The Princeton union., 1900-01-25
Copyright, 1896. by
Robert Barr.

| NhaL a 1unny reason to give! And
how Il man misses all the fine points
OF conversation! No; just because I
asked for information, you might have
known that it was what T really want
ed
I'm afraid I'm very stupid. hate
to ask boldly what you did want, but
/ would like to know" r..
II want a vote of confidence. I told
you l was sorry because of certain
episode. wanted to see if you trust
ed me, and I found you didn't. There"
IT think that was hardly fair test.
You see the facts did not belong to me
a'one.'
Miss Brewster sighed, and slowly
shook her head. =
'That wouldn't have made the least
difference ifyou had really trusted me. -
"Oh, 1 say! You couldn't expect 4
man to-
Eyes, could"
What, merely friend?''
Miss Brewster nodded
swell, all can say" remarked Went
worth, with a laugh, "is that friend
ship has made greater strides in the
states than it has in this country
Before Jennie could reply the useful
| boy Knocked at the door and brought in
u tea tray, which he placed before his
master, then silently departed, closing
the door noiselessly.
"May l offer you a cup of tea?''
please. What a curious custom this
IL ,l-I,o of %@D
I think shall write an article on "A
Nation of Tea Tipplers.' If I were an
enemy to England, instead of being it's
greatest friend, would descend with
my army on this country between the
hours of four and five in the afternoon,
and so, take the population unawares
while it was drinking tea. Whatwould
sou do if the enemy came down on YOU
during such sacred national cere-
mony?''
II would offer her a cup of tea,'' re-
piled Wentworth, slliting the action to
the phrase.
"Mr. Wentworth,' said the girl, arch
]y, YOU'RE improving. That remark
was distinctly good. Still, you must
remember that come as friend, not
as an enemy. Did you ever read the
Babes in the Wood?' It is most in
structive but pathetic work of fiction.
You remember the wicked uncle, sure
~. Well, you and Mr. Kenyon remind
1ne of the babes, poor, innocent, little
things, and London-this part of it.
is the dark and pathless forest. I am
1 no IrHh L.
| cover you with leaves. The leaves, to
do any good, ought to be checks futter-
ing down on you, but, alas! haven't
any. If negotiable checks only grew
cn trees, life would not be so difficult"
Miss Brewster slipped her tea pensivc-
ly, and Wentworth listened to the
musical murmur of her voice, which
had such an entrancing effect on him.
| that he paid less heed to what she SAID
than man should when alady is speak,
ing. The tea drinking had added a
touch of domesticity to the tete-a-tetc
that rather went to the head of the
young man. He clinched and u1l-
clinched his hand out of sight under
the table and felt the moisture on his
palm. He hoped he would be able to
retain control over himself, but the
difficulty of his task almost overcome
him when she now and then appealed
to him with glance OF gesture, and he
felt as if he must cry out: my girl, my
girl, don't do that, if you expect me 10
stay where am
II see you are not paying the slight
est attention to what am saying" she
said, pushing the cup from her. She
rested her arms on the table, leaning
slightly forward, and turning her face
full upon him. II can tell by your
eyes that you are thinking of some
thing else''
II assure you," said George, drawing
q deep breath, II am listening with in
tense interest,""
r We'll, that's right. for what l am
going to say is important. Now, t.,
wake you up, l will first tell you all
aboutyour mine, SO that you will under
stand did not need to ask anyone for
information regarding it.''
Here, to Wentworth's astonishment,
she gave rapid and accurate sketch of
the negotiations and arrangements be-.
tween the three partners and the pres
ent position of affairs.
"'How do you know all this?" he
asked. ".%5 .. ., III.
Never mind that, and you mustn't
ask how [ know what T am now going
to tell you, but you must believe it inn
plicitly and act upon it promptly
Longworth. is fooling both you and
Kenyon. He is making time, so that
your option will run out; then he will
pay cash for the mine at the original
price, and you and Kenyon will be left
to pay two-thirds of the debt incurred
Where is Kenyon?" s. (
He has gone to America" !.
~ THAT'S good. Cable him to get the
option renewed. You can then try to
form the company yourselves in Lon
don. Ii he can't obtain renewal, you
have very little time to get the cash to-
gether, and if you are not able to do
that then you lose everything. This
is what came to tell you, although !
have been a long time about it. Now !
L .z .