The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1902-12-09

complacently at 1t and called to his
man, who came noiselessly through
the door, 1.-TWO fizzy ones, Jenkins, and
make 'em good and long" Then as
the door closed behind Jenkins: "'Pon
me soul, dear boy, I'd like to see you
through, but twenty thousand! 1t
would be downright immoral to risk SO
much money Why, that would keep
q yacht in commission almost a sea-
son through"
Trenwick turned to the window. Out
side the tide of life in the avenue was
at flood. 1t was turning IL o'clock.
He had until to make good his bal
ances. If only he could make good, he
was sure the very next day would find
him In the food tide of fortune. There
was tickle semipanicky market. He
stood to win the stake of his life If
only he could keep above water until
the tide turned Nothing short of that
imminent hazard would have brought
him to Ridgeley.
Ridgeley had seemed to him these
twenty years past. ever since he came
c000CAAy AANO cut IACnCSy Do nOl LA0CA
more than human clot, wholly unlike
the slow witted yet gallant lad who
had been his chum at college. Because
of that neutrality-suspicious. regard he
had never sought to profit by old time
Intimacy with the bachelor millionaire.
Trenwick wondered duly as he looked
at him how 1t came about that he was
bachelor. 1t could not be that old
boy and girl affair with his sister May.
May had been dead this twenty
years and more. She had died indeed
before her wedding gown was out Of
fashion. Judge Barton, her rich old
husband, had mourned her deeply, but
not enough to keep him from exacting
usuriOus interest for every loan he
made Trenwick nor from turning him
outdoors when the debts and the inter
est ate up the family estate. The
judges widow lived there now, with
her healthy young son to come after
her. Mays child had not lived. Some
how Trenwick felt that as sort OF
special punishment to himself. He had
virtually made the match for his sis
ter. He was worldly, even case hard
ened, but still he did not like to recell
her eyes when he had said to her:
"Of course you'll marry the judge.
You are the luckiest girl | know to
have the chance Of him. Think what 1t
would be to put up with an ordinary
dull fellow-say with poor old Ridge
ley" And then he had stopped short,
for May had run away. with her head
high, but her cheeks like ashes.
1t all came back to him as he stood
beside the window watching the vivid
human stream without. Stealthily he
turned and looked Ridgeley over. try
ing to recall In his unwieldy bulk the
open features. the manly. fair proper
tons of his old college mate. A vague,
keen anguish shot through him. Why
was all life so crisscross? Why every
thing one laid hold on futile? If for
tune needs must come to Ridgeley,
why not have come in time? He was
sensible 1t had been pride and poverty
that had kept Ridgeley from speaking
out. In the old days Ridgeley had had
nothing beyond the promise of his very
moderate wits. His uncle, who had
educated him, could barely tolerate
him until his own son died and left
poor Ridgeley alone to inherit the mill
lions. That was a month after Mays
marriage. She had not been dead six
months when Ridgeley was In posses
sion of the big estate.
If those two had married. Trenwick
dashed a hand across his eyes, He
was incoming there, with life itself at
stake Ridgeley was his last hope,
and Ridgeley had failed him. He had
humbled himself to duplication. He
could not do it again. He was learn
ing that there are things very much
harder than death. All that remained
now for him was to make an end of
things as quickly and as decently as
possible.
AS noiselessly as by magic two tall,
foaming goblets had appeared. Ridge
ley motioned him TO come and take
one of them. himself eagerly carrying
the other to his lips with a mumbled,
Heres luckr' Suddenly Trenwick
was conscious of raging thirst He
emptied his glass at a draft and set 1t
down, clinking it lightly against the
massy silver tray. Ridgeley beamed
vacuously on him. Really, you'll
agree Jenkins has touch" he said
"Have anotheri Dol it'll set you
up so near the clouds you won't come
down again until tomorrow"
Trenwlck shook his head. 81 must
keep away from the Clouds" he said
you know how l used to build cas-
ties there. ] have never built one
since May died"
Ridgeley set down his glass. This
time the CULVER rang underneath it.
ITS odd about us three" he said,
speaking very low. MAY was the
only one to marry. l wonder how we
happened not tor
"Oh. I've always had too little mon
ey and you too much" Trenwick said.
turning toward the door. $50 long,
old mani Get over the caution of a
capitalist and marry before it's too
late"
stop! Are you going back down
there" Ridgeley asked, nodding in the
direction of the street Trenwick shook
his head. mo use. l cannot alter
anything" he said. 81 think l shall
go to my club for an hour. After that
well, have not quite decided"
Come back" Ridgeley said. IL
want to talk to you. IL haven't been
quite square with you. 1t is-not the
money l mind. But-you were not
square with me-in the old time, you
know. May love her. l love her
yet. And you-you came between us.
Do I've waited to get even yOu know.