The Cairo bulletin., 1904-10-17
The *
Conqueror
W BY KEITH GORDON
Copyright, 1901. bi NJ McKen


tlieless he dashed hastily into the bi
department store, determined to pro
cure the driving gloves that be sorel!
needed.
The tired clerks and shining pneu
matte tubes seemed to be In league t
detain him, and he was strolling i'm
patiently up and down. inwardly re
wiling the system that made such delay
possible, when the sight Of tall, fab
GIRL Also waiting for change. trans
formed his feelings like the touch Of O
fairy wand. His impatience vanished
his engagement was forgotten. He
had seen his ideal woman.
A weaker man might have failed to
detect bis chance In the mere passing
glimpse Of face in the crowd. Not
10 Manice. IT fate, In effect, said to
him. Don't you wish you knew herr"
he indomitably answered. Trust me
shall know her" And so the game
began.
Social customs he regarded as so
many fences inclosing and dividing the
held OF action. Under ordinary clrcum-
stances he respected these defenses
and skirted them decorously until he
came to gateways. like any other well
bred individual. But the case In hand
was comparable only to cross coun-
try ride. when the man who would be
in at the death must go over the
fences, jump the bitches and stay him
not for gateways and bridges.
All OF which means that Floyd Man
Ice, usually the Wost dignified and con
sentative Of men. spent the rest of the
afternoon following slim, erect young
woman at very respectful distance
and utterly without her knowledge
At D, M. he had the satisfaction
OF seeing her enter smart trap at
Morrlstown,, y. j., whittier she had
nnwittingly led him. and satisfied
from her manner that she was at home
he paced the platform waiting for, the
train back to town and making plans
with an exultant confidence born OF |
long success.
Going to Morristown for the sum |
mer, eh?' exclaimed his partner in |
some surprise when he announced his
intention week later Il thought you
loathed New Jersey"
Mistaken idea of yours" responded
with mendacious brevity. by
the way, do you know any one there?'
Events usually moved with business
Ia 81 |
an end Within two weeks
from the day on which he first saw
his star. as he called her to himself,
Ne was established Ia Morristown,
Waiting In strong. serene, yet humble
expectation for her to appear once
more upon his horizon.
The days passed like procession
II snails, but she did not appear, and, I
hough through the kindness of city
riends he had number of introduce
ions, he made no effort to discover
Ter identity. He had a strange, sweet
to which he held in
pite of disappointment and the de- s
lorable sentimentality into which 1t 4
vas leading him-that she was surely
rifting toward him and that each day I
rought them nearer together. G
Near the end of the third week his
litIi was rewarded 1t was on the v
of links. and ripple of peculiarly !
lear. frank laughter somewhere near t
i'm caused him to turn his head. She a
nd companion were sauntering to- Z
ard him, every line of her 1.-The I
raceful figure standing out gloriously S
yainst the pure background Of the a
~, her brown hair framing her face
a bewitching disorder. s.
On this glimpse of her Manice lived h
II another week, and then his friend. p
uncan Brown. descended upon him
r the weeks end stay Duncan would
I'VE been welcome under any circum
ances, but when be announced that a .,
eat friend OF his, Betty Aston, lived .,
Morristown and offered 10 take q,
anice TO see her the latter pressed q,
e freedom of his bachelor quarters ~
On him with added feryency, won
ring If 10y chance he was entertaining ~
angel unawares. s,
70 indeed 1t proved.
I think I saw you on the links the n,
Der day" Miss Aston remarked. A,
ming TO Manice after the greetings n,
re over. and that gentleman always =,
'ndered what be said In reply. The al
e impression that he carried away ~
IN that meeting was confusing hf
Use of having been projected unex- ii
.tedly into the very midst OF heaven. Il,
hat impression. however. was not /,
ting. Time revealed that II Miss ~,
ton was n guiding star others be- M
Is himself were looking. raising their 1
3 TO her and following where she nj,
tn
iii he drew a sigh of relief at the 90,
ught that he had two rivals instead IL
1ne. Always In these matters there
; safety in numbers.
coping a watchful eye upon. two
lis is wearing work even for a pr
ing man. II Manice had been fas- lor
ited by Betty Alston's face. at the
Of two months II was loyelier 10 wi
than ever for the better be knew
the more assured be became OF her a
etness and wOmanllness. Counted do
conventional standards. It was 4 tor