Richmond daily palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1905-1906, 1906-02-06
CHAPTER XIV.
AN ORDEAL OR TWO.

vows lIldI lie Will HcNeI
forgive me for the ten minutes agony
which l gratuitously added to his meas
ure. 1t came about in this wise.
was on my way down Seventeenth
street that afternoon, and it was in
front of fashionable apartment house
that l met him. He was seated on
his box, the whip at the proper angle
and his eyes riveted on his pairs ears.
1t was the first time | had seen him
since the day of the episode at the
police-station. He was growing thin.
even notice me till I stopped and the
sounds of my heels on the walk ceased.
Arms akimbo. l surveyed him.
''Well?" | began. l admit that the
smile | offered him was a deal like
| that which a cat offers a cornered
| mouse.
He turned his head. | shall not re-
peat the word he muttered. 1t was
very improper, though they often refer
to 1t in the Sabbath-schools, always in
hushed breath, however, as though to
full-voice it would only fan the flames
still higher.
self?' l SAINT on.
Nothing for myself, but for you,
move on and let me alone, or when
get the opportunity Chuck, I'll punch
your head, glasses or no glasses"
"Brother-in-law or no brother-in-
law"
Chuck, will you go on?"-hoarsely,
81 mean it,
saw that he did. "You don't look
very happy for man who has cracked
so tremendous a joke"
will you go along?"
mot till l get good and ready,
James. I've told too many lies on your
account already not to make myself
present of this joyful reunion. Has
Miss Annesley any idea of the impos-
ture?"
He did not answer.
"How did you like waiting in Scott
Circle the other night?"
Still no answer. / have half an idea
that he was making ready to leap from
his box. He ran his fingers up and
down the lines. could see that he was
mad through and through but l en-
| joyed the scene nevertheless. He de-
served little roasting on the gridiron.
II am given to understand" l con-
tinued, that you act as butler, be-
sides, and pass soup around the
table"
Silence. Then heard a door close,
face. l turned and saw Miss Annesley
and Mrs. Chadwick coming down the
steps.
why, how do you do, Mr.. 1Iender-
son? Mrs. Chadwick"
81 have already had the pleasure of
meeting this famous young orator."
purred Mrs. Chadwick, giving me her
hand. She was a fashionable, not to
say brilliant, intrigante. l knew her
to have been concerned indirectly with
half a dozen big lobby schemes. She
was rather wealthy. But she was
y seen everywhere and everywhere was
admired. She was as completely at
home abroad as here in Washington
She was widow, perhaps 3S. hand
some and fascinating, a delightful ra-
contour, and had the remarkable rep
utation Of never indulging in scandal.
She was the repository of more secrets
than | should care to discover.
recall one night at a state function
when she sat between the French am
bassador and that willy Chinaman, Ii
Hung Chang. She discoursed on wines
in French with the ambassador and
Immediately turned to the Chinaman
and recited Confucius in the original
Chinese.
Not until recently did I learn that at
one time Karloff had been very at
tentive to her.
"Where are you bound?" asked Miss
! Annesley.
81 am on the way to the war depart
ment."
PLENTY of room; jump in and we
shall drop you there. James, drive to
the war department"
Ordinarily | should have declined,
as ] generally prefer to walk; but in
this instance 1t would be superfiuous
to say that ! was delighted to accept
the invitation. / secretly Rugged my
self as | thought of the driver.
"How is Miss Warburton?" asked
Miss Annesley, as she settled back
among the cushions
Beautiful as ever" replied. smil-
ing happily.
"You must meet Miss Warburton,
| Grace."-speaking to Mrs. Chadwick.
who looked at me with polite inquiry.
lone of the most charming girls in the
land, and as good as she Is beautiful.
Mr.. Henderson is the most fortunate
of young men,"
$50 admit. She was greatly dis
appointed that you did not meet her
younger brother" First shot at the
groom.
7 IL did expect to meet him, but l
understand that he has gone ON a