Cfje Younger Set
By ROBERT W. CHAMBERS,
Author of "THE FIGHTING CHANCE," Etc.
Copyrighted,
Synopsis op pkeokmng chaptkks.
1 Chap. 1-Keturnlng from Manila. Captain
klwttm rnmnrltrnr hfl nmlV. IS WelCOmCO
home by his sister. Nina Gerard. her wealthy
husband Austin, and their numerous child
ten. Kllecn Krroll. ward of Nina and Austin.
Is part of their household. Selwln has been
divorced, without guilt on hi" part. bj his
Iwlfe. Allxe, who Is now the wife of Jack
Kuthvcn, with whom she ran away from
Selwyn. II-Klleen, who Is very fond of her
brother. Gerald, despite the young man s
neglect of her, makes friends with Selwyn.
III-Gcrald Is worried about young Krroll a
mingling In the fast set. Gerald Is employ
ed by Julius Neergard, a reale state operator
In a large way. Selwyn promises Kfleen he
will look after her brother. He tells her
about Boots Lansing, his army chum in
Manila, who Is coming to New York. In the
park Klleen and Selwyn ride past Allxe. I)
Eileen's deceased father was an archaeol
ogist, and she has Inherited some of his
scholarly qualities. Selwyn helps Gerald
to settle a gambling debt and determines to
undertake his reformation. V-AUxe and
Selwyn meet and discuss their altered rela
tions. He Is Introduce J to .Mrs. Ilosamund
Fnne. leader of the fast set and Allxc's clos
est friend Ileappeals toAUxe to help him
keep Gerald from gambling.
Chapter 6
T was still early lacking
a quarter of an hour to
midnight when Selwyu
arrived homo. Nina had
retired, but Austin sat in
tho library, obstinately
plodding througli the last chapters of
a brand new novel.
"This Is a wretched excuse for sitting
up," he yawned, laying the book Hat on
tho table, but still open. "I ought
never to bo trusted alone with any
book." Then he removed his reading
glasses, yawned again and surveyed
Selwyn from head to foot.
"Very pretty," he said. "Well, how
aro the yellow ones, rhil? Or was it
all debutante and slop twaddle?"
"Few from the cradle, but bunches
were arriving for the dance as I left."
"Eileen went at half past 11."
"I didn't know she was going," said
Selwyn, surprised.
"She didn't want you to. The play
ful kitten business, you know frisks
apropos of nothing to frisk about. But
we all fancied you'd stay for the
dance." He yawned mightily and gazed
at Selwyn with ruddy gravity.
"Whisk?" he Inquired.
"No."
"Cigar?" mildly urgent.
"No, thanks."
"Bed?"
"I think so. But don't wait for me,
Austin. Is that the evening paper?
Where Is St. Paul?"
Selwyn unfolded the paper. So his
brother-in-law moved ponderously
away, yawning frightfully at every
heavy stride, and the younger man
settled back In his chair, n fragrant
cigar balanced between his strong,
slim fingers, one leg dropped loosely
over the other. After awhile the news
paper fell to the floor.
He sat there without moving for a
long time. His cigar, burning close,
had gone out. The fire having burned
low, he rose, laid a pair of heavy logs
across the coals, dragged his chair to
the hearth and settled down In it deeply-Long
after his cigar burned bitter
he sat with eyes fixed on the blaze.
When tho flames at last began to flick
er and subside his lids fluttered, then
drooped, but he had lost all reckoning
of time when he opened them again to
find Miss Erroll in furs and ball gown
kneeling on the hearth and laying a
log across the andirons.
"Upon my word!" ho murmured, con
fused; then, rising quickly: "Is that
you, Miss Erroll? What time is it?"
"Four o'clock In tho morning, Cap
tain Selwyn," she said, straightening
up to her full height. "This room is
Icy. Aro you frozen?"
, Chilled through, he stood looking
ijibout in a dazed way, Incredulous of
Alxo hour and of his own slumber.
"I dou't know how 1 happened to do
It," ho muttered, abashed by his plight.
"I rekindled tho lire for your bene
fit." sho said. "You had better use it
before you retire." And she seated I
herself in the armchair, stretching out
Craig.
her ungloved hands to the blaze,
smooth, Innocent hands, so soft, so
amazingly fresh and white.
He moved a Btep forward Into the
rorwaru ror a chair and drew it up be
side hers.
"Do you mean to say you aro not
If I H
r7
maw.
If
1007, by Kobert W. Chambers
sleepy?" he asked.
"I? No, not In the least. I will bo
tomorrow, though."
"Did you have a good time? You
danced a lot, I dare say," he ventured.
"Yes a lot" studying the floor.
"Decent partners?"
"Oh, yes."
"Who was there?"
She looked up at him. "You were
not there," she said, smiling.
'No, I cut it. But I did not know
you were going. You said nothing
about it."
"Of course you would have stayed
if you had known, Captain Selwyn?"
She was still smiling.
"Of course," he replied.
"Would you really?"
"Why, yes."
There was something not perfectly
familiar to him In tho girl's bright
brevity, in her direct personal Inquiry,
for between them hitherto the gayly
Impersonal had ruled except In mo
ments of lightest badinage.
"Was it an amusing dinner?" sho ,
1
asked In her turn.
"Rather." Then ho looked up at
her, but she had stretched her slim,
silk shod feet to tho fender, and her
head was bent aside, so that ho could
see only tho curve of tho cheek and
tho little, close set ear under its ruddy
mass of gold.
"Who was there?" she asked, too,
carelessly.
For a moment lie did not speak. Un
der his bronzed cheek tho flat muscles
stirred. Had some meddling, malicious
fool ventured to whisper an unlit jest
to this young girl? Had a word cr a
smile and a phrase cut in two awak
ened her to a sorry wisdom at his ex
pense? Something had happened, and
tho Idea stirred him to wrath, as when
a child Is wantonly frightened or n
dumb creature misused.
"What did you ask me?" he Inquired
gently.
"I asked you who was there, Captain
Selwyn."
Ho recalled some names and laugh
ingly mcuttoncd his dinner partner's
preference for Harmon. She listened
absently, her chin nestling in her palm,
only the close set, perfect car turned
tov ml him.
"Who led the cotillon?" he asked.
"Jack Ituthven, dancing with Rosa
mund Fane."
She drew her feet from the fender
and crossed them, still turned away
from him, and so they remained in si
lence until again she shifted her posi-
tion almost imrmtienri
"You are very tired," he said.
"No; wide awake."
"Don't you think it best for you to 1
go to bed?"
"No, but you may go."
And as he did not stir, "I mean that '
you are not to sit here because I do." '
And she looked around at him.
"What has gone wrong, Eileen?" he
said quietly.
Ho had never before used her given
name, and she flushed up.
"There Is nothing tho matter, Cap
tain Selwyn. Why do you ask?"
"Yes, there is," lie said.
"There is not, I tell you"
"And If it Is something you cannot
understand," he continued pleasantly, !
"perhaps It might be well to ask Nina
to explain It to you."
"There is nothing to explain."
"Because," he went on very gently,
"one is sometimes led by malicious
suggestion to draw false and unpleas
ant inferences from harmless facts"
"Captain Selwyn"
"Yes, Eileen."
But she could not go on. Speech an
thought Itself remained sealed; only a
confused consciousness of being hLrt
remained somehow to be remedied by
something ho might say, might deny.
Yet how could it help her for him to
deny what sho herself refused to be
lieve refused through sheer Instinct
whl'- teuoruut of its meaning?
Even if he had done what sha heart
Rosamund Fano say ho had done ii
uatl remained meaningless to her savi
for tho maimer of the telling. Bu'
now; but now! Why had they laugh
cd? Why had their attitudes aud man
ner and the disconnected phrases It
French left her flushed and rigid
among tho idlo group at Slipper? Whj
had they suddenly seemed to rcmem
bcr her presence and express theii
abrupt consciousness of it in suet
furtive signals and silence?
It was false anyway, whatever 11
meant. And, anyway, it was falsi
that he had driven away in Mrs. Ruth
ven's brougham. But, oh, if he had
only stayed, If he had only remained
this friend of hers who had been sc
nice to her from the moment he cami
Into her life, so generous, so consid
erate, so lovely to her and to Gerald!
For a moment tho glow remained,
then a chill doubt crept In. Would he
have remained
had ho knowi
sho was to be
there? W he re
did be go aftei
tho dinner? An
for what they
said, it was ab
surd. And yet
aud yet
He sat, sav
agely intent up
on tho wnnlnc
He sof, savagely intent flro. suo turned
upon the waning fire.
restlessly again,
elbows close togotho on her knees
face framed In her bands.
"You ask me If 1 nm tired," sh.
said. "1 am-of the froth of life."
Hla face changed. Instantly. "What?"
ho exclaimed, laughing.
But she. very young and seriously In
tent, was now Wrestling with tho
mighty platitudes of youth. First of
all she desired to know what meaning
life held for humanity. Then she ex
pressed a doubt as to the necessity fot
human happiness, duty being her dis
covery as sufllcient substitute.
But he heard In her childish babble
the minor murmur of an undercurrent
quickening for tho first time, and he
listened patiently and answered grave
ly, touched by her Irremediable loneli
ness. So when she said that she was tired
of gayety, that she would like to study,
ho said that ho would take up any
thing she chose with her. And when
she spoke vaguely of a life devoted to
good works
of the wiser
charity, of be
ing morally
equipped to aid
those who re
quired material
aid ,he was '
very serious,
but ventured to
suggest that sho "You ask mc it I am
dance her first tlrca" she sa,d
season through as a sort of flesh mor
tifying penance preliminary to her
spiritual novitiate.
"Yes." she admitted thoughtfully
i "You nre right. Nina would feel
I ,1t.An.1(l I f 1 .11.1 rt At. rt. tP Clllrt
" , , , , " , " 1 7f
imagined I cared so little for It all.
But ono season Is enough to waste.
Don't you think so?"
i "Quite enough," ho assured her.
"And why should 1 ever marry?"
1 she demanded, lifting her clear, sweet
' eyes to his.
"Why, indeed?" he repeated, with
conviction. "1 can see no reason."
"I am glad you understand me," she
said. "1 am not a marrying woman."
"Not at all," ho assured her.
"No, I nm not. and Nina tho darling
doesn't understand. Why, what do
you suppose? But would it bo a breacli
of confidence to anybody If I told
you?"
"I doubt it," he said. "What is it
you have to tell me?)'
"Only It's very, very silly only sev
eral men and ono nice enough tc
know better Sudbury Gray"
"Asked you to marry them?" he fin
ished, nodding his head at the cat.
"Yes," she admitted, frankly aston
ished. "But how did you know?"
"Inferred it. Go on."
"There is nothing more," she said
I without embarrassment. "I told Nina
each time, but she confused me by ask
ing for details, and tho details were
too foolish and too annoying to re
peat. I do not wish to marry anybody.
, 1 think I made that very plain to
everybody."
"Right, as usual," he said cheerful
ly. "You are too Intelligent to con-
tnat sor' of thins just now."
"You do understand me, don't you?
she said gratefully. "There are so
many serious things in life to learn
and to think of, and that is the very
last thing I should ever consider. I
am very, very giaa i naa tnis tanc
with you. Now I am rested, and I
shall retire for a good long sleep."
With which paradox she stood up,
stifling a tiuy yawn, and looked smil
ingly at him, all the old sweet confl- i
dence in her eyes. Then, suddenly
mocking:
"Who suggested that you call me by
my first name?" she asked.
"Some good angel or other. May I?"
"If yon please. I rather like it. But
I couldn't very well call you anything
except 'Captain Selwyn.' "
"On account of my age?"
"Your age!" contemptuous in her con
fident ecraality.
"Oh, my wisdom, then? You proba
bly reverence mo too deeply."
"Probably not. I don't know. I
couldn't do It somehow"
"Try it unless you're afraid."
"I'm not afraid!"
"Yes, you are, if you don't take n
daro."
"You daro me?"
"I do."
"Philip," sho said, hesitating, adora
ble In her embarrassment. "No! No!
No! I can't do It that way in cold
Mood. It's got to be 'Captain Sol-
ivyn,' for awhile anyway. Good night."
Ho took her outstretched hand,
laughing. Tho usual little friendly
shako followed. Then she turned gay
ly away, leaving him standing before
the whitening ashes.
lie thought tho fire was dead, but
when he turned out tho lamp an hour
later under the ashes embers glowed
in the darkness of tho winter morning.
Ck&pter 7jj
ID-LENT, nnd the enemy
grins," remarked Selwyn
as ho started for church
with Nina and the chil
dren. Austin, knee deep
In a dozen Sunday sup
plements, refused to stir. Poor little
Eileen was now convalescent from
grip, but still unsteady on her logs.
Her maid had taken the grip.
Boots Lansing called to see Eileen,
but sho wouldn't come down, saying
ner nose was
too pink. Drl
na entertained
Boots, and then
Selwyn return
ed and talked
army talk with
him until tea
was served. Drl
nn poured tea
very prettily.
Nina had driven
-, JtZSS2-
Austin to ves-
pore. The fami- Brina poured tea very
ly dined at 7 so prettily.
Drlna could sit up; special treat on ac
count of Boots' presence at table. Ger
ald was expected, but did not come.
Tho next morning Selwyn went
downtown at the usual hour and found
Gerald, pale and shaky, hanging over
his desk and trying to dictate letters to
an uncomfortable stenographer.
So he dismissed tho abashed girl for
the moment, closed the door nnd sat
down beside the young man.
"Go home, Gerald," he said with de
cision. "When Neergard comes In I'll
tell him you aro not well. And, old
fellow, don't ever come near the office
again when you're in this condition."
"I'm a perfect fool," faltered the boy,
his voice trembling. "I don't really
caro for that sort of thing, either. But
you know how it is in that set"
"What set?"
"Oh, tho Fanes, the Ruth" He
stammered himself into silence.
"I see. What happened last night?"
"Tho usual, two tables full of it
There was a wheel too. I had no Inten
tion But you know yourself how it
parches your throat the jollying and
laughing nnd excitement. I forgot all
about what you what we talked over.
I'm ashamed and sorry, but I can stay
here and attend to things, of course"
"I don't want Neergard to see you,"
repeated Selwyn.
"W-why," stammered tho boy, "do I
look as rocky as that?"
"Yes. See here, you are not afrnld
of me, are you?"
"No"-
"You don't think I'm ono of thoso
long faced, blue nosed buttcrs-lu, do
you? You have confidence in me,
haven't you? You know I'm an aver
age and normally sinful man who has
made plenty of mistakes and who un
derstands how others make them. You
know that, don't you. old chap?"
"Y-cs.'jf
"Then,' you will listen, won't you,
Gerald?'-
The boy laid his arms on the desk
and hid his face In them. Then he
nodded.
For ten minutes Selwyu talked to
him with all tho terse and colloquial
confidence of a comradeship founded
upon respect for mutual fallibility no
Instruction, no admonition, no blame,
no reproach, only an affectionately log
ical review of matters as they stood
and ns they threatened to stand.
The boy fortunately was still pliable
and susceptible, still unalarmed and
frank. It seemed that ho had lost
money again, this time to Jack Ruth
ven, and Selwyn's teeth remained
sternly Interlocked as bit by bit tho
story came out, but in the telling the
boy was not quite as frank as he
might have been, and Selwyn supposod
he was able to stand his loss without
seeking aid.
"Anyway." said Gerald in a muffled
voice, "I've learned one lesson that a
business man can't acquire the habits
and keep the Infernal hours that suit
people who can take all day to sleep It
off."
"Right," said Selwyn.
"Besides, my Income can't stand it,"
added Gerald naively.
"Neither could mine, old fellow.
And. Gerald, cut out this card busl-
"Grip?" he aslxd.
ness. It's the final refuge of the fee
ble minded. You like it? Oh, well, if
you've got to play If you've no better
resource for leisure, and if nonparticl
patlou Isolates you too completely
from other Idiots play the Imbecile
gentleman's game, which means a
game where nobody need worry over
tho stakes."
"But they'd laugh at me!"
"I know. But Boots Lansing would
not, and you have considerable respect
I for him."
Gerald nodded. He had immediate
i ly succumbed to Lansing like every-
body else.
I "And ono thing more," said Selwyn.
I "Don't play for stakes no matter how
j Insignificant where women sit In the
yame. Fashionable or not, It la rotten
sport, whatever tho ethics may be.
And, Gerald, tainted sport nnd a clean
record can't take tho samo fence to
gether." A little later the boy started for
homo at Selwyn's advice. But the
memory of his card losses frightened
liim, and he stopped on the way to see
what money Austin would advance
him.
Julius Neergard came up from Long
slnnd, arriving at tho office about
noon. The weather was evidently cold
Dn Long Island, ne had the complex
ion of a raw ham, but the thick, fat
hand, with its bitten nails, which he
offered Selwyn as ho entered his office,
was unpleasantly hot, nnd on tho thin
nose, which Bpllt tho broad expanse
of face, a bead or two of sweat usual
ly glistened, winter and summer.
"Where's Gerald?" ho asked as an
office boy relieved him of his heavy
box coat and brought his mail to him.
"I advised Gerald to go home," ob
served Selwyn carelessly. "He Is not
perfectly well."
Neergard's tiny, mouselike eyes, set
close together, stole brightly in Sel
wyn's direction, but they usually look
Ed just a little past a man, seldom at
him.
"Grip?" ho asked.
"I don't think so," said Selwyn.
"Lots of grip round town," observ
ed Neergard, ns though satisfied that
Gerald had it. Then ho sat dovm and
rubbed his largo, membraneous ears.
"Captain Selwyn." ho beean. "I'm
latisfled that It's a devilish good
thing."
"Are you?"
"Emphatically. I've mastered the
Setalls, virtually all of 'em. Hero's Uid
iltuation In n grain of wheat. The
Blowltha club owns a thousand or so
acres of oak, scrub, pine scrub, sand
and weeds and controls -4.000 more
that is to say, tho club pays' the farm
ers' rents nnd fixes their fences and
awards them odd jobs aud prizes for
the farm sustaining the biggest num
ber of bevies; nlso the club pays them
to maintain millet nnd buckwheat
patches and to act as wardens. In re
turn the farmers post their 4.000 acres
tor the exclusive benefit of the club,
ts that plain?"
"Perfectly." '
"Very well. then. Now, tho Slowltha
Is Inrgely composed of very rich men.
mong them Bradley Harmon. Jack
F.tlecn.
ftuthven, George Fane, Sanxon Orchil,
ho Hon. Delmour-Carnes that crowd
-rich and stingy. That's why they
ire contented with a yearly agreement
;vlth the farmers instead of buying the
1,000 acres. Why put a lot of good
noney out of commission when they
:an draw interest on It and toss an in-
liguiflcant fraction of that Interest as
I sop to the farmers? Do you see?
rhat's your millionaire method, and
It's what makes 'em In the first place."
He drew a large, fancy handkerchief
rom his pistol pocket and wiped the
beads from the bridge of his limber
lose. But they reappeared again.
"Now," he said, "I am satisfied that,
working very carefully, wo can secure
ptions on every acre of the four thou
land. There Is money In It either
ivay and any way we work it We
jot it coming and going. First of all,
If the Slowltha people find that they
really cannot get on without controlling
these acres, why" and he snickered
lo that his nose curved into a thin,
ruddy beak "why, captain, I suppose
tve could let them have the land. Eh?
Oh, yes, if they must have it!"
Selwyn frowned slightly.
"But the point is," continued Neer
sard, "that it borders the railroad on
the north, and where the land is not
tvavy It's flat as a pancake, and" he
tank his husky voice "It's fairly rid
lied with water. I paid a thousand
lollars for six tests."
"Water!" repeated Selwyn wonder
ngly. "Why, It's dry as a desert!"
"Underground water only about for
ty feet on tho average. Why, man, I
:an hit u well flowing 3.000 gallons
llmost auy where. It's a gold mine.
I don't care what you do with the
icreage split It up Into lots nnd ad
vertise qr club the Slowltha people Into
submission, it's nil tho same; It's a gold
mine, to bo swiped and developed.
S'ow, there remain tho title searching
mil the job of financing it. because
ivc'vo got to move cautiously and
uock softly at the doors of tho money
raulta. v we'll be waking up some
5Valt siVett relatives or secret bus!
less issoelntes of the yellow crowd,
ind If anybody bawls for help we'll be
ip In tho air next New Year's and
it ill hiking skyward."
IIo stood up, gathering together the
mall matter which ills secretary had
already opened for his attention.
"There's plenty of tlmo yet. Their
leases were renewed tho first of tills
vnni- !iml tlmv'il i-nn tlin voar out.
lillt lis someuung iu imuiv uuuui.
Will you talk to Gerald, or shall I?"
"You," said Selwyu. "I'll think the
matter over and give you my opinion.
May I speak to my brother-in-law
about It?"
Neergard turned in his tracks and
looked almost at him.
"Do you think there's any chance of
bis financing tho thiug?"
"I haven't tho slightest Idea of what
ho might do, especially" ho hesitated
"as you never have had any loans
from his people, I understand."
"No," said Neergard, "I haven't."
"It's rather out of their usual, I be
lieve." "So they say. But Long Island acre
age needn't beg favors now. That's
all over, Captain Selwyn. Fane, Har
mon & Co. know that Mr. Gerard
ought to know it too."
Selwyn looked troubled. "Shall I
consult Mr. Gerard?" ho repeated. "I
should like to If you have no objec
tion." Neergard's small, close set eyes wero
focused on a spot just beyond Sel
wyn's loft shoulder.
"Suppose you sound him," he sug
gested, "In strictest"
"Naturally," cut in Selwyn dryly
nnd, turning to his littered desk, open
ed tho first letter his hand encounter
ed. Now that his bead was turned,
Neergard looked full at the back of
his neck for a long minute, then went
out silently.
o
That night Selwyn stopped at his
sister's house before going to his own
rooms and, finding Austin nlono In tho
library, laid tho matter before him
exactly as Neergard had put It
"You see," he added, "that I'm a
sort of ass about business methods.
This furtive pouncing on a thing and
clubbing other people's money out of
them with It this slyly acquiring land
that is necessary to an unsuspecting
neighbor and then holding him up I
don't like. There's always something
of this sort that prevents my cordial
co-operation with Neergard always
something In the schemes which hints
of of squeezing of something under
ground." "Like tho water which he's going to
squeeze out of tho wells?"
Selwyn laughed.
"Phil." said his brother-in-law, "If
you think anybody can do a profitable
business except at other people's ex
pense you are an ass."
"Am I?" asked Selwyn, still laughing
frankly.
"Certainly. Tho land Is there plain
enough for anybody to see. It's al
ways been there. It's likely to remain
for a few eons, I fancy.
"Now, along comes Meynhcer Julius
Neergard, the only man who seems to
have brains enough to sec the present
value of that parcel to the Slowltha
people. Everybody else had the samo
chance. Nobody except Neergard knew
enough to take it. Why shouldn't he
profit by it?"
"Yes. but If he'd be satisfied to cut
It up into lots and do what is fair"
"Cut it up Into nothing! Man alive,
do you suppose that Slowltha people
would let him? They've only a few
thousand acres. They've got to control
that land. What good Is their club
without it? Do you imagine they'd let
a town grow up on three sides of
their precious game preserve? And,
besides, I'll bet you that hnlf of their
streams and lakes tako rlso on other
people's property nnd that Neergard
knows It the Dutch fox!"
They discussed Neergard's scheme
for a little while longer. Austin.
They discussed Xccrgard-'s scheme.
shrewd and cautious, declined any per
sonal part in tho financing of the deal,
although he admitted the probability
of prospective profits.
"Our Investments and our loans are
of a different character," he explained.
"but I have no doubt that Fane. Har
mon & Co."
"Why. both Fane and Harmon are
members of the club," laughed Sel
wyn. "You don't expect Neergard to
go ta them?"
A peculiar expression flickered in
Gerard's heavy features. Perhaps he
thought that Fane and Harmon and
lack Ruthven wero not above exploit
ing their own club under certain clr
cumstances; but. whatever his opin
ion, he said nothing further and, sug
gesting that Selwyn remain to dine,
went off to dress.
A few moments later he returned,
crestfallen and conciliatory.
"I forgot Ninn and 1 are dining at
the Orchils' Come up a moment. She
wants to speak to you.'
So they took tho ruse tinted rococo
elevator. Austin went away to his
own quarters, and Selwyn tupped at
Nina's boudoir.
"Is that you, Phil? Ono minute.
Watson Is finishing my hair. Come in
now and kindly keep your dlstnnce, my
friend. Do you suppose 1 want Rosa
mund to know what brand of war
paint I use':"
"Rosamund?" he repeated, with a
good humored shrug. "It's likely, isn't
it?"
"Certainly it's likely,
know you wero telling
but she'd extract
You'd never
her unything.
every detail In
ten seconds. I
understand she
adores you, Phil.
Eileen Is furious
at being left here
all alone. She's
practically well,
and she's to dine
with Di-lua in the
library. Would
you bo goo d
enough to dine
there with them?
E 1 1 o o n, poor
"Js that you, 1'hll?'
child, Is heartily sick of her imprison
ment. It would be i mercy. Phil."
"Why, yes, I'll do it, of course, only
I've somo matters at home"
"Homo! You call those stuffy,
smoky, impossible, half furnished
rooms home! Phil, when are you ever
going to get somo pretty furniture nnd
art things? Eileen and I have been
talking It over, nnd wo'vo decided to
go there and see what you need and
then order it, whether you like It or
not."
"Thanks," ho said, laughing. "It's
Just what I've tried to avoid. I've got
things where I want them now, but I
knew it was too comfortable to last.
Boots said that somo woman would be
sure to be good to me with an art nou
veau rocking chair."
"A perfect sample of man's grati
tude," said Nina, exasperated, "for I'v
ordered two beautiful art nouvcar.
rocking chairs, one for you and ono for
Mr. Lansing. Now you can go and hu
miliate poor llttlo Eileen, who took s
much pleasure In planning with mo for
your comfort. As for your friend
Boots, bo's unspeakable with my com
pliments," (Continued on page 2.)
IB!