Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-09-03

conduct of Ellington O'keefe. He had
done it to try her-her, Peggys mother,
his future mother-in- law-and he had found
her wanting. She had cast him off because
he was poor; Peggy had cast him off be-
cause he was poor. He had seen through
It, and he had deserted them. She had put
her foot in it. But he was beyond recall
he had tried them and found them want
ing. Her self-reproach deepened finally in
to anger, first at Peggy and then at Bill
ington O'keefe. She saw In his conduct
merely trick to get rid of Peggy-and of
her.
1T was a trick, Peggy" she would re-
mark, IAN ungentlemanly trick. To think
OF 1t! If you We're girl of any spirit you
would sue him for breach of promise of
marriage
Mother exclaimed Peggy. chow can
you?"
why not?" returned Mrs Robeson lone
or the Jeliiffes sued for breach of promise
once and recovered very substantial dam
ages Why not, | should like to know
PeSgy smiled. He might sue US moth
er, she answered unconsciously using the
plural, but we could hardly sue him We
seem to have rejected him."
All because of his own dastardly trick
retorted Mrs. Robson. And yet Mrs
Robeson, when she was not engaged in
TINS great matchmaking business was one
or the most gentle. most genial most lady
like women in the world.
Okeefe never again entered the Robeson
house, chiefly, 1t may be assumed, because
his attentions were absorbed by that very
attractive young widow, Mrs. Hallowell.
Mrs. Hallowell, it may be remarked, was
one of the creditors who was paid in full
although she did not attend upon the night
In question.
To return, however. to OKeefe and his
counterfeit presentment Smith Okeefe,
| totally ignorant of the fact that Smith
had been opening and shutting up his safe
merely to pass the time away, finally en-
tered the presence of Smith
Nn,, !, t.. ~
way, for his scheme was now about to de-
velop, well get down to facts. I've been
lucky since I've been away and I'm going
to enter into compact with you. I'm go
ing to trust you, by George-but the first
! thing l want to know is all about it. l
want to know WHAT'S been going on. You
see, m treating you whittier than you've
treated me, but l think that l can make
some money out of you, and you can make
some at the same time. and you're a clever
sort of fellow; and l want you to treat me
square. Tell me what there is to tell" Thus
| O'Keefe, with q heart full of guile. Smith
| thought for a moment. What he wanted
| was time and opportunity. He did not
| see how IT would make any difference In
| his chances If he were honest with this
| man. Smith began at the beginning and
| finished only at the end, not forgetting
| even his little affair with Miss Margaret
Robson and her mother, and with the little
widow Mrs. Hallowell. O'Keefe, who at
| various portions of this interview was
white-hot with rage. nevertheless retained
| his presence of mind and held his peace
| He added up a few more little things In his
| score against the fellow that was all.
| We'll. he said, finally, TN admit one
| thing and that is that you haven't spent
| so much of my money as l would nave
| done If I'd been home, and you got me GU,
| of that big steel company contract In gooc
| shape It's thing l wanted to get out OF
| all along | wouldn't have known probably
| how to deal with the thing in just that
way; and If they had thought l was good
| for 1t, they never would have let up on me
So owe you good turn. you see"
And you'H get 1t. too. he remarked tt
himself under his breath.
| And now" he finally went on, I'll opeT
| nv budget. ! haven't been so far Off al
| YOU might think. but I've been far enough
| away TO get hold OF good thing, car
tell you that I've been down on the Island
| of Swat"
| Smith where the devil is that"
| THAT'S Just the point" returned TIL
| other Its easy enough to get TO II yol
know how. But 1t isn't the getting ther'
that's such an interesting part OF IL, ,ho4ei
It's interesting enough. too at that II
| what you get after you get there. III
reached into his pocket and drew forth {
| small bag This he handed over. Smtl
snened 1t and examined its contents.
| What is it?" demanded O'Keefe.
smith knew. ITS gold he said; gold
80 sure"
| fright" answered OKeefe. Il strucl
over $4,000 worth or dust down there II
| less than six weeks, that's what i did, ant
| | brought 1t home with me You see M
added modestly. Il had to tear myself away
| before I was through. They were stucl
| on me down there. In fact" he added, e.
| was the Akoond down there"
| THE Akoond," repeated Smith; who
| hep"
He's the king-the king" answered
| O'Keefe; he's the king. was the king
| 1 was the Akoond of Swat so / was: tt
| be sure. they called me Oh Keefe, Akoont
| of Swat"
"wen?'' said Smith.
] WELL" answered the other. "hsrs'a Mha