The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1907-10-24
Alive or Dead?'
The Strange Disappearance of
Gerald RathbOne.
~ GUY THoRNG.
sy guy THoRNG.

|; knew Lord Malvin or were interested
In scientific affairs. Your congratula.
tons are very welcome to me, though
you have said far than I deserve.
I hope we shall meet again soon. l am
generally at home in Regents Park
in the afternoons. 1t would have made
me very happy IL poor Eustace could
have been with us tonight. He was
one Of my most intimate friends, as
you know. And I tell you that he took
a great interest In the experiments
which have now eliminated SO salts
factorily for me. Poor, dear fellow!
1t is a great sorrow to me that he is
not with US. Well, well; suppose
that these things are arranged for us
by a power over which we have no
control, a force beyond our poor pow
er of measuring or understanding.
Good night, good night, Sir Miles. Do
come and see me soon."
He bowed and smiled, with Marjorie
upon his arm, and then turned away
toward the supper room. And he left
Sir Charles Charljewood-who had not
cared twopence for his son during his
lifetime-full Of a pleasing melan-
| choly and regret for the dead man.
Such is the power OF success to
awake dormant emotions in fiinty
hearts!
Such is the aroma and influence
which doth hedge a king" In any
sphere of modern life!
Sir William walked away with the
beautiful girl by his side. He felt the
light touch Of her fingers upon his
arm, and his blood raced and leapt
with Joy. He felt a boy again, a hap
py, conquering boy. Yes, all was in
deed well upon this night Of nights! >
As they entered the supper room
and found a table, Lord Landsend saw
them. He was with Mrs. Pat Argyle,
the society actress, and his cousins,
the young duke and duchess of Perth.
Landsend was a fat young man of
no particular intellect. But he was
kind. popular, and not without a GER
tain personal charm. He could do
things that more respectable and i'm
portant people couldn't do.
AS he saw the hero of the occasion
and the night come in with Marjorie
rackety young fellow.
He jumped up from his chair and be,
gan to clap loudly.
There was a moment of dead ST.
lence. Everybody stopped talking;
the click and clatter of the meal was
still.
Then the little duchess of Perth
she was Miss Mamie @. Oildervan of
New York-took Landsend up. She
began to clap. too. AS she had $780,
900 a year, was young, cheeky, and de-
lightful, she was a leader Of society at
this moment. Every n followed
suit. There was a full-handed thunder
Of applause. Lord Landsend lifted a
glass of champagne high In the air.
Here's to the wizard Of the day."
he shouted, merrily. Here's to the
conquerer of thought"
There was another second Of silence
During 1t the duke of Perth, a boy
fresh from Oxford, caught the infec-
ton of the moment. He raised his
glass also
and to Miss Poole, tool" he said.
People who had spent years in Lon
don society said that they had never
experienced anything like It. A Gene
Of wild excitement began. Staid and
ordinary people forgot convention and
restraint. There was a high and
jocund chorus Of congratulation and
onNlorcA Tho pofrfaA roof - kAa
supper room rang with 1t. Society
had let itself go for once, and there
was a madness Of enthusiasm In the
cir.
Sir William Gouldesbrough stood
there smiling. He entered into the
spirit of the whole thing and bowed
to the ovation, laughing with pleas
ure. radiant with boyish enjoyment.
He felt Marjorie's hand upon his arm
culver with excitement, and he felt
that she was his at last! She stood by
his side, her face a deep crimson, and
II was as though they were a king
and queen returning home to the seat
and city Of their rule.
It was so public an avowal. chance
udu pCCu cO hluuy loIIuuc 50 OppOT-
tune, that Sir William knew that Mar
jorie would never retrace her steps
now. 1t was an announcement of be-
trothal for all the world to see! 1t
was just that
Lady Poole, who was supping with
Sir Michael Manicho, the great mill
ionaire who was the prop and main
stay Of the English church, pressed a
lace handkerchief tC her eyes.
The be%wildering enthusiasm of the
moment cought her. too. She rose
from her seat-only a yard or two
away from the triumphant pair-and
went up to them with an impulsive
gesture.
Heaven bless you. my dears!" she
said, In a broken voice.
Marjorie bowed her head. She
dropped like a lovely flower. Fate, 1t
seemed to her. had taken everything
out Of her hands. She was the crea-
ture of the moment, the toy OF a wild
and collaborating environment.
She gave one quick. shy glance at
Sir William. He read In It the fulfil
ment Of all his hopes.
Then old Lord Malvin came down
the room, ancient. stately, and bland.
my dears." he said. simply, this
must b . very happy night for you"
Sic ~WlLllom turned TO the Girl sud-