Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1906-07-26
CHAPTER XIV.
AN ORDEAL OR TWO.

AN ORDEAL OR TWO.
Mr.. Robert VOWS that he will never
forgive me for the ten minutes agony
which | 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 a fashionable apartment house
that | met him. He was seated on
his box, the whip at the proper angle
1t was the first time | had seen him
since the day of the episode at the
police-station. He was growing thin.
He did not see me, and he did not
even notice me till l stopped and the
sounds of my heels on the walk ceased.
Arms akimbo. l surveyed him.
''Well?' | began. l admit that the
smile l offered him was a deal like
that which a cat offers a cornered
mouse
He turned his head. I shall not re-
peat the word he muttered. 1t was
to it in the Sabbath-s schools, always in
hushed breath, however, as though to
full-voice it would only fan the flames
still higher.
What have you to say for your
self?" l went on.
Nothing for myself but for you,
move on and let me alone, or when l
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."
l saw that he did. "You don't look
very happy for man who has cracked
so tremendous joke"
"Will you go along?"
"Not till | get good and ready
James. I've told too many lies on your
account already not to make myself a
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?"
Otili iio dis HCl nave Hall du luSd
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.
Il am given to understand" l con-
tinued, "that you act as butler, be-
sides, and pass soup around the
table"
Silence. Then l heard door close,
and saw look of despair grow on his
face. l turned and saw Miss Annesley
and Mrs. Chadwick coming down the
steps.
"Why, how do>you do, Mr.. Hender-
son? Mrs Chadwick"
II have already had the pleasure of
meeting this famous young orator" "
purred Mrs. Chadwick, giving me her
hand. She was fashionable, not to
say brilliant, intrigante. | knew her
to have been concerned indirectly with
half dozen big lobby schemes. She
was rather wealthy. But she was
seen everywhere and everywhere was
admired She was as completely at
home abroad as here in Washington.
She was widow, perhaps SO, hand
| some and fascinating, a delightful ra-
contour, and had the remarkable rep
utation of never induiging in scandal.
She was the repository of more secrets
than | should care to discover.
recall one night at 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 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 it would be superfluous