Recreation Volume 8 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1898 edition. Excerpt: ...was too much engrossed to notice the direction he was taking. Driving with one hand, he slipped out of his livery and into his own overcoat. The carriage entered a dense wood. Now was his chance. He stopped the horses, leaped to the ground and hid behind a pile of brush. A few seconds elapsed, then the door opened, and Jack angrily demanded of the driver why he had halted. Receiving no answer, he stepped out, expressing his astonishment, on looking about in vain for the coachman. Finally he thrust his head into the carriage, and seemed in earnest conversation with Dorothy. "Most likely she's frightened," thought Harvey. "I'm mighty sorry about that. Well, her fright won't last long, and she'll laugh when she discovers the joke." Soon Jack withdrew his head. In the dim light Harvey could see him climbing reluctantly to the box. Harvey crept stealthily around, softly opened the door and closed it after him. Jack was fumbling over the coat, to ascertain whether the driver had not fallen against the dashboard in a drunken sleep. Within the coach, Harvey endeavored to soothe Dorothy's alarm. By daylight, she would have recognized him, but he was now safe, for a time at least. "I thought that miserable cabby had disappeared entirely," he explained; " but just as I was about to take the reins myself, I saw him. He lay under the seat asleep. He is intoxicated. I poked him once or twice and brought him around. He'll be able to drive us to the Fairchilds, I guess. When we get there. I'll telephone for another coach. I hope you haven't been frightened, Dorothy." "No, indeed. I--I'm sure I've been real brave." Her voice was tremulous, but she added, with a sweet tenderness that nearly drove Harvey...