When their heavy wraps
were removed the trio stood forth before as curious an audience as ever
sat spellbound. The men were young, well dressed and handsome; the woman
a beauty of the most dashing type. Tinkletown's best spellers quivered
with excitement.
[Illustration: "The teacher was amazingly pretty on this eventful
night"]
"Ladies and gentlemen," said Miss Banks, her voice trembling with
eagerness, "let me introduce my friends, Mrs. Farnsworth, Mr.
Farnsworth, and Mr. Reddon. They have driven over to attend the
spelling-match." Ed Higgins and 'Rast Little observed with sinking
hearts that it was Mr. Reddon whom she led forward by the hand, and they
cursed him inwardly for the look he gave her--because she blushed
beneath it.
"You don't live in Boggs City," remarked Mr. Crow, appointing himself
spokesman. "I c'n deduce that, 'cause you're carrying satchels an'
valises."
"Mr. Crow is a famous detective," explained Miss Banks. Anderson
attempted to assume an unconscious pose, but in leaning back he missed
the end of the bench, and sat sprawling upon the lap of Mrs. Harbaugh.
As Mrs. Harbaugh had little or no lap to speak of, his downward course
was diverted but not stayed. He landed on the floor with a grunt that
broke simultaneously with the lady's squeak; a fraction of a second
later a roar of laughter swept the room.
Pages:
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110