, al
lowing his gaze to stray nonchalantly
over the countryside. '.liberally, very
literally"
If you mean that you expect me to
reward you IL you drug the dog" said
Sam, "don't worry. Let me bring this
thing off. and you can have all I've got.
and my cuff-links as we'll. Come, now,
this is really beginning to look like
something. Speak to me more Of this
matter. Where do we go from here2''
II beg your pardon, sir?"
II mean, what's the next step in the
scheme2 oh, Lord!" Sans face fell.
The light of hope died out Of his eyes.
''It's all off, 1t can't be donel How
could possibly get into the house? +
take it that the little. brute sleeps In
the housey
"That need constitute no obstacle.
sir; no obstacle at all. The animal
sleeps in basket in the hall. /. :,
Perhaps you are familiar with the In
terror of the house, sir?"
II haven't been inside 1t since was
at school. I'm Mr.. Hignett's cousin,
you know"
Indeed, sir? I wasn't aware. Mr..
Hignett sprained his ankle this morn
ing, poor gentleman"
HAS her" said Sam. not particular
A.