The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1901-08-22
PLAYING THE MAN.
BY GILBERT DOYLE.


IN mules, were plOdding along the
track that leads from Cape Spartel
to Tangier.
GriersOn. the novelist, allowed the
reins to drop round his animals
neck. and proceeded to roll a cigar
cite. By his side an upright, elderly
man with clOse-cropped hair and q
keen face, and the third member OF
the party, young girl of about 20,
was some 30 yards ahead
at has been Il first-class sort of
day." observed the elder man Celia
and | owe you debt OF gratitude
for having looked after us this week
in Tangier,
"The luck has been on my siden'
returned GriersOn. with q laugh
.sYou see, | came over here from Glib
raltar as a certain young person =
society was exercising IA depressing
influence upon me.
Did she bore yOu?' asked Ardell
"The reverse. She has charmed me
more than any other girl for a longer
period than | like to think. The
point is that her parents insist on
her having nothing to do with me
which at least shows they are not
wanting in good, sound common
senser'
Ardell laughed and gazed contem
platively on the surrounding stretch
OF country.
u could put in another month
here well. but I'm afraid it would
hardly suit Celia" he said, with a
nod toward the trim figure riding in
front of them.
is she in hurry to see England"
asked GriersOn. He knew little of
his companions history. He was a
wealthy Australian sheep farmer,
who had lately sold his run, and de-
termined on u visit to England.
"Not SO much that, but eagerness
to meet the man.
The novelist opened his eyes.
ooh, is she i'll love, too?" he said,
with a sigh.
YES, had a young Englishman
on the ranch as manager. He was
with us about five years, decent sort
OF fellow, gentleman by birth
you meet a good many of that sort
up and down the runs in the bush, "
said Ardell Eventually he fell in
love with Celia and asked my consent;
liked the chap and gave it. Then
one day came u letter telling him
there had been a big snap i'll his fam
lily chain, and that he had stepped
into an estate and money in Eng
land"
Il know" nodded the novelist. |
'Tve used him in good many OF my
books. So he went, and you are
following?" he added, with a smile.
Yes: he said he would return and !
fetch Celia when things were settled |
up bit. But shortly after he had |
gone | suddenly took it into my |
head that had done enough hard
work for one mans life, so | sold the
farm, and brought the girl away on
this trip Ardell laughed. ''t'll be
somewhat of Il surprise to him-you
see, there WASH time to write, so he
doesn't know we're coming
Presently Grierson urged his mule
into a gentle trot and succeeded in
getting level with Celia.
Il thought I'd just like to congrat-
ulate you, >" he began.
A touch of color flew to the girls
cheeks and her eyes glistened-she
made wonderfully pretty picture,
he thought
Are you Interested in love affairs"
she asked, with smile.
My dear young lady, I've been
'otuiS OlN lhS 10 invent 1t lie" one
ever since first began to write, he
exclaimed. Then his tone changed
Nov, please tell me all about him
is he as near perfection as mere
man can be-"
Il don know about Archie being
that, she answered, with Il laugh.
but he is the man | love, and moth
ing else matters much, does it,"
Absolutely nothing But l wish
your opinion was more universal"
he added with ii sigh, as he thought
OF the young person in the party he
had left at Gibraltar.
N a., ------.-- J Il. L:... -.