Oje Younger Set l
Copyrighted,
SYNOPSIS OK PHKCKMNU CHAPTERS.
Chap. 1-lteturnlng from Manila, Captain
Sclwyn. formerly of the army, is welcomed
home by his sister. N Ina (ierard. her wealthy
husband Austin, and their numerous chilu
ren. Klleen Krroll, ward of Mna and Austin.
Is part of their household. Selwln has been
divorced, without vgullt on his part, by his
wife. Allxe, who Is now tins wife of .lack
Ruthven. with whom she ran away from
Sclwvn. II Klleen, who Is very fond of her
brother, (ierald, despite the young man's
neglect of her, makes friends with Selwyn
Ilf-Uerald Is worried about young hrroll's
mingling In the fast set (ierald Is employ
ed by Julius Xeergard, a reale state operator
hi a large way. tselwyn promises Klleen ho
will look after her brother. He tells her
nbout Hoots Uinslng, his army chum In
.Manila, who Is coining to New Vrk. In the
park Klleen and Sclwyn ride past Allxe. 1
Klleen's deceased father was an archaeol
ogist, and she has Inherited some of his
scholarly qualities. Sclwyn helps (Ierald
to settle a gambling debt and determines to
undertake his reformation. V Allxe and
Sclwyn .meet and discuss their altered rela
tions. He is Introduced to Mrs. Rosamund
Kane, leader of the fast set and Allxc's clos
est friend Hcuppcals to.VIIxe to help hlm
keepOcrald from gambling. VI-Thefrlcnd-ship
of Klleen and Sclwyn progresses. VII
(Ierald promises Sclwyn he will stop gambl
ing. Neergard discloses to Sclwyn, who Is
Interested in his olllce, a plan to control the
Slowltha Country club by buying up farms
essential to the club's existence. The plan
does not appeal to Selwyn. and he consults
Austin, who denounces Neergard and his
methods. VII At night In his room Sclwyn
nnswers a knock at his door. IX The caller
Is AJIxe,. who Is very unhappy with Ruthven
and wants to talk with Sclwpn. Kor n mo
ment their old love Hashes up, but at the
mention of Klleen he knows that it Is past
resurrection. X Rosamund distresses Kl
leen by telling her society is gossiping about
Allxe and Selwyn. Allxe gets from (ierald,
who has again lost heavily, a promise not to
play again at her house. XI Allxe and
Ruthven quarrel over the gaming by which
he lives, and he reveals his knowledge of her
lsit at night to her ex-husband's room.
Xll-ticrald'slncrcaslnglntlmacy with Neer
gard displeases Selwyn. who breaks with the
real estate man over tne Biowuna matter.
Necgard Is trying to break into society.
XIII Uinslng Invites Selwyn to make his
home with him In the modest house he has
bought. Selwyn declares he will no long
let the past mar his chance of happiness, and
N'lnti declares her belief that Klleen has fallen
In love with him, Nina fears time An. t,
restless and disgusted with Ruthven, w II
make mischief. Selwyn Is experimenting
with chaoslte, his discovery Is explosive.
Chapter 14 '
yCVII,EEX, sewing by the
nursery window, looked
up. tier uttie Aisatiau
maid, cross legged on
the lloor at her feet,
sewing nway diligently,
also looked up, then
ESS
scrambled to her feet as Selwyn halt
ed on the threshold of the room.
"Why. how odd you look!" said Ei
leen, laughing. "Come In, please. Su
sannc and 1 arc only mending some of
our summer things. Were you In
search of the children? Don't say so
If you were, because I'm quite happy
in believing that you knew I was here.
Did you?"
"Where are the children?" he asked.
""In the park, my very rude friend.
You will And them on the mall if you
start at once."
lie hesitated, but finally seated him
self, omitting the little formal hand-
Eileen looked up.
shake with which they always met,
even after an hour's separation. Of
course she noticed this and, bend
ing low above her sewing, wondered
why.
It seemed to him for a moment as
though he were looking at a woman
he had heard about and had just met
for the first time. Ills observation of
her now was leisurely, calm and thor
oughnot so calm, however, when,
Impatient of his reticence, bending
there over her work, she raised her
dark blue eyes to his, her head re
maining lowered. The sweet, silent
Inspection lasted but a moment. Then
she 'resumed her stitches, aware that
something In lilm had changed since
she last had seen him. But she mere
ly smiled quietly to herself, confident
of his unaltered devotion in spite of
the strangely hard and unresponsive
gaze that had uneasily evaded here.
As her white fingers flew with the
glimmering needle she reflected ou con.
dltions as she had left them a week
ago. A week ngo between him and
her the most perfect of understand
ings existed, and the consciousness of
it she, had carried with her every mo
ment in the country amid the Icy turn
tie of the surf, on long, vigorous walks
over the greening hills where wild
moorland winds whipped like a million,
fairy switches till the young blood fair
ly sang, pouring through her veins.
Since that some time within the
week something evidently had hap
pened to him here in tho city whllo
she had been away. What?
Aa she bent above the fine linen gar
ment on her knee, needle flying, a sud
den memory stirred coldly the recol
lection of her ride with Rosamund
and instinctively her clear ryes flew
open, and she raised her head, turning
Urectly, toward him a disturbed gase
be did not this time evade.
IaaUcnc their regrd lingered; then,
By ROBERT W. CHAMBERS, i
Author of "THE FIQHTINQ CHANCE," Etc. Igg
1007, by Robert W. Chambers.
satisfied, she smiled again, saying,
"Hare I been away so long that we
must begin all over, Captain Selwyn?"
"Begin what, Eileen?"
"To remember that the silence of
selfish preoccupation is a privilege I
have not accorded you?"
"I didn't mean to bo preoccupied."
"Oh, worse and worse!" She shook
her head and begau to thread the nee
dle. "I see that my week's absence
has not been very good for you. I
knew It the momcut you came, In with
all that guilty, absentmlnded effrontery
which I have forbidden."
He colored up as he took her hand
in his. .Then they both laughed at the
very vigorous shake.
"What a horribly unfriendly creature
you can be," said Eileen. "Never a
greeting, never even a formal expres
sion of pleasure at my return."
"You have not returned," he said,
smiling. "You have been with me ev
ery momont, Eileen."
"What a pretty tribute!" she exclaim
ed. "I am beginning to recognize
traces of my training after all."
When the children came in they left
the nursery together and descended
the stairs to the library. Austin had
just come in, and he looked up from
his solitary cup of tea as they en
tered. "Hello, youngsters I What conspiracy
are you up to now? I suppose you
sniffed the tea and have come to de
prive me. By the way, Phil, I hear
that you've sprung the trap on those
Slowitba people."
"Neergard has, I believe."
"Well, isn't it all one?"
"No, it is not," retorted Selwyn so
bluntly that Eileen turned from the
window at a sound in his voice which
she had never before heard.
"Oh!" Austin stared over his sus
pended teacup, then drained It. "Trou
ble with our friend Julius?" he In
quired. "No trouble. I merely severed my
connection with him."
"Ah! When?"
"This morning."
"In that case," said Austin, laugh
ing, "I've a job for you."
"No, old fellow, and thank you with
all my heart. I've half made up my
mind to live on my income for awhile
nnd take up that chaoslte matter
again."
"And blow yourself to smithereens!
Why spatter nature thus?"
"No fear," said Selwyn, laughing.
"And If it promises anything I may
come to you for advice on how to start
It commercially."
"If it doesn't start you heavenward
you shall have my advice from a safe
distance. I'll telegraph It," said Aus
tin. "But, If It's not personal, why on
earth have you shaken Neergard?"
And Selwyn answered simply: "I
don't like him. That Is the reason,
Austin."
The children from the head of the
stairs wero now shouting demands for
their father, and Austin rose, pretend
ing to grumble.
"Those confounded kids! A man Is
never permitted a moment to himself.
Is Nina up ibere, Eileen? Oh, all riguli
Excuses, etc. I'll bo back pretty soon.
You'll stay to dine, Phil?"
"I don't think so."
"Yes, ho will stay," said Eileen calm
ly. And when Austin had gone she walk
ed swiftly over to where Selwyn was
standing and looked him directly In the
eyes.
"Is nil well with Gerald?"
"Y-yes, I suppose so."
"Is he still with Neergard & Co.?"
"Yes, Eileen."
"And you don't like Mr. Neergard?"
"N-no."
"Then Gerald muBt not remain."
Ho said very quietly: "Eileen, Gerald
no longer takes me Into bis confidence.
I am afraid I know, In fact that I
have little Influence with him now. I
am sorry. It hurts, but your brother Is
bis own master, and he Is at liberty to
choose his own friends and his own
business policy. I cannot Influence
him. 1 have learned that thoroughly.
Better that I retain' whntreai friend
ship ho has left for me than destroy It
by any attempt however gentle, to In
terfere In his affairs."
Sho stood before him, straight slen
der, her face grave and troubled.
"I cannot understand," she said, "how
ho could refuse to listen to a man like
you."
"A man like me, Eileen? Well, If r
were worth listening to no doubt he'd
listen. But tho fact remains that I
bavo not been able to hold his Inter
est" "Don't give him up," she said, still
looking straight Into his eyes. "If yon
care for me, don't give him up."
"Care for you, nieeal Ton know I
do."
"Yen, I know It So yon will not
give up Gerald, will yon? Ho Is Is
only a boy. You know that You
know he has been perhaps Indiscreet.
But Gerald Is only a boy. Stand by
him, Captain Selwyn, because Austin
does not know how to manage him
really ho doesn't There has been an
other unpleasant sceno between them.
Gerald told me."
"Did ho tell you why, Eileen?"
"Yes. He told me that he had play
ed cards for money nnd he was In
debt. I know that sounds almost dis
graceful, but is not his need of help
nil the greater?"
Sclwyn's eyes suddenly narrowed.
"Did you help him out this time?"
"I I how do you mean, Captain
Selwyn?" But tho splendid color In
her face confirmed his certainty that
she had used her own resources to
help her brother pay the gambling
debt, and he turned away his eyes,
angry and silent.
"Yes," she said under her breath, "I
did aid him. What of It? Could I re
fuse?" "I kuow. Don't old hjm again that
way."
She stared. "You mean"
"Send him to me, child. I under
stand such matters. I that Is" And
In sudden exasperation Inexplicable,
for tho moment to them both: "Don't
touch such matters again! They soil,
I toll you. I will not have Gerald go
to you about such things!"
"Sly own brother! What do you
mean?"
"I mean that, brother or not, ho
shall not bring such matters near
you!"
when Gerald Is In trouble?" she del
manded, flushing up.
"Count! Count!" he repeated impa-
tlently. "Of course you count! Good
heavens! It's women like you who :
count and no others not one single '
other sort Is of the slightest conse-'
quence in the world or to it" 1
She had turned a Uttie pale under
his vehemence, watching him out of 1
wide and beautiful eyes. !
What she understood, how much of
his incoherence Bhe was able to trans-.
late, is a question, but in his eyes and I
voice there was something simpler to i
divine, and she stood very still while
his roused emotions swept her till her !
heart leaped up and every vein In her
ran fiery pride.
"I am overwhelmed. I did not con
sider that I counted so vitally In the ,
scheme of things. But I must try to '
If you believe all this of me, only you
must teach me how to count for some
thing In the world. Will you?"
"Teach you, Eileen. What winning
mockery! I teach you? Well, then, I j
teach you this that a man's blunder Is j
best healed by a man's sympathy. I '
will stand by Gerald as long as he ,
will let me do so, not alone for your
sake nor only for his, but for my own.
I promise you that. Are you con
tented?" I
"Yes."
She slowly raised one hand, laying it , Patience nnd unfailing good spirits and
fearlessly In both of his. uls unconcealed admiration for her
"Ho Is all I have left" she said. BOftened her manner toward him to the
"You know that." ' l,oint of toleration.
"I know, child." ' Aud Neergard, from bis equivocal
'Then, thank you, Captain Selwyn." i footlnS in the house of Ruthven, ob
"No; I thank you for giving me this I Iaiued another no less precarious in
charge. It means that a man must
raise his own standard of living before
he can accept such responsibility. You
endow me with all that a man ought to
be, and my task Is doubled, for it is
not only Gerald, but I myself, who re
quire surveillance."
He looked up, smilingly serious.
"Such women as you alone can fit your
brother and me for an endless guard :
duty over the white standard you have
planted on the outer walls of the
world."
"You say things to me sometimes"
she faltered, "that almost hurt with
the pleasure they give."
'Did that give you pleasure?"
..v.a. ,., . , i
too-too keen. I wish you would not- ?f rBetalnln8 the tUIe t0 tncse Iands
but I am glad you did. You see"-drop- " m , , t
Plug into a great velvet ehair-"havlng TlnTaSft1UP?,USea, a tUe pr,
been of no serious consequence to any- "f1. Orchil and Fane were
body for so many ycare-to be told j d y noncommittal but Fhoo
suddenly that I that I count so vitally I ,,1 , '. PS aDgrIeSt
with men-a man like you"- , mau, n, Loug Islaud- T , ,
She sank back, drew one small hand ',' , .i.?0 v0' deconcJ' Jack' h
across her eyes and rested a momeDt; , "Ch v"
then, leaning forward, she set her c I 1C " Ll T "T
bow on one knee and bracketed her !d3IU3,Up T , 1 unders1tan;
chin between forefinger and thumb. luul 'raP,udcnce, to d0 11
"I've not had you to talk to for a tW,M"P coan'vance?I Are you
whole week," she said, "and you'll let Sl"?. Um ??Tae "3 Iu,t0, 0 f1"
me won't you? "l can, help It any- ! fu n?d r ? f then ftelfyou
ck-rmUlVnruVtSs wake up I 12. 5" V
,., , i i these lakes and streams of ours dry
me and clipper-clapper goes my tongue. I rd ratner 6eo tu , h
ul?nZ?JZ?C-J? atQ, B ' 6narcd and lai covey leave for the
L whin, tv feH.n', ltUat Dutchman with a certificate of
;:,,'.; 5T.. I : ;;.r;: '
understand. What have you done to
your mustache?"
"Clipped it."
"Oh, I don't like it too short! Can
you get hold of It to pull it? Its tho
only thing that helps you in perplexity
to solve problems. You'd be utterly
helpless mentally without your mus
tache. Shall wo take up our Etruscan
symbols again when you come down to
stay with us nt SUversIde?"
"Indeed" we shall," ho said, smiling.
"Which also reminds me"
He drew from his breast pocket a
thin, flat box, turned It round and
round and glanced at her, balancing It
tcaslngly In tho palm of his hand.
"Is It for me? Really? Oh, please
don't be provoking! Is It really for
me? Then give it to mo this Instant!"
He dropped the box Into tho pink hol
low of ber supplicating palms. For a
moment she was very busy with the
tissue paper, then said:
"Oh, It Is perfectly sweet of you!"
turning the small book bound In heavy
Etruscan gold. "Whatever can It be?"
And, rising, she opened It stepping to
tho window so that she could see.
Within, the pages wero closely cov
ered with the minute, careful hand
writing of her father. It was tho first
notebook he ever kept, and Sclwyn
had had It bound for her In gold.
For on Instant she gazed, breathless,
lips parted. Then slowly ulio placed
the yellowed pages against her 1 Ipn
and, turning, looked straight at Sel
wyn, the splendor of her young eyes
starred with tears.
Chapter
LIXE HUTHVEN hud not
yet dared tell Selwyn that
her visit to his rooms was
known to her husband.
She was now afraid of
her husband's malice,
afraid of Selwyn's opinion, afraid of
herself most of all, for she understood
herself well enough to realize that If
conditions became intolerable the first
and ensicst course out of It would be
tho course she'd take wherever It led,
whatever It cost or whoever was in-
i volved.
In addition to her dread and excite
ment, she was deeply chagrined and
unhappy, and, although Jack Ruthven
did not again refer to the matter In
deed, appeared to have forgotten It
her alarm nnd humiliation remained
complete, for Gerald now came and
played and went as ho chose, and In
her disconcerted cowardice Bhe dared
not do more than plead with Gerald In
secret until she began to find tho emo
tion consequent upon such Intimacy
unwise for them both.
I JfL, T D f bTmlUB a fa
m" hflguro ,n 'ie,r Rawing room, and,
th0UBh at first 8ue detcs,ed ,,lm' hIa
Rosamund Fane
l, " s" "l rune-a" m e uegm-
nlng on a purely gamine basis. How
ever, Gerald had already proposed him
for tho Stuyvesant and Proscenium
clubs, and, furthermore, a stormy dis
cussion was now In progress among
the members of the famous Slowltha
over an amazing proposition from their
treasurer, Jack Ruthven.
This proposal was nothing less than
to admit Neergard to membership In
' l"a. --"'"' elusive country
i club as a choice of the lesser evil, for
, it appeared, according to Ituthvcu, that
Neergard, if admitted, was willing to
restore to the club free of rent the
thousands of acres vitally necessary to
the club's existence as a game preserve,
membership m the siowm-
"In that case," retorted Ruthven.
"we'd better wind up our affairs and
make arrangements for an auctioneer."
"All right. Wind up and be hanged!"
said Mottly. "There'll be at least suffi
cient self respect left In the treasury
to go round."
Which was all very fine, and Slottly
meant It at the time, but outside of
the asset of self respect there was too
much money Invested in tho lands,
plant and buildings, In the streams,
lakes, hatcheries and forests of the
Slowltha. The enormously wealthy
seldom stand long upon dignity if that
dignity Is going to bo very expensive.
Only tho poor can afford disastrous self
respect
So the chances were that Neergard
would become a member, which was
why bo had acquired tho tract and tho
price be would bavo to pay was not
only In taxes upon the acreage, but se
cretly a solid sum In addition to llttlo
Mr. Ruthven, whom he was binding to
Um by every tie be could pay for.
Ho raftered Gerald and little Bath
ren to pilot him. He remained chew
fully oblivious to the snubs and Indif
ference accorded him by Mra. Ruthven.
Mrs. Fane and others of their entour
age whom he encountered over the card
tables or at card suppers. And all the
While be was attending to his business
with an energy nnd activity that ought
to have shamed Gerald and did at
times, particularly when, he arrived nt
tho olllce utterly unfit for the work be
fore him.
But Neergard continued astonishing
ly tolerant and kind, lending him mon
ey, advancing him what ho required,
taking up or renewing notes for him
until the boy, heavily In his debt,
plunged moro heavily still in sheer des
peration, only to flounder tho deeper nt
every struggle to extricate himself.
Allxo Ruthven suspected something
of this, but It was useless as well us
perilous In other wnys for her to argue
with Gvrald, for tho boy had come to
a point whero even his devotion to her
could not stop him. He must go on.
Meanwhile tho Ruthvcns were living
almost lavishly and keeping four more
horses. But Eileen Erroll's, bank bal
ance had now dwindled to three fig
ures, and Gerald had not only acted of
fensively toward Selwyn, but had quar
reled so violently with Austin that the
latter, thoroughly Incensed and disgust
ed, threatened to forbid him the house.
"The little fool," he said to Sclwyn,
"came here last night stinking of
wine and attempted to lay down tho
law to me tried to dragoon me Into a
compromise with him over the Invest
ments I have made for him! By God,
Phil, ho shall not control one cent until
the trust conditions are fulfilled,
though It was left to my discretion
too. And I told blm so flatly. I told
him he wasn't fit to be trusted with
the coupons of n repudiated South
American bond"
"nold on, Austin. Thnt isn't tho
way to tackle a boy like that!"
"Isn't it? Well, why not? Do you
expect me to dicker with him?"
"No; but, Austin, you've always been
a little brusque with him. Don't you
think"
"No, I don't. It's discipline he needs,
nnd he'll get it good and plenty every
time he comes bore."
"I I'm afraid he may cease coming
here. Thats tho worst of it. For his
sister's sake I think we ought to try
' to put up with"
"Put up! Put up! I've been doing
nothing else since he came of age.
He's turned out a fool of a puppy, I
tell you. He's Idle, lazy, dissipated.
Impudent, conceited, Insufferable"
"But not vicious, Austin, and not
untruthful. Where his affections are
centered he is always generous; where
they should be centered he is merely
thoughtless, not deliberately selfish.
And, Austin, we've simply got to be
lieve in him, you know on Eileen's
account."
Austin grew angrier and redder.
"Eileen's account? Do you mean her
bank account? It's easy enough to be
lieve In hlra if you Inspect his sister's
bank account. Believe In blm? Oh,
, certainly I do. I believe he's pup
enough to come sneaking to his Bister
to pay for all the fooleries he's en
1 gaged In. And I've positively forbid
den her to draw another check to his
order."
"It's that little bangled whelp Ruth
' vcu," said Selwyn between his teeth.
"I warned Gerald most solemnly of
that mau, but" He shrugged his
shoulders and glanced nbout him at
the linen covered furniture and bare
floors. After a moment he looked up
"Tho game there is, of course, noto
rious. I If matters did not stand as
they do" he flushed painfully "I'd
go straight to Ruthven and find out
whether or not this business could be
stopped."
If Allxo had done her best to keep
Gerald away, she appeared to bo quite
powerless In the matter; and It was
therefore useless to go to her. Besides,
he had every Inclination to avoid her.
ne had learned his lesson.
I To whom then could ho go? Through
j whom could ho reach Gerald? Through
Nina? Useless. And Gerald had al
ready defied Austin. Through Neer
1 gard, then? But ho was on no terms
i with Neergard. How could he go to
him? Through Rosamund Fane? At
the thought ho made a wry face. Any
advances from him she would willfully
i misinterpret. And Ruthven? How on
' earth could ho bring himself to ap
proach him?
! And yet ho had promised Eileen to
jtio what he could. What merit lay in
, performing an easy obligation? What
courage was required to keep a prom
: ise easily kept? If ho cared anything
for her, if he really cared for Gerald,
i he owed them moro than effortless f ul
! Ailment. So first of all, when at length
he had decided, ho nerved himself to
strike straight at the center, and wlth
1 In the hour be found Gerald at the
Stuyvesant club.
The boy descended to the visitors'
rooms, Selwyn's card in his band and
distrust written on every feature. And
at Sclwyn's first frank and friendly
words ho reddened to the temples and
checked htm.
"I won't listen," he said. "They
Austin and and everybody has been
putting you up to this until I'm tired
of It Do they think I'm a baby? Do
they suppose I don't know enough to
take care of myself? Are they trying
to make mo ridiculous? I tell you
they'd better let mo alone. My friends
are my friends, and I won't listen to
uny criticism of them, and that settles
It"
"Gerald"
"Ob, I know perfectly well that you
dlsllko Neergard. I don't and that's
tho difference."
"I'm not speaking of Mr. Neergard,
Gerald. Fm only trying to tell you
what this man Butbven really Is do
tag." "What do I car what be to do Lag P
tried Gerald angrily. "And, aaywxy,
It Isn't likely I'd corns to yra to And
est anything about Un, RstbTM's
second husband !::
Selwyn rose, very white and still.
After a moment he drew a quiet
"IVhatf" whispered Sclwyn.
breath, his clinched hands relaxed, and
, no picked up his hat and gloves.
j "They are my friends," muttered
Gerald, as pale as ho. "You drove me
Into speaking that way."
"Perhaps I did, my boy. I don't judge
you. If you ever find you need help
come to me. And if you can't come
and still need me send for me. I'll do
what I can always. I know you better
than you know yourself. Goodby."
, He turned to the door, and Gerald
burst out: "Why can't you let my
iricuus uioner i uuea you ueiore you
began this sort of thing!"
"I will lot them alone If you will,"
said Selwyn, baiting. "I can't stand by
and bcc you exploited and used and
perverted. Will you give me one
chance to talk it over, Gerald?"
"No; I won't!" returned Gerald hotly.
"I'll stand for my friends every time!
There's no treachery In me!"
"You are not standing by me very
fast," said tho elder man gently.
"I said I was standing by my
friends!" repeated tho boy.
"Very well, Gerald, but It's at the ex-
i pense of your own people, I'm afraid."
"luat's my business, nnd you're not
I one of 'em," retorted the boy, Infuri
ated, "and you won't be, either, If I
I can prevent it, no matter whether peo
1 plo say that you're engaged to her"
"What?" whispered Selwyn, wheel
ing like a flash. The last vestige of col
1 or had fled from his face, and Gerald
j caught his breath, almost blinded by
I the blaze of fury In the elder man's
I eyes.
Neither spoke again, and after a mo
ment Selwyn's eyes fell, and he turned
heavily on his heel nnd walked away,
head bent, gray eyes narrowing to
slits.
Yet through the brain's chaos and
tho heart's loud tumult and the clamor
, of pulses run wild at the insult flung
Into his very face the grim instinct to
go on persisted, and he went on and on
for her sake ou, he knew not how, un
til he came to Ncergard's apartment in
one of the vast west side constructions
bearing the name of a sovereign state,
and here after an Interval he followed
his card to Ncergard's splendid suit,
where a manservant received him and
left him seated by a sunny window
overlooking the blossoming foliage of
the park.
When Neergard came In and stood on
the farther side of a big oak table Sel
wyn rose, returning the cool, curt nou.
"Mr. Neergard," he said, "It Is not
easy for me to come here after what
I said to you when I severed my con
nection with your firm. You have
every reason to bo unfriendly toward
me, but I came on the chance that
whatever resentment you may feel will
not prevent you from hearing me out."
"Personal resentment," said Neergard
slowly, "never Interferes with my busi
ness. I take It, of course, that you
have called upon a business matter
Will you sit down?"
"Thank you, I have only a moment,
and what 1 am here for is to ask you
as Mr. Erroll's friend to use your In
fluence on Mr. Erroll every atom of
your influence to prevent him from
ruining himself financially through his
excesses. I ask you for his family's
sake to discountenance any more gam
bling, to hold him strictly to his duties
In your olllce, to overlook no more
shortcomings of his, but to demand
from him what any trained business
l mau demands of his associates as well
as of his employees. I ask this for tho
boy's sake."
"I am not aware that Gerald re
quires any Interference from mo or
I from you either," said Neergard coolly.
"And, as far as that goes, I and my
business require no interference either.
And I believe that settles it."
He touched a button. The man
servant appeared to usher Selwyn out.
The latter set his teeth in his under
lip aud looked straight and hard at
Neergard, but Neergard thrust both
bauds in his pockets, turned squarely
' on his heel and sauntered out of the
room, yawning as he went.
It bid fair to become a hard day for
Selwyn. He foresaw it, for there was
1 more for hjui to do, and tho day was
far from ended, and his self restraint
was nearly exhausted.
An hour later ho sent his card in to
Rosamund Fane, nnd Rosamund came
down presently, mystified, flattered, yet
shrewdly alert and prepared for any
thing since tho miracle of bis coming
justified such preparation.
"Why in tho world," sho said, with
a flushed gayety perfectly genuine,
I "did you ever como to see me?"
I "It's only this," ho Bald "I am won
dcrlng whether you would do anything
I for me."
I "Anything! Mercl! Isn't that ex
tremely general, Captain Selwyn? But
you never can tell. Ask mo."
So bo bent forward, bis clasped
bands between bis knees, and told ber
very earnestly of bis fears about Ger
ald, asking ber to uso ber undoubted
Influence with tho boy to shame bun
from the card tables, explaining bow
utterly disastrous to blm nnd bis fam
ily bis present courso was.
"Could you help us?" bo asked.
"Help us, Captain Selwyn? Who to
the 'us,' please?"
"Why, Gerald and me-and his fam
ily," be added, meeting ber eyes. T he
eyes began to dance with malice.
"Uls family," repeated RoMmtad
"that U to aay, bU atoter, UUm Vr-
( Continued on pace 7 )