Middletown transcript., 1905-08-26
AT THE END OF THE CORD
BY HOWARD MARKLE H0KE

| lieye that she is more interested in yol
than she would admit, for she is yer,
mischievous and capricious, but if yol
could only win her it would be 50 mncl
more of a triumph than making 'rh
GULF fiy at an angle, Mr. Starlamb.o
.But, Miss Finn" Whitney said, quit
as gravely, II have believed that Mr.
Latshaw has discovered how adorabl,
Elizabeth is and that he had gained
right to the discovery"
''Of course he has discovered that, a
any young man who hasn't his head ava,
I'D in the air with kites all the time would
but am sure that Mr.. Latshaw has no
any such right. But, even if he has
there is another point that you have not
seen. You have studied only the kite
side Of my uncle Christopher's character
He seems mild and pliable enough, bu
in reality he is very firm, and he has sale
| that he will never consent to Elizabeth's
marring man who despises kites. Now
YOU know how Mr. Latshaw does despise
them He never loses an opportunity t.
express his contempt for them, and
Uncle Christopher knows that, and is
very bitter against him. If | did not
think there was a chance for you,
should never have spoken as have, and
l believe you could win if you would gel
over your enthusiasm for kites and have
more for Elizabeth. =
Miss Finn" said Whitney, eff I had
not thought that Latshaw had already
won, | should have been entirely differ
ent with your cousin, and shall most as
suredy take your advice"
Il am very glad to see that you can be
so much more sensible in ordinary affairs
than thought you could" she said, as
she rose and tripped gracefully toward the
house.
The next afternoon, as Whitney sat
upon the same rustic seat, expecting that
Elizabeth would come out, Latshaw, who
had returned from his ranch, came up,
sat down beside him and asked
"Starlamb, do you think you could pull
in your mental kite for few minutes ?"
Il think I could, if you could make it
worth my while"
"Well, | can First, | want to tell you,
how much pleased Elizabeth and | are to
see that you have the good sense to shift
your interest from kites to something that
is as much worth while as Dorothy Finn.
1t would certainly be an ideal match,
Starlamb. But that isn't what | came to
talk about. You may or you may not
know that Christopher, for all Of his ap-
parent mildness is one of the most bull
headed men | know. When he says a
thing shall not be, that is generally the
way it goes. He told me few weeks ago
that Elizabeth should never marry a man
who is not interested in kites. As he
knows my opinion Of grown men who act
like boys with their kites, you can see
what predicament | am in regarding
Elizabeth"
'What have | to do with it, Lat
shaw n
"Just this. | know that Christopher
places the greatest confidence in you and
your skill with kites, and | thought that
if you would be willing to show him that
such stand regarding Elizabeth is I'M
reasonable, you would do US a great SER
vice. Will you do it r
mo, | WON'T" Starlamb answered,
land the reason is that ! want Elizabeth
myself
What Y cried Latshaw, springing up
excitedly. Il thought it was Dorothy"
1T isn't it is Elizabeth"
You refuse to help me, then p
Certainly"
II have few things to say to you,
then" Latshaw said, recovering his COM
posture and sitting down again. 1T may
interest you to know that | have been in
vestigating you. i have discovered, first,
that you are rich fellow who has d bust
ness head and is making good use Of his
money. Second, up until the morning
you met Christopher Finn you had not
given kites a thought. So when you are
here you are putting up a fine article of
humbug; in other words, you are no
more Of kiteman than am. | have
not yet told any of these people OF this
discovery, but now that | find you are
after Elizabeth and not Dorothy, do not
see why | should not have a few words
with Christopher on the subject. Do
you p
No, don't, Latshaw," Whitney an
swered, candidly, land if | were YOU,
that is precisely what l would do. But |
would be mighty careful when l did it.
A man with good judgment would wait
until after Mr.. Finn tries his new kite.
and he is going to do that tomorrow
morning. He is relying upon my assis-
tance-blindly, I'll admit-but if YOU
take it away at a critical time; it won't
improve your chances any. I'll be fair
about it, Latshaw. Let us call quits un-
til the kite test is over then let the best
man win. What do you say?
Il say you are right, Starlamb, if this
isn't another pretense. =
1T isn't, Latshaw; it is on the
square"
When Whitney reached the Finn place
next morning in his auto, every one was
excited over the kite test. Even Eliza
beth and Latshaw seemed to be nervous
and Dorothy's face was roster than ever
with expectation. As soon as she saw
Whitney, she drew him aside and said
If the kite is success, you know how
happy Uncle Christopher will be. He
would be willing to grant you anything
Speak to him as soon as possible after it il
over and get him to favor you then do
all you can against Latshaw. should be
dreadfully disappointed if lie should win.
her"
''Gou may be sure that I won't waste