Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-10-22
Thursday
At Three
By David Graham Phillips
Copmtgn. bs S. S. Mcclure CO.

He hurried into his clothes and re-
turned to the sitting room. He stood
before Lord Frampton, looking asham-
ed. repentauk. honest. 81 aru going to
make clean breast of 1t, sir, :" he said.
Il could not keep my engagement with
you yesterday. I did moi: wish to lose
the interview Isent perfectly COM
petent man, thinking It made no diff
ference to you, as you did not know
me or care especially who did the in
terview, SO long as it was done prop
serly"
.sBut where is he? Where is he?"
Lord Frampton tapped his cane angri-
" on the floor.
I'll don't know, sir. r.
sThis is out ,geous. 4 person rep
resenting himself to be Fenimore
Dayton, an American Journalist, wrote
me note / don't know what demon
Of i'll luck possessed me. had never
submitted to an interview. am q
very old man and in poor health.
permit no strangers to come near me.
But something perhaps in the note-I
don't know-at any rate. consented to
receive this person at my club. He, or
some one representing himself to be
him, came; and we talked for about
two hours. He was most agreeable.
most intelligent, but he lad been drink
ing-at least feared SOL became
nervous about the Interview. He prom
ised to bring me what he had written
last night. AS he did not, I came here
this morning. 1 wish to recall the In.
terview. forbid the publication of q
word from me. shall hold you re-
sponsible, sir! It is an outrage! 1t is
scandalous! shall protest publicly,
sir!'
az have no excuse to offer, SIR" said
Dayton humbly. Il can only throw
myself on your mercy. But first let
me say that your interview is safe-at
least it has not been published and Will
not be-" Then be went on to confess
the whole truth, holding back nothing
his love for young American, the i'm
possibility of keeping both engage
ments and the in,possiDility of break
ing either. "And suppose. sir" he
said in conclusion, ''that Carpenter
slipped away and took several drinks
before seeing you and then kept on
drinking afterward.' Ia spite of his
habits, sir, there ism a man in the
world more competent to get such an
interview than Henry Carpenter"
.Hasn't he written on sociology" In
quired Lord T'rampton. He had been
interrupting Dayton's narrative with a
descending series Of EXPLANATIONS, be
ginning with Shocking" and Ode
prayed!' and "Insolent!' and ending
with such milder CALCULATIONS as "Most
astonishing!" Extraordinary" "Sur.
prising!'
Eyes," replied Dayton eagerly, enter
ing the opening and hurrying on to re
mind LORD Frampton Of the titles and
subjects Of Carpenters best known es'
says.
Lord FralAoton was somewhat molli,
fed. He said: "It was a disgraceful
trick to play upon an old man, sir, but
I've been young myself. You Ameri-
cans-a wonderful people, sir. but
with a sudden twinkling in his old eyes
will you get the young ladyF
IL think So" said Dayton.
81 don't doubt it If impotence Is as
effective with the ladies as it was When
I was a young fellow Lord Framptor
chuckled.
.Would you mind Il. showed you g
photograph of her. sir?" asked Dayton
shamelessly using his bride to be as
paci1ler of the. old mans wrath. He
brought the photograph, fair haired
clear eyed girl with a resolute face
looking straight out Of the picture al
you.
a fine American type" said Lord
Frampton.
They talked for a few minutes OF
America, then Lord Irampton sudden
~ remembered his wrongs and was an
Try all over again. Il am very old.
he said peevishly. This will shorten
nv life. And where, sir. Is that asso
ciate OF yours, this Carpenter"
Well find him." said Dayton, and