Newspaper Page Text
GRADY GOtmi* V'tooGKKBS. CAii\u. unuiuiiA.
Bij
/ ^THoria x
c^hontp^on;
$)avieM>
tlfalr'mlh'ds fafa p ifaanita(Ju:i purpoao.
-Uo hod been eppalffag pf that ymr u
fow weeks nftor Lonvnlnp, pud I lmd
risen and lmd etood very tull nud very
haughty before him and my father.
"The women of Franco aro to como
S5-9»!
thing that I might do to serve Franco.
I do ho long to go Into those awful
trenches with that red cross on my
arm, as it la not permitted to me to |
carry a gun, which I can use much hot
ter than many men now handling guns I
after this carnage to mold a nation 'Vlth builds against the enemy, lint
from what remain, to them, moil-! u necessary that ■ obey the com-
T
Copyright, 1916, by tho Reilly & Britton Co.
FOREWORD
“TPHE DAREDEVIL” isn’t
A just an ordinary story
of a girl who masquer
ades in man’s clothing. There
is a vital reason behind it all.
It isn’t all a lark, though
comedy lurks on the footsteps
of the «tout hearted pretender;
an American father, a French
mother and quick sympathies
that link fatherland and moth
erland in love that brave3 very
real dangers for the safety of
one and the honor of both. In
the story there is a most irre
sistible young man whose
name is Buzz and who lives up
to it. There is an irasoible old
bachelor uncle, secretary of
state to his expellenoy the gov
ernor of Harpcth, “the great
est gentleman in the world."
But, best of all, there is Ro
berta, the ‘‘daredevil,’’ the
lovable heart of a mighty lika
ble story. You may be sure she
will captivate you, just as she
did those who knew her “in
boots.”
CHAPTER I.
Sparkling Wavca Ovor High Explosives
PAS there ever n woman who
did not very greatly desire
for lfarself at long momenta
the doublet and hose of a
man. perhaps also his sword, as well
us Ills attitude in the viewing of .life?
I think not. To it very small number
of tliosa Indies of groat curiosity it
abovo that need, which must bo al
most a hundred of their hugo and
wasteful dollars. All Is well with us."
And as sho spoke sho pulled up tho
collar of Pierre’s soft blue sorgo blouse
around his pale thin faep ami; cased
tho cushion behind his crooked small
hack.
“is—Is that all which remains of the
51,500 we found to be In that bank,
Nannette?" I asked of her with a great
uncertainty. My mother's fortune, de
scended from her father, the Marquis
do Grcz and Bye, and the income of
ray father from his government post
had made llfo easy to live In that old
bouse liy tho quay, where so many
from the Faubourg St. Germaine came
to hear her sing after her fortune and
children took her from tho opera—and
to go for the summers In the gray old
Chateau do Grcz—but of the' Invest
ment of francs or dollars and'cents 1
bad no knowledge. In spite of my
clulms to ho uu Amerleau girl of much
progress. My mother had laughed and
very greatly adored my assumption of
an extreme American manner, copied
ns nearly os possible after that of my
father, and had failed to teach to me
even that thrift which Is a part of the
dot of every French girl from the
Faubourg St. Germaine to the Boule
vard St. Michel. But'even in my ig
norance the Information of Nannette
as to the smallness of our fortune gave
to me an nlurm.
“Wbat will you, mademoiselle? It
■was necessary that I purchase the rai
ment needful to the young Marquis do
Grez according to his state and for the
marquise, his sister, also. It was not to
be Contemplated that wo should travel
except in apartments of the very best
In the ship. Is not gold enough In
America even for sending In great
sums for relief of suffering? Have 1
not -seen It given In the streets of Par
is? Is It not there for us? Do yon
mnkc me repronches?" And Nannttte
began to weep Into the fine lawn of
her nurse's handkerchief.
“No, no, Nanuette! 1 know It wub
ST
bus been granted that they climb to
those ramparts of the life of a man. of n necessity to us to liavo tho clothes,
but It wus needful that they be stout 0 f course we had to travel in the
of limb and sturdy of heart to sns- n,. a t c i as s. Do not have distress. If
tain themselves upon that eminence w0 nee <i more money in America 1
uml not be dashed below upon tlio obtain It.” I made that answer
rocks of u strange land. I, Roberta, v | t |, u gesturo of soothing upon her
marquise de Grez and Bye. have oh- oU1 „t, 0 ulders, which I could never re
tained glimpses Into n fur country, ami 1 raem | )er ns no t bent in an attitude of
this Is what I" bring on returning, not
ns a spy, but, shall I say, laden with
spices and forbidden fruit?
And for me It has been a very flue
dash into the wilds of u land of
strangeness, and 1 do not know that
I have yet found myself completely re
turned unto my estate of a woman.
1 lirst began to realize that I was
set out upon a great Journey whop 1
stood at tho rail of the very largo ship
and watched it plow Its way through
the waves which they told us with
their splendor hid cruel falnes. I felt
the future might be like unto those
great waves, and It might be that it
would break In sparkling crests over
high explosives. I found thorn!
I lmd seen a fear of those explosives
of life coiue In my dying father’s eyes,
and hero I stood at Ids command out
on the ocean In quest of a woman's
fate In a strange country.
••Get back to America', Bob, and go
straight to your Uncle Robert at
Hayesville, In the Harpcth valley. He
cut me loose because be didn’t under
stand when I married your mother
out of the French opera In Paris.
When 1 named you Robertn for him
he returned tho letter I sent, but with j
it notlco of n thousand dollars in Mon- |
roo & Co. for you. I didn't tell him j
when- your mother died. Yes. I’ve
been bitter. But these Germau bul
lets have cut the life out of me, and I I
see more plainly. Get tho money nud
* take Nannette and the kiddie on the
prst boat. There’s starvation and—
maybe worse In Paris for you. Take— |
t lie money—and—get—to—Brother Rob
ert. God of America—take—them and
—guide"—
And tiint was all. I held him In my
arms Tor n long time, while old Nan
nette and small Pierre wept besldo
me. and then I laid him upon his pil
low nml straightened tho llttlo tricolor
that the good sister of the old gray
convent in which ho lay had given me
to place In bis hand wlicn ho had
begged for It My mother's country
lmd meant my mother to him, and ho
lmd given his life for her and Franco
in tho trendies of tho Vosges. And
thus ut his bidding I was on tho very
high sens of adventure. From this
liovcrlng over Pierre or me.
"Eh bleu!" she answered, with n per-
feet, satisfaction at my assumption of
all the responsibilities of our three
existences.
And as I leaned against the deck rail
and looked out Into n future ns limit
less as tiint water nhend of us Into
which tho great ship wus plowing 1
made a remark to myself that had In
1t nil the wisdom of those who nre Ig
norant.
'•The best of life is not to know what
will happen next."
“Ah, that was so extraordinary com
ing from a woman that you must par
don me for listening and making ex
clamation.” came an answer In a nice
voice near at my elbow. Tho words
were spoken In as. perfect English as
“I know why it is that you go to Amor
ical’’
I had learned from my father, but In
them I observed to bo an intonation
that my French enr detected ns Pa
risian. “Also, mademoiselle, nre you
young women of fae new era to be
without that very delightful but often
danger creating quality of curiosity?”
As I turned 1 looked with startled
eyes Into tho grave face of a man less
than forty years, whoso sad eyes wore
for tho moment lighting with a gront
tenderness which I did not under
stand.
“I believe the quality which will be
most required of the women of the era
which Is miue is—is courage and then
more courage, monsieur," 1 made an
thought of b'lrn 1 wns very suddenly s \ver to him as If I had been discuss
recalled by old Nannette, who camo ing some questlou with him In my fa
upon tho deck from below. I thor’s smoking room at the Chateau de
••Le bon Dlcu,” sho sighed as sho 1 Grez, ns 1 often came in to do with
settled herself In her steamer chair tny father and his friends after the
and took out tho lnco knitting. ’’Is It death of my mother when the evenings
not of a goodness that I hnvo tied In seemed too long alone. They had
mv stocking tho necessary francs that lilted that I so came at times, and
wo wav land In that America where the old Count de Breaux oncobad re-
all Is of such a good fortune? And, marked that feminine sympathy was
also by my skill wq have 160 francs , the flux with which men made solid
from what remains to them, won
sleur," I had Said to him ns I looked
straight Into his face. “Is not tho
courage of women n war supply upon
which to rely?"
"What are tho young women—such
women as she—going to do In the years
that como after tho deluge. Henri of
America?" he hud made a muttering
question to my father ns his old eyes
smoldered over me In tho firelight.
< From tbo memory of tho smoking
room at tho Chntoau do Grez fay .mind
suddenly returned to the rail of the
ship, uml the Frenchman beside me.
who was looking hito my fuco with
tho snmo kindly question ns lo my fu
ture .tbut Lmd been In the eyes of my
old godfather and which had stirred
my father's heart to Its American
depths mid made him send me back
to his own country.
Ah, yes. that courage Is u good
eapon with which to adventure in
America of tbo grizzled ft car,
mademoiselle,” I found tbo strange
man saying to tne, with a nice amuse
ment as well as Interest.
“My father had shot seven grlizllcs
before his twenty-first birthday. We
have the skins, four of them, in the
great hnll of tho Chateau Uo Grcz—or
—or we did have them before—be
fore"— My voice faltered, and I could
not continue speaking for the tears
tiint roso In my throat and eyes.
Quickly the man at my sldu turned
Ills broad shoulders that lie should
shield mo from the laughing and ex
claiming groups of people upon the
deck near us.
‘‘Before Ypres, mademoiselle?" he
asked, with tears also In the depths of
bis voice,
"Yes," 1 answered. “And I nm now
going Into tho great America with my
crippled brother and Ills nurse—alone.
It Is the land of my father, nml I have
bis courage. I must have also that of
a Frenchwoman. I have It, monsieur.''
And as 1 spoke 1 drew myself to my
fall, round shouldered height, which
was almost equal to that of the man
beside me.
"Mademoiselle, I salute the courage
bom of an American who fought be-
fore the guns of the Marne and of a
Frenchwoman who sent him there!"
And as he spoke thus ho removed from
bis head his silk deck cap and held 1t
at his shoulder In a way that I knew
was a salute from a French officer to
the memory of a brother. "And nlso
may. I he permitted to present myself,
as it is a sad necessity that you travel
without one from whom I might re
quest the Introduction?" he asked of
me with a beautiful reverence.
After a. search In his pocket for n
few seconds, be at last discovered a
case of leather and presented to me a
card. As he handed It to mo his color
roso up under his black eyes, and grave
trouble looked from between their lbhg
black lashes. I glanced down nt the
card and read: "Cupltntne le Count
Arraond de Lassclles, rnrls, France,
Forty-fourth Chasseurs do le Rcptib-
lique Fruncaise."
M. le Count, I know—I know why
It Is that you go to America!” I mad.-
exclamation as I clasped to .my breast
my hands, and my eyes shone with ex
citement. "I have read It In Le Matin
Just the day before yesterday. You go
to buy grain against tho winter of
starvation In the rcpubllque. No mnn
Is so great a financier as you and so
brave a soldier, with your wound Dot
healed from the trenches in the Vosges.
Monsieur, I salute you!” And I bent
my head and held out my hand to him.
We're to expect nimble wits ns well
as courage of you young—shall I say
American women?" he laughed as he
bent over my band. “Now shall I not
be led for Introduction to the small
brother and tho old nurse?" ho asked,
with much friendly Interest fa his kind
eyes.
It wiis a very wonderful thing to ob
serve the wee Pierre listen' to tho nar
ration of capltnino, the Count de Lns-
selles, concerning the actions of n small
boy who had run out of n night of
shot and shell Into tho heart of bis
regiment and who hnd now lived five
months In tho trenches with them.
Pierre's small face is all of Franco,
and In his heart under his bent chest
burns a soul all of France. It Is ns If
In her death, nt his birth, my beauti
ful mother hnd stamped her nice upon
him with the greater emphasis.
"Is it that the small Gaston Is a
daredevil, like Is my Bob?" he ques
tioned as we all made a laughter at
the story of the Count de Lassclles
concerning the sortie of tho small Idol
from the trenches fa the dead of ono
peaceful night to return with a very
wide thick flannel shirt of one of the
enemy, which be lmd caught banging
upon n temporary lauhdry Ifao hack
of the German trenches.
"And your medal of honor, M. Cnpl-
tnlne? Is It permitted that 1 lay for
a little moment Just one finger upon
It?’* Pierre asked of him as the great
soldier stood tall above the steamer
chair. '
Nannette sobbed Into her lace, nml
I turned my head away ns the tall
mnn bent and laid the frail llttlo
hand against his decoration, which he
wore nfaiost entirely hidden under the
pocket' of Ills tweed Norfolk of Eng
lish manufacture. Only French eyes
like wee Plerro's could hnvo scon It
pinned there hidden ovor his heart. 1
think' he wore It to give him a large
cptirago for his mission that meant
bread or starvation to so many of Ills
people.
‘‘Ah, M. le Capttalne," I said to him.
with a softness of tears fa my throat.
“I would that, there was some llttlo
mauds of my soldier father uml lake
to a safety tho small I’lerre." And ns
wo spoke lie walked beside me to the
prow of the largo ship so that to us
wns a view of the heavens of bluo- be
yond which lay our Amcrlcii.
“My child, there Is n great service
which you can render Franco," ho tin-
CHAPTER II.
Vivo la Franco.
HR illicit) of America has como
to a (.-mifusion of tho sex be
tween Pierre uml me from
a careless memory ami llio
writing of my hand, which is of a
great boldness, hut not to ho easily
reud," I oxptafaod ns I read tho letter
nloutl to Plorro uml Nnmictto.
It took mo Just ono hour by the clock,
silting there on tho pile of steamer
wraps with tho small Plorro In tho hol
low of fay arm, to explain and trans
late tho sense of that letter to old Non-
ran render Franco," no an- ““ “ ; ' , B „ u wbuW lmvo
swetodmo ns wo stuped to watch the | “ 0 „ u , (lt Hpot yot , tm .
movable, rather than let mo depart
great white waves flung aside from the
ship. “Franco needs friends lu Amer
ica, great, powerful friends who will
help her In cqntrnctlug for food and
all other munitions. A beautiful wo
man can do much In winning those
friends. You go lo your uncle, who
Is one of tlioso lu power lu u slate lu
from her If I had not put nil of my
tlrno nnd force upon tho factoring to
her of n Plorro who could como down
with her Inter to mo lu n condition to
run through tho gardens of Twin Oaks,
which was tho homo of his American
ancestors. With that vision constantly
before her bIio let lho porter and mo
insert her Into u tnxlcab and extract
bor nt tho door of tho suiiill private
hospital of the good Dr. Utirnsi who
was to perform tho falftralo for tho
buck and hip of small utid radiant
Plorro'.
But what is It Hint I do to permit
tho Joilno Ullo of my beloved mistress
to dopnrt Into this city of wicked sav
ages not attended by mo? 1 cannot.
Do not demand Itl" wore tho words
with which 1 left her arguing with
that very sympathetic and sensible doc
tor of America, llo lmd not noticed
u confusion of sex was between PJcrro
and mo, mid ho lmd sjnt out tho check
of my wicked undo nnd procured the
Auicrlcnu money for mo. Also ho had
given mo a few directions Hint ho up
poured to think of a gront sufficiency
and lmd ordered u taxi to he In readi
ness for mo.
“Nonsense, nurse," ho said t6 Nail
uette brusquely, hut not with unkind
ness, when I hud translated to him
Nnnnotte's weeping protests. "A grout
strapping girl like that can get down
to tlio Ilurpeth valley all right by her
self. Nobody’s going to cat her Up,
uml from tlio size of tho biceps 1 de
tect under that cliilTon 1 think she
could give n good account of herself
If anybody tried. Ilow like you arc
to what Henry wns ut your age, child,
God bless you! I’d go lo the station
with you, hut I've a patient all pre
pared for nn operation. Shall 1 send
a nurso with yon?"
No, please, good doctor, nnd good-
by," I said, with a groat hnsto, as 1
hurriedly embraced both Nannette and
tho small Plorro .and departed down
tho broad stops Into tho taxi with tho
open door.-
“Your train limy not leave for hours,
hut you enn get your baggage togeth
er. Goodby," sakl that good doctor as
the slzo of their brother*' If they didn't
prefer to waddle nnd limp along with
their feet scrougod. Go over lo the
shoo department nnd tlio clerk will Hr.
you out with wliat you need In about
two sizes larger tlinn you wear. If
they nre not right you enn tell Juki;
about wlm't will be nml exchange ‘cm
by special messenger. I'll pack nil
this shipshape before you como hack."
With which direction I left tlio lclml
mnn nml mudo my way to another of
equal kindness.
"I hnyo hnd upon my feet tho alines
of my brother when In iiccldents while
nt hunting and flshlng. and I think I
can ascertain a good flttiug,” I mode
n falsification to tlio vory polite young
mint who stood with attention nnd
sympathy to wait upon mo.
“Wo’tt make n selection and then try
ono,pair on," ho ndvlscd mo.
And ns I gave to him a lino doscrlp
tlon of tlio clothing I hud purchased
ho brought forth fa accord many won
derful Imots nnd shoos for'tho riding '
anil n walking und also for tho diineo. 1
I had never observed that tho shoes of
men wore of such an ugllncsB, hul
when ono wns upon my foot In place
at
The Tall Man Laid tho Frail Little
Hand Against His Decoration,
tliut fruitful valley of tho Mississippi
from which 1 hope that my lieutenant,
Count de Bourdon; whom I scut on
that mission.. Will get many mules lo
carry food to the hungry boys In the
trenches when mud is too deep for gas
oline. Make of him nnd every ono
your friend and through you tlio friend
of our struggling country. Tell them
of France, luugli with them for the
Joy to como when France, nil France,
with Alsace and beautiful Lorraine, Is
free, and make them weep with you
for her struggles. Who knows but
that through you may come some won
derful strength added to yonr old couu
try from the new. whose blood runs I bo B ij U t the door npd returned to Ills
lu your veins ns well?" pursuitof making human beings either
"All of that I will do, mon capltnino w liole 0 r dead.
I so enlist myself.” And ns I spoko I „ Aml I10Wi Roberta Carriitlicrs, no
drew myself up unto -tlio greutost lo ' ngcr Ma rquls 0 of Grez and Byo, you
height passible to mo. “1 will ho of I nt , 0 j u y 0Ur America, nnd lut’s'soo you
tho army that foods rather than of that do gomo bustling.”
which kills."
“Mon Dlcu, child, what Is possible to
of the shoo of much beauty which 1
dtscnrdcd both I and tho young man V
had a lino luugli.
"Stnts. tlioy nro of n great comfort."
I further roranrkod. "And they foci
about ns did" those of my brother, who
is of a small frame.”
"Well, If tlioy nro not right, send 'em
bnck nnd I'll ehnngo 'em," ho answer
ed, with great interest.
After tho oxchango of much money
between us tho young mnn wont with
mo to tlio other kind old innn of tho
white linlr, nnd together they mndo
places In tho two hags for tlio shoes.
“Just 5700 all told, and tlio like <>C
that outfit couldn’t ho bought in any
other plnco of stylo In New York for
less than a thousand,.miss,” rcmnrkcd
to mo tho elderly clork as ho closed
and mndo fast with keys tlio two
hogs. "Shnll I send 'em special?"
“I'll tbnnlc you that you call u taxi
for mo, monsieur," I uiiswored, nnd
us ho had mentioned a groat Uotel In
conversation cnrllcr tbnt' very wicked
dnrodovll that resides within me awoke
at attention with the largo ears of
gront mischief. I folt In my pocket
that tboro was still much gold, nnd
tho man from whom 1 had purchased
tlio ticket to tho state of Hnrpetb had
assured mo that the train did not de
part until, tlio hour of 0 In tho ovculng.
It thou transpired Hint one hour from
tho tluio that tho young Milo. Groz,
who hnd’registered nt thnt largo hotel
with ull of her luggage from tho stoum-
or while by lies her futhor wns repre
sented us still engaged with tho cus
toms, entered her room there emerged
young Mr. Robert Oarruthcrs, who,
after pnying his bill in his room, had
a hall hoy send tils bags on abend of
him to tlio railroad stutlon while ho
sain :ercd Into the tea room. I bavo
'iov' again mot with tho wonderful
drosses I loft In that hotel room. I-
hope tlio poor* nnd beautiful domestic
you to do has no limit. Also 1 say to
you watch and ho on your guard for
aught that mny harm Franco. In
America nro spies. I have been warn
ed. Also there are those who practice
deceptions in contracts, It Is for the
purpose to so guard that 1 como to
America."
"I nlso will so guard," I mude an,
swer to my cnpltulne. the Count do
Lasselles, as wo came In our walk, to
tlio Bide of woo l’lerre and old Nan
nette.
And after thnt first day there were
many, hours that tho Capltnino the
Count de Lasselles spent with llttlo
rierre and the good Nuiiuette us she
sat knitting always with the sun' on
tho water reddening her round cheeks,
while I had much pleasure with many
friends who came to me upon the ship.
Upon the arrival of tho ship In port
a rain was fnlling. nnd my friend of
France was gone from me nt the begin
ning of day in a boat that is called tug.
And while that very swift taxi con
veyed mo to tho largo Station that Is
as beautiful ns n cntbedrnl I did some
what 1 name "tall thinking." What
would ho tlio result of my womanly
arrival in that state of Harpcth of my
wicked uncle? Would ho ho forced to
murder me ns his letter hnd said?
And If In his nngcr over tho mistake
ho had mndo from my letter, written
In that very bold nud difficult hand
writing, ho should turn from mo'and
tho good Nnnnctto nnd Plorro us well,
what would I then do? All must bp
enacted thnt n euro for Fierro ho ob
tained. With grant energy I had been
thinking, but I did not know what It
was that I should do to prevent his
anger when I arrived to him ns a
woman "until suddenly tlio good Dr.
Burns' kindness in mnrklng tlio re-
scmbalncc of mo to tny father lu his
extreme youth, made an entry Into my
brniii and wns received with the great
est welcome by the daredevil who
there resides.
"Very well, Robert Cnrruthors; who
Upon Nannette hnd fallen a rheuma- Is no longer tho bcaullful Marquise of
tlsm, and tho small .Plorro was In tho Grez and Bye, you will ho thnt husky
midst of shivering chills when wo nt nephew lo.yonr wicked uncle fa the
Inst were permitted by the very un- state of Harpcth whom ho 'needs In
pleasant officer of America to go from his business.' What Is that you lnck
the ship. of ii man’s cstnte save tho clothes,
"Heins, It wns nil of tlio gold that which you have money In your pockets
he took from me for an entry Into this | to obtain after you hnvo purchased the
savage land, where one piece of money
Is iis five of that of France. There re
mains but n few sous nnd a gold
piece,” shbbed Nannette ns she came
from her Interview with the Immigra
tion officer, while I stood beside Pierre,
deposited by a deck steward on a pile
of our steamer blankets.
ticket upon tlio railway train?"
A decision had been mndo, nnd ac
tion upon It had begun In less than a
half hour after tho purchase of the
ticket for tho state of Harpcth lind
been accomplished.
As my father hnd tnugl>t me observa
tion in hunting, I lmd remarked n large
“I beg your pnrdon, marquise, but shop for tho clothing of men upon the
here Is n letter the dock steward failed Sixth avenua near to the station. 1
to find you to deliver,” camo In tlio made my 'way Into It, and by n vory
pleasant voice of one of my fellow ulco fiction of nn luvnlld-brother whom
passengers ns lie handed mo a large I wns tnklng to the Smith of America
letter. I took It and came with my I was able to buy for a few dollars
head out from under the wave which | less than was In my pocket two most
hnd dashed over me.
And this is tho letter that my eyes I
rend with astonishment, while both
tho good Nannette nnil small shivering
Plerrfe sat with their eyes fixed upon |
my countenance:
My Dear Nephew Robert—Your arrival
In America at this time suits me exactly.
I need you immediately In my business.
If you had been the girl, Instead of the
little one I would have had to dispose of
you some way—oven murder. I havo no
use for women. Leave tho little crippled
girl aqd her nurse, who I feel sura Is an
old fool, with my good friend,''Dr. Mason
Burns of £22 South Thirty-second street.
Ho has cured more children of hip Joint
dlsouso than ahy mnn In the world, and
ho will straighten her out for us, and wo
can glvo her away to somebody. I'vo
written him Instructions. Leave her Im
mediately nnd como down hero to mo on
the flr3t train. Tho deni Is held up with
out you. Inclosed Is a check for *1,003.
If you are ltko Henry you’ll need It, but
keep away from Broadway and the wom
en. Como on, I say. by next train. Your
uncle, ROBERT CARRUTHERS,
Hayesville, Harpcth,
Interesting tings of apparel for a hand
some young man of fashion. Tlio man
wh6 assisted mo to hoy wus very largo,
with a head only ornamented with a
drapery of gray hair around- the edges,
nnd ho spoko mucli of wlmt his Bon
deemed sultnblo to make appearance
fa the prevailing mode.
“He's nt tea with a lady friend tills
afternoon, and I wish you could havo
saw- him when lie left the store to
meet her," lie said as ho laid the last
of tho slllf acarfa and lios'O Into ono of
the lurgo flat hags J hod purchased und
which lie had pnekod ns I selected.
“He hnd on tlioi match to thosu gray
tweeds and wns fitted out In lavender
from the skin out. Now. what uro you
going to do about shoes, miss?"
“That I do not know, kind sir." I
made answer, with great perplexity.
“I think that tho feet of my rclntivo
aro about tho slzo of those I possess."
"Most women would wear shoes near
It Took Mo Uno Hour to Explain ths
Lettor to Nan.
who assisted mo In cutting my hair
Into a football shortness, after the
mode of n very beautiful woman dnu-
ccr which she snld girls of much fool
ishness In America havo affected, was •
rewarded with them.
At tho railroad station I remembered
to scud to my wicked undo an an
nouncement by telegram of my arrival
lo him, and then I got upon tho train
Just in time for Its departure.
Theso sleeping ears of America In
which to travel great distances nre
very remarkable for their many
strange adventures, and I was very
much Interested, but nlso perturbed,
when tlio black g'nrcou placed my bug
nnd overcoat upon tho floor at tlio feet
of a very prim lady und left mo' to
stnnd uncomfortably lu the aisle be
fore her.
“Your sent, sir, upper five," ho said
and depnrted with my 50 centimes,
which is called a dime In America,
“Took tho liberty of transferring you
hero above another gentleman, sir.
Tho lady Is nervous," said tlio Con
ductor of tho car a little later ns bo
Immled me another ticket.
“I lieg your pardon, conductor, : but
upper nine Is engaged for my son. ivlio
Is to got on nt Philadelphia. 1 ipusi
have him Just. opposite my daughter
nnd me. Wo nre nervous." sold a
largo stout old lady who wns iicrpm-
punlcd by nn oven stouter daughter.
It wns n very funny sight to behold
that small conductor stnnd with my
largo hags and overcoat and look
around at that ear full of ladles for a
place In which to deposit me nnd them
which was not previously occupied by
some fcmnlo of great nervousness.
“Madam, I will hnvo to tiso tho upper
of this section,” ho finally turned and.
snld to tho occupant of the number of
seven with a very lino determination.
"Certainly, conductor!' Let mo re
move my lint nud coat," camo hack thq.