The Glenwood post., 1907-02-09
Copyright, 1905, by Bobbs-M Merrill Co.,
CHAPTER I.-Continued.

1Ou VIII pdIuDH Hlttt,
polated the old gentleman, coughing a
bit nervously. "If she annoys you"
"Uncle!"-reproachfu
Heaven forfend!" l exclaimed Gag
erly. There is a charm in doing un-
conventional things; and most people
do not realize it, and are stupid
Thank you, sir said the girl, smil-
ing. She was evidently enjoying her
self; so was !, for that matter. DO
trick for me-" she commanded pres
emily.
l smiled weakly. | couldn't have
done a trick with the cards,-not if
my life had depended upon it. But |
rather neatly extricated myself from
the trap.
"I never do any tricks out of bust
ness hours"
Uncle, give the gentleman 1ea
cents; | want to see him do sleight-
of-hand trick"
Her uncle, readily entering into the
spirit of the affair, dived INTO pocket
and produced the piece of silver. 1t
looked as if I were caught.
There! this may make it worth
your while" the girl said, showing the
coin in my direction.
But again l managed to slide under;
/ was not to be caught.
1T is my regret to say,
slightly, that regularity in my busi-
ness is everything. 1t wants half an
hour for my turn to come on. If |
tried a trick out of turn, | might
foozle and lose prestige. And besides,
! depend so much upon the professor
and his Introductory note: Ladies and
gents, permit me to introduce the
world-renowned Signor Fantoccini,
whose marvellous tricks have long puz-
zled all the crowned heads of Eu-
rope"
"Fantoccini," - musingly. That's
Italian for puppet show"
Il know it, but the dime museum
visitors do not. 1t makes a fine i'm
preston"
She laughed and slid the dime back
to her uncle.
I'm afraid you are an impostor,"
she said.
I'm afraid so, too" l confessed,
laughing.
Then the comedy came to an end by
the appearance of our separate orders.
] threw aside the cards and proceeded
| to attack my dinner for | was hungry
From time to time | caught vague
| fragments of conversation between
the girl and her uncle.
It's fool idea," mumbed the old
gentleman; you will get into some
trouble or other
That doesn't matter. 1t will be
like a vacation,-a flash of old Rome,
where l wish l were at this very mo-
ment. l am determined
This is what comes of reading ro-
mantle novels, with a kind of grum-
BILE.
Il admit there never was particle
of romance on your side of the fam
ily," the girl retorted.
Happily. There is peace in the
house where | live"
DO not argue with me-"
Il am not arguing with you;
should be only wasting my time.
| "ii simply you ludl YOU le
about to commit a folly"
Il have made up my mind"
| 'Ah! In that case l have hopes"
| he returned When woman makes
up her mind to do one thing, she gen
orally does another. Why can't you
| put aside this fool idea and go to the
opera with me?"
Il have seen Carmen in Paris,
Rome, London and New York" she
replied.
evidently a travelled young per-
SOM
Carmen is your favorite opera, be-
Sides"
Not tonight, ,"-whimsically.
Go, then; but please recollect that
If anything serious comes of your
folly, l did my best to prevent it. It's
a scatter-brained idea, and no good
will come of it, mark me-
II can take care of myself,'-trucu-
lently.
so I have often been forced to OBJ
serve,"-dryly.
Il wondered what it was all about)
But, uncle dear, l am becoming so
dreadfully bored!"
THAT sounds final" sighed the old
man, helping himself to the haricots
verts. (The girl ate positively nothing)
But it seems odd that you can't go
about your affairs after my own rea-
sonable manner"
Il am only twenty"
The old mans shoulders rose and
fell resignedly.
mo man has an answer for that"
Il promise to tell you everything
that happens; by telegraph"
That's small comfort. Imagine re-
ceiving telegram early in the morn
ing, when mans brain is without in
venton or coherency Of thought I