The new enterprise. (Madison, Fla.) 1901-1908, 1902-10-02

my guests to the Plnesg he said des-
perately, remembering that his credit
ought to be good there.
But old Mrs. Glendennin broke in
with. wen be delighted to be your
guests, Mr.. Caldwell, but won't you
humor us by taking us to the Shell
burne? It's all the same to you, |
suppose, and Anne has her heart set
on the music there. Haven't you, !
Amer"
And so to the Shelburne they went,
Steve trying to forget that be had less
than dollar, living only each success
sive moment in her presence, hectic
with alternate Joy and embarrassment,
till they were well along toward the
coffee. He urged the ladies' to order
this, that and the other-anything that
would defer the catastrophe and pro-
long his rapture. On tenter hooks OF
delight and terror, at last be saw Now
att strolling across the verandah. He
hailed his friend as deliverer, and
Jerry was soon chatting with them
No, he would have nothing; he had
Just dined; he was going for a sail
with the Hildebrandts. Steve winked,
grimaced and In a dozen ways tried to
send him wireless kilograms Of distress
financial distress-but Mowatt curse
him, either could not or would not see
them.
Matters were becoming desperate.
Steve saw the waiter making out the
bill. He excused himself moment
and tried to walk jauntily as he ap.
preached the cashiers desk. He ex-
planned that he had cleft his money
In his other suit" Was he a guest Of
the Shelburne? No. Then the cashier
was very sorry to say, but" etc.
Steve grew red and gray by turns, but
he went back to his table and sat like
q craven image for a whole minute.
Then he twiddled his watch chain
furlously for another minute. Miss
Glendennin, who sat next to him, no.
ticed the ruby Chinese ring he wore on
the chain and leaned over to examine
1t. Here was a brief but priceless
oasis in the desert of his troubles. He
felt the pressure Of her perfect hand
upon his arm. He caught the vague
fragrance of her ebon hair. But Now
att came around suddenly, shook hands
with Steve, and said good-by. Cald-
well could have throttled him as he
stood an instant grinning into his face.
1t was evident that Jerry understood
the awful predicament his friend was
in, and was deliberately deserving him.
But the economical villain gave Steve
no chance to say word much less to
make a quick and dexterous touch
He bowed grandily to the ladies and
was gone like fash.
As Caldwell turned round he caught
a aeeting look of puzzled curiosity up
on the expressive face of his idol.
shes on to me-" he thought, and
blushed like a schoolboy. Mrs. Glen
DENIM was getting nervous. The
walter had brought the finger bowls
long ago and was skulklng near a pill
lar with anticipation of n liberal fee
Steve's right hand wandered almlessly
into his trousers pocket
"Eighty-fve cents, count EN-" he
thought, grimly biting his mustache
Then his fingers stole up into his yes
pocket. He felt a hard, round bit OF
metal, clutched it, looked at Miss
Glendennin and turned purple. HI
pulled out $40 gold piece and tried
to look his gratitude at her He sue
ceeded in looking foolish, but she
smiled family and sighed with pleased
relief, The old lady noticed nothing
Steve paid the bill and gave the bob
bling waiter a dollar. When they
walked into the cool air Caldwell fell
as man feels whose reprieve is de
liyered at the gallow's trap. He wal
sure now that Anne, his Anne, was al
angel. Such tact, such sympatheti,
acumen, such considerate regard FOL
his feelings, his dignity, his vanityl
He told her, in a whisper that sh,
was a goddess. In the evening b,
found that Jerry was yet out on tn,
water, so he borrowed $40 gold piec,
from the hotel clerk and FASTENED {,
his tryst with Miss Glendennin. I
was midnight when be returned to hi
room and found Mowatt in pajama
smoking pipe.
Jerry" said Caldwell, "I'm going t,
marry that girl-yes, Miss Glendennin
II I can, and think can, You didn'
see that | was broke to-day at dinner
did you? OF course not. You foun,
II easy to go blind, deaf and dumb al
at once. But forgive you. Do yoI
know what she did? She saw was 4