Page:The Zankiwank & the Bletherwitch (IA zankiwankblether00fitziala).pdf/32

 The Guard hesitated.

“Don’t vex the Guard,” they all said in chorus.

“I am not vexed,” said the Guard, touching his hat. “Do you think it would be right to pay double? You see my landlady is single. She might not like it.”

“Write ‘I. O. U.’ on a post-card and send it to her. It will do just as well, if not better,” suggested Mr Swinglebinks.

So the Guard sent the post-card; but in his agitation he told the engineer driver to go straight ahead instead of round the corner. The consequence was that they were run into by a Demon on a bicycle, and thrown out of the train down a coal mine. Luckily there were no coals in the mine so it did not matter, and they went boldly forward—that is to say, Willie and Maude did, and knocked at the front door of a handsome house that suddenly appeared before them.

Nobody opened the door, so they walked in. They looked behind them, but could not see