The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1906-08-30
THE
CRAFTERS |
BY
FRAN CTS Lynn DE
CHAPTER vI.-ooNrwuED.


HE is in the smoking-room with
fVe or six other tobacco misanthTopes.
What do you want OF him?"
II want TO say two words In his
ear; after which l shall vanish and
make room for my betters."
Miss Van Brock was gazing stead
lastly at the impassioned face lighted
by the piano candles.
"Is it about Miss Brentwood" she
asked abruptly.
"In way-yes." he confessed.
Sac rose and stood beside him-a
bewitching figure of a woman who
knew her part in the human comedy
and played it well.
"ls il wise, David?" she asked soft
ly. Il am not denying the possibili-
ties: you might come between them
II you should try-rm rather afraid
you could. But you mustn't, you
know; it's too late. You've marred
her. between you; or rather that con-
Vsntion, which makes a woman deaf,
blind and dumb until a man has fairly
committed himself has marred her
For your sake she can never be quite
all she ought TO be to him: for his
sake she could never be quite the same
TO you"
He drew apart from her, frowniug.
IF | should say that I don't fully
understand what you mean?" he re-
Joined.
q should retort by saying some
thing extremely uncomplimentary
about your lack of perspicacity," she
cut in maliciously.
Il beg pardon" he said, a little
stifIiy. you are laboring under an
entirely wrong impression. What
have to say to Mr.. Brookes Ormsby
does not remotely concern the matter
you touch upon. It's an AFFAIR of the
stock exchange"
Miss Van Brock let him go at that,
but now the way TO the smOking-den
on the floor above was hedged up.
He did battle with the polite require
ments, as man must; shaking hands
or exchanging a word with one and an
other Of the INSTRUCTORS only as he
had to. None the less, when he had
finally wrought his way TO the smok-
tng-room ormsby had eluded him
again.
He went back to the parlors, won
dering how he had missed the club
man. In the middle room OF the suite
he found Portia chatting with Mars
ton, the acknowledgements and a
young woman in the smartest OF re-
ceptiOn gowns had succeeded to Eli
nor's place at the piano.
You found him% queried the hos
tess, excusing herself TO the tall, sat
urnine man who had shared the hon
ors at the head of the peoples party
ticket with Jasper G. Bucks.
NO" said Kent. Have you seen
him." r
"Why, yes; they all came to take
leave just a few moments after you
left me- thought of telling Mr.. Orms-
by you were looking for him, but you
shut me off so simplify"
Miss Van Brock What have you
done? must go at once"
Really? l am complimented But
II you must, you must, | suppose. |
had something to tell you-something
of imp9s lance; but | can't remember
wha. It was now. / can never remem-
Der tk,ngs in the hurry Of leave-tak-
ings."
AS we have intimated. Kent had
hitherto found Miss Portals con-
fidences exceedingly helpful in a bust
ness way and he hesitated. Tell
me" he begged.
"No. can't remember IL: | doubt
n shall ever remember it unless you
can remind me by telling me why you
are so desperately anxious to ind Mr..
Ormsby."
81 wonder IL you hold everybody up
like tbsz." he laughed. But | don't
mind telling you. Western Pacific
preferred has gone W 10 SS1s.''