The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-02-14

Il guess we exiles shall have 10 char /
ter q steamer" laughed Manning. II /
you are done, Miss Howard, shall we
goY"
She left the table with relief. Some /
how Roper's attitude of complacent
satisfaction was positively hateful.
She had always liked him before.
Down In her heart Of hearts she had
vacillated between the two men ever
since her coming out ball. Her prefer
ence had been for Roper until now, but
at present Toms mercurial tempera-
ment suited her mood better, and she
was glad that she had met him first.
Since Frank has refused the re
quest, may I take It up?" he asked as
they parted at the hotel. i may be
able 10 sandbag some unwary tour
list and take his stateroom from him"
IF you only couldr' she cried i'm
pulsively. Father is in poor health,
and am so anxious to get 10 him"
Can you sail at once?' he asked
I'D like to go this minute" she cried
Consider it done" he said, with
mock dramatics. Il win work the
sandbag persuasion this very day"
Nladge went upstairs oddly comfort
ed by the assurance, though her sense
told her that Manning could not sue
coed where Roper with his influence
had failed
1t was with misgiving that she open
ed the note he sent her that evening,
but a delighted cry escaped her when
a ticket fell out She let it futter to
the floor when she read the letter. 1t
ran:
Dear Miss Howard-I am called out Of
/ town and am mailing these to you You
can fix 1t up when / see you IN New
/ York. Hope you will have a pleasant
\ passage. with regards TO your aunt
and yourself, THE SANDBAGGER-
Roper called that evening to explain
that he had heard of a berth that she
might obtain four weeks later and
seemed much relieved to find that she
had been provided for.
Il should have offered you my room, 7"
he said, had it not been that it was
imperative that I should be in town
next week. We shall be fellow pas
sengers."
Madge could not arouse great enthu-
siasm over this fact A few weeks be-
fore she would have been glad. But
since the luncheon she had changed. 1t
was unreasonable TO expect him to
give up his stateroom. yet the compla-
cent way in which he had dismissed
that possibility had irritated her.
1t was not as pleasant a trip as Ro-
per anticipated Madge was pleasant,
but there was no chance to get a chat
with her, and they were nearing home
before the opportunity came to put his
fate to the test.
He had regarded her acceptance as q
matter of course, and her prompt and
emphatic negative put him out of sorts
with himself. He did not come near
her again until they lay off quarantine
and the steerage passengers were be
ing transferred to the Ellis island boat
The cabin passengers We're hanging
over the rail watching the odd charac
tiers as they trooped on board the little
steamer Roper leaned on the rail be
side Madge.
Suddenly he grasped her arm ant
pointed to the gangway. Isn't thai
the richest joker" he chuckled. There
goes Manning. He probably got strap
ped and came over steerage because i
was the best he could afford. This /.
rich"
In a fash Madge solved the situation
Il am afraid" she said, that we ar,
occupying Mr.. Manning's stateroom
That is probably his reason for coming
third class. He knew how anxious
was to get home, and that is the wa!
he solved the problem. Had I krowl
1 should never have consented"
Roper's mirth changed to a sick1.
} smile. II congratulate-AIr. Manning,
he said as he turned away.
t That evening Manning presente,
himself at the Towards in response t
: Madge's note. Il was going to arriv
I officially in q couple of weeks from
? now" he explained sheepishly. st di
not want to see you two left alone +
London, and had to get back on bi
a deal I was working. I'm sorry yo
b, saw me, though"
I'm not" she said decidedly. "
! used to think you were just a societ
: butterfly, and I'm glad to know differ
: emily"
ooh, work." he said lightly. "Onl
1 don't bring my business to 5 o'cloc
teas, and I rather like the teas-that'
= all"
: "Just-the teasT asked Madge NEAR
0 ingly.
do you fnean''- he stammered.
YES" said Madge. "Since you ar
, afraid to appear to take advantage c
e your action I suppose I shall have I
I force you to propose"
e at won't take much forcing"
k laughed. "Will you?"
9 Gladly" said Madge
q A Profitable Inheritance.
r The boatman, stolidly bending to b
a oars, looked up quickly and said, 'Iilu