, 1904-11-23

liiC 80 l.
know the rule? If not he woulo pc
beaten. for he could never get around
from the side door to the ticket oniee
and back to the train shed IN TIM.
Probably he would waste precious mo.
ments in vain dispute with the man
or guard. and a very little of this Iol-
" would certainly be enough to wreck
his hope of catching the train.
Underhill chuckled at the thought
and he directed his course toward the
side entrance. The other mar folloW-
ed. 1t was obvious that he guesseu
that Underhill was running for the y
O'Clock train and knew a short cut to
gain time.
At the last moment the stranger
made a great squirt and reached the
side entrance ahead of Underhill.
Ticket, please" said the warder'
barring the way with an iron arm.
81 haven't any ticket" pouted the
applicant. "I'll buy one inside"
Cant pass in this way without a
ticket said the guard in a voice ap-
propriate to the utterance of a decree
of fate.
but. my dear sir, it is very impor-
tant that
'Nothin' doin'," said Cerberus and
turned his back.
Underhill by this time was fun
bling for his mileage book and begin
ming to grow faint with the fear that
he had not brought it. His fingers
touched it at last. He thrust 1t under
the nose of the warder, who said.
"Pass in."
A hand upon Underhill's arm re-
strained him, and a voice of singular
ly agreeable quality besought him for
attention:
"If you would be so very kind as to
let me pass through on your book you
would do me the greatest possible ia
vor. l have an important engagement
at the country house of Mr.. Eliot
Robinson, and there is 40 other train
until afternoon"
Underhill looked into the strangers
mild brown eyes, which were pathetic
as a dogs, and suddenly he seemed to
see himself in the others place, de-
frauded of his chance by a bit of trick
cry. Surely he would have held it
most unfair that he should be barred
from competition in this way. Doubt
less this man was struggling worthily
to get a start in his profession.
Certainly" said he. And the two
passed in together.
81 am Harold Archer" said the
young man, ''and from this moment
your humble and obedient servant. You
have pulled me out of a serious diff
Guilty. Mr.. Robinson has asked me
most urgently to go out to his place to-
day, and he is a man whom I should
be most unwilling to disoblige."
'Your destination and mine are the
same.' said Underhill, ''and u err
rands also, l fancy"
'Quite So responded Archer. "You
are Mr.. Underhill."
Underhill bowed in assent, and he
scanned his rival warily. Aside from
an attractive personal appearance Mr..
Archer was conspicuous chiefly for
the serene confidence which visibly ra-
oA0hSo AlohA I'LL 4ACiO was q hidA az
customed to success, one of those easy
winners who are spared the pain of
anxiety. A sudden hostility famed in
Underhill's breast. He regretted hav-
ing passed Archer through the gate.
This fellow could afford to lose, and
he himself could not.
Matter of the new kennels. 1 sup
pose?' said he curtly.
Archer nodded and smiled.
MY excellent friend, Mr.. Robinson,
intends to erect a very ~pretentious
structure said he. 81 am hoaored by
his desire for my services"
So this fellow regarded it as all over.
Underhill shut his mouth firmly and
from that moment refused to be drawn
into any discussion of architecture Ell
ther general or specific. Archer, in
deed, seemed perfectly well pleased to
speak of other themes. He conversed
fiuently upon topics of the day. He
showed vivacity, interest, ever wit
now and then. He became so much alb
sorbed in his own easy %eloquence that
he neglected to raise any protest when
the conductor took two fares out of
UnderhilPs mileage book.
Eliot Robinson, Jr., was waiting for
them in an enormous automobile laden
with expensive furs. He lazily gave
a hand to each of the travellers, but ad-
dressed himself to Underhill alone.
Hello said he. You're looking
a little out Of sorts. What's the mat
ter?'
Il haven't had any breakfast" an
swered Underhill gloomily.