Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1906-12-01
CHAPTER viI.-continued.
blackjack GOES INTO TRAIN
ING

shall never forget the smallest
detail OF that dinner-it was purely
family" affair. only the Ellerslys and
!. | can feel now the oppressive at
mosphere, the look as of impending |
sacrilege upon the faces OF the ola
servants; can see Mrs. Ellersly try
ing to condescend to- be gracious,
and treating me as If | were some sort |
OF museum freak or menagerie exhibit
] can see Anita. She was like statue
of snow; she spoke not word; II she
lifted her eyes, failed to note II. Ana
when was leaving-I with my collar
wilted from the fierce, nervous strain
! had been enduring-Mrs. Ellersly, In
that voice of hers into which | don't
believe any shade OF real human
emotion ever, penetrated, said you
must come to see us, Mr.. Blackjack.
We are always at home after five"
looked at Miss Ellersly. She was
white to the lips now, and the span
giles on her white dress seemed bits
of ice glittering there. She said moth
ing; but I knew she felt my look, and
that it froge the ice the more closely
in around her heart. Thank you" l
Inuttered.
stumbled in the hall; l almost fell
down the bread steps. / stopped at
the first bar and took three drinks In
auick succession. | went on down
the avenue, breathing like an exhaust
ed swimmer IN give her up l
cried aloud. so upset was |.
I am man OF impulse; but | have
trained myself not to be creature OF
impulse, at least not in matters OF i'm
portance. Without that patient and
painful schooling, shouldn't have got
where | now am; probably I'd still be
4 backing boots. or sheet-writing Tor
some bookmaker, or clerking 1t Tor
some broker Before | got my rooms,
the night air and my habit OF the
sober second thought" had cooled me
back to nationality.
II want her. | need her" | was say
ing to myself. II am worthier or her
than are those mincing manikins she
has been bred to regard as men. she
is for me-she belongs to me. III
abandon her to no Sinking puppet
who'd wear her as donkey would
diamond. Why should l do myself
and her an injury simply because she
has been too badly brought up to
know her own INTEREST,"?
When this was clear to me sent
for my trainer. He was one OF those
snare, why Englishmen, with skin ike
tanned and painted hide-brcwn ex-
cept where the bones seem about 10
push their sharp angles through, anu
there a frosty. winter apple red. lie
dressed like a Deadwood gambler, ne
talked like stable boy; but for all
that. you couldn't fail to see he was
"a gentleman born and bred Yes, he
was a gentleman, though he mixed
profanity into his ordinary How o,
conversation more literally than did
when in rage.
I stood UP before him. threw my
coat back, thrust my thumbs into my
trousers pockets and slowly turned
about like a ready-made tailor's dunn
my. Monsoon" said /. what do yot
think of me?"
He looked me over as IL were 6
horse he was about TO buy. Sound
I'd say" was his verdict. Coco
wind-uncommon good wind. goer
and a slayer Not lump. Not hal
out of place" He laughed. Actor
a bit high perhaps--for the track. Blu
a grand reach"
IL know all that" said |. You miss
my point Suppose you wanted t.
enter me for-say, the Society Sweep
stakes-what then?"
"Um-um." he muttered reflectively
That's different"
Don't I look-sort of-new-as
the varnish vas still sticky and Nigh
come off on the ladies' dresses and o.
the fine furniture?"
"Oh-that!" said he obviously. Blu
all those kinds of things are matter
of taste"
"Out with it," | commanded. Don
he afraid. I'm. not one OF those dam
fools that asXfor criticism when the
want only hattery, as you ought I
know by this time. I'm aware or m
good points, know how good they ar
better than anybody else in the worlt
And I suspect my weak points-a
ways did. I'VE got on chiefly becaus
made people tell me to my face whs
they'd rather have grinned over b.
bind my back.
What's your gamer" asked Monsol
Pm In the dark
I'll tell you. Monson. hired yo
10 train horses. Now l want to hill
YOU to train me. too. AS It's doub
work. it's double pay"
Say on" said he, "ani say
slow"
II want TO marry" | explained.
want to inspect all the offerings befol
! decide. You are to train me SO TIT
I can go among the herds thatd ST
on from me If wasn't on to their II
- tie ways"
He looked suspiciously at me, dout
less thinking this some new deyeio
ment Of american humor."
Il mean It" ! assured him. "E'
going to train, and train hard. L