The Washington times., 1906-07-01
CHAPTER II--(COntinued).


IN the group about Pickering's table.
A certain girlishness Of height and
outline may have been emphasized by
her tuxtaposition on Pickering's heavy
figure She was in black. with white
showing at neck and wrists-a somber
contrast to the other women OF the
party, who were arrayed with a de-
gree of splendor. She had dropped
her fan. and Pickering stopped 10 pick
IL M In the second that she waited
she turned carelessly ioward me, and
our eyes met for an instant. Very
likely she was Pickeriugs sister, and
tried to reconstruct his family. which
had known in my youth; but 1 could
not place her. AS she walked out be
fore him my eyes followed her-the
erect figure. free and graceful. but
with a charming dignity and poise.
and the gold OF her fair glinting un-
der her black toque.
Her eyes. as she turned them full
upon me. were the saddest. loveliest
eyes had ever seen. and even in that
brilliant icrowded room I felt their
spell They were fixed in nv memory
indellbly-m mournful, dreamy, and visit
ful. In my absorption l forgot Larry.
You're taking unfair advantage
he observed quietly. Friends OF
yours?"
The big chap in the lead is nv
friend Pickering" I answered; and
Larry turned his head slightly.
Yes I supposed you weren't look
ing at the women" lie observed. dryly-
I'm sorry l couldn't see the object OF
your interest. Bah! these mem"
l laughed carelessly enough, but 1
was already summOning from my
memory the grave face of the girl in
bi-ck-her mournful .eyes. the CLINT Of
sold in her hair. Pickering was GER
"a ~ finding the pleasant places IN
Jbl, vale OF tears. and l felt my heart
no, against him. II hurts. this seeing
man you have never liked succeed
ing wha-e you have failed.
Why didn't you present me? I'd
Ike 10 make the acquaintance Of a
few representative Americans may
need them 10 go bail for me-
Pickering didn't see me, for one
thing; and for another he wouldn't go
bail for you or me If he did. He isn't
built thar way"
Larry smiled quizzically.
You needn't explain further. The
sight OF ,he lady has shaken you. She
reminds ne OF Tennyson
The star-like sorrows Of immortal
eyes
and the rest Of II ought to be a
saIemn warning 10 you-many drew
swords and died and calamity fol-
lowed in her rain. Bah: these wom-
en- I thought you were past all that
Il don't know why a man should be
past II al twenty-seven. Besides.
Pickering's friends are strangers 10
me But what became of that Irish
colleen you used to moon over? Her
distinguishing feature as I remember
her photograph. was a short upper lip.
You used 10 force her upon me fire.
quentiy when we were in Africa
"Humph. When 1 got back 10 Dub
lin ! found chat she had married a
brewers son-think Of it,
Put not your faith in a short upper
lip, Her face never inspired any con-
nGence in me
THAT will do. thank you. III have
bit more Of that mayonnaise II the
waiter isn't dead. ] think YOU said
your grandfather died IN June. A
letter advising YOU OF the fact reached
you at Naples in October. Has II oc-
Cured to you that there was quite an
interim there2 What. may l ask. was
the executor doing all that time? You
may be sure he was taking advantage
of the opportunity 20 look for the
red, red gold. 1 suppose you didn't
give him a sound drubbing for not
keeping the cables hot with inquiries
for you7"
He eyed me in that disdain for my
stupidity which / have never suffered
from any other man.
Well. no: 10 tell the truth. l was
thinking Of other things during the in
terview."
Your grandfather should have pro-
vided a guardian for you. lad You
oughtnt t. be trusted with money.
Is that bottle empty2 Well, II THAI
Ferson with the fat neck was your
S-Iend Pickering. I'd have a care OF
what's coming 70 me. I'd be quite sure
that Mr.. Pickering hadn't made away
9TH the old gentleman's Doodle. or
hat IT didn't get lost on the way from
m to me-"
The times running now. and I'm in
the year My grandfather was a
ne old gentleman. and I treated him
&c a dog. I'm going TO do what he
reefs IN that will. no matter what the
size Of the reward may be-
Certainly. that's the eminently
pr">,er thing for you TO do But-but
keci, your wits about YOU If a fellow
WITH that neck can't find money where
mcney has been known TO exist. il
must bs buried petty deep. Your
grandfatf er was triie eccentric. 1
judge. bI1 not a fool by any manner
OF means. che situation appeals to my
Imagination. Jack ] like the idea of
iI-the lost treasure ard the whole
business. LTd, what a salad that is,
Cheer up. colnrade. You're as grim as
an OWL
Whereupon Ne fell to talking OF 1eo-
pie and places we had known in other
lands
We spent she next day together. ana
IN tie evening, ar my hotel. he criti-