The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1907-08-08
Alive or Dead?'
The Strange Disappearance of
Gerald RathbOne.
~ GUY THoaNG.
CHAPTER vi. (continued.)
BY U THoRNG.


was served.
"You needn't wait, William" Charlie
wood said, as they sal down TO the ia
BILE. Just put the soup on and III ring
when we're ready"
$50 good Of you to ask me-" Rath-
bone said. Il should have gone to the
Oxford and Cambridge club, had a
beefsteak, looked at the evening pa
pers, and then returned to my cham
bers to write letters. Rather a dismal
proceeding on a night like this!"
Hadn't you anyl-ng on tonight,
ihen?" Charliewood asked, c~arelessly.
Not a single thing" Rathbone an
Bwered. 1--WE been cutting all my en-
gagements during The last week or
two. telling people i was going out OF
town. I've got a special reason Tor
working very hard just now"
Charliewood started. and . slight
CLEAN came into his eyes.
Good idea, that" he said; telling
people you're going out Of town when
you want to be quiet for q week or
twol"
TT is," Rathbone replied. AT most
Of the houses / m In the habit of going
10 just now every one thinks I'm away.
I've been living the life of a recluse 30
far as society goes"
Charliewood slightly lifted q glass
Of Pol Roger.
Here's success to the work, my
dear boy" he said. jovialiy. "And I
congratulate myself on the odd acci-
dent which brought us together. And,
OF course, I don't know you very well,
Rathbone, and / am sure I should hate
10 be impertinent in any way; but still,
% you know, / &c about everywhere,
and one can't help hearing things.
And, besides, I'm in a special position
In regard to a certain matter, too
Here's my best wish for your happi
ness in the future, In another way!"
He looked straight into the young
mans eyes as he said this. and as e
did so Rathbone, whose glass was lift
ed In response, began to color, until
his whole face beca-le crimson.
II haven't offended your? Charlie
WOOu Sdiu, qulchiy.
-"Oh-er-not a BIT. OF course" Rath.
bone returned, with manifest uneasi-
ness. But l didn't know that any
thing had got about. l didn't know
that you knew-oh, confound it," he
concluded, 81 don't want to talk about
my W affairs; I-hang 1t all, Charlie
wood, tell me straight out what you
mean"
81 repeat" Charliewood answered,
"that l haven't known you very long,
and therefore I am very chary OF in
any way infringing the natural
reticence there should be between men
in our positio Still, you know who I
am; everybody knows all about me,
and I should like you to believe that I
am really a friend"
As he said this, though his face vas
full OF f.'ankness and kindness, once
more Charliewood felt that sick loath-
ing OF himself that he had experienced
Just before his guest arrived. There
was a throbbing at his temples, his
throat felt as IL 1t were packed with
war -four; he hurrfedly gulped down
some champagne and went on. "Ev-
erybody knows by this time" he said
in a quiet voice, 'that-that-well, old
chap, that there has Deen a sort of set
to-partners and a change in certain
quarters"
At that moment William appeared
with the fish, Charliewood having
..r Co. hir, ~ tha puvrholnyica mo
ment, knowing that the little inter
lude would give his guest time to col
lect his thoughts.
When the man had once left the
room, Rathbone, who had been biting
his lips in perplexity and drumming
upon the table with his fingers, bent
toward his host.
Il see you know all about IT," he
said; land, upon my word, il you'd let
me. | should like to talk things over
with you from one point of view"
MY dear Rathbone," Charliewood
replied, say nothing whatever to me
unless you like, but understand that
what you did say would be said In alb
solute confidence, and that, II the ex-
perience Of a mar oder in social life
and accustomed to all Its vagaries
could help you. I would give II to you
with all my heart"
Nov I call that very good OF you.
Charliewood," the young man answer
cd. "In tell you straight out, what
you probably already know, and I'll
ask you for q hint as to what / ought
to do. Miss Poole"-he mentioned the
name with obvious reluctance-"has
found that sho made an-er-well, q
sort OF mistake in her affections. I
have no doubt it's all " London that
she's written to Cir William Gouldes-
brough, telling him So"
Throwing him over. In fact" Char
1ewood said.
III you like to put II So" the other
answered; 'and. Of course, that IL Just
what It amounts to-"
well. then7" Charliswood said.
Il feel In : sort OF way that rye
done an awfully caddish thing" Rath-
D0ns went on. "Fortunatsly. I am not
In 0ouldssbroush's set. / don't know
him At all. At the same time It's aw.
1u,ly bad form to make love to . girl
Who's engaged to any u else. And
ENTHUSIASTICALLY ID aust what
sssm e have been doing scf . veEy