The Charm School
go straight to Mr. Johns—he was aware that this was his duty, and his idea was that during his drive to town he would think out terms in which he would expose the situation to the culprit's grandfather. But the deeper and stronger part of his nature intended something quite different, and he was continually discovering that the telling sentences he invented were all addressed to Elise.
As he drew up before Mr. Johns's door he saw that a party was going on. There was a striped awning, a red carpet, a policeman, and all the various signs of gaiety. But Austin was in no mood to be stopped by a mere party. He ran the car a few feet beyond the door, leaped out and was halfway up the steps when the policeman stopped him and said, with that reasonableness which of late years has become so much the fashion of the force:
"Look here, do you think you showed good judgment leaving that car next the hydrant?"
"Officer," said Austin, "if you knew all I had on my mind you'd be surprised that I have any judgment at all."
"I don't think you have," answered the officer. On which Austin moved his car and went into the house.
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