Los Angeles herald., 1907-02-17
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to another cigarette from the boA on
the table. and laughed. His laugh ir.
rtated Courtice; anything above a giggle he
considered extremely vulgar
Robbie" he said reproachiully 81 wish You
wouldn't laugh like that its so fcarfully low
down. And really, | can't anything funny
in the state OF affairs. you know. | tell you IN
broke, positively and absolutely, and unless some
thing happens very soon, goodness knows what V
become of me! Itll be a case Of beg or s,arye
or"
"Or MARRIAGE" put in Bidsdaic and he laughed
again
Courtice gazed at his friend in astonishment
and admiration Exactly what | was going TO
say he said. 81 want you to arrange it as
quickly as you can.
ooh! Who's the girl? Is she stuck on you at
all, poor thing?'
''She doesn't know me yet Bobbie But it's
bound to be all right. isn't it? Hang it, there
isn't wisp of reason why any girl should re-
fuse me- Still, as the matters urgent | thought
Id give that Miss Armstrong the chance to
Doris Armstrong? Didn't know she'd got
any money to speak Of
"Ah." sold Courtice, with a smile. 'Ive re-
ceived private information that dear old aunt 5
died and left her quite decent little lot. You
see Bobbe, dear boy, | don't do things rashly
I'm not such fool as you look Nou know the
family don't you? Well all / want you TO do
is to give me an introduction and we'll get
married soon as we can arrange the business
with the clergyman fellow
"She's bit older than YOU are, Courticc.
Why, her sister Sophies my age"
My dear fellow, what does that matter? !
once heard someone say that all intellectual peo-
pie marry women older than themselves. And
a few thousands easily knock year or two of
girls age. Really, | think the match would he
an admirable one She's smartooking girl,
after all: her family isn't too absolutely terrible,
and the few possible objections there might be
to her as wife of a Craven are comfortably hid
den behind heap of bank-notes and things.
When can you introduce us, Bobbie? This
week."
"1'll see what I can do. But shouldn't count
your chickens before the eggs are laid, old man
she might refuse you. Some people slow
at grabbing at good thing; she might daily and
daily till YOU got deuced tired of it you'd
break off the negotiations and box up the affair.
OF course. | know you're very devil when you
want to be, and if you pressed hard she couldn't
resist you. I'm sure. Women are bit queer,
though they don't do the exact thing you want
en- to always" Courtice smiled maiestcally in
contempt of woman's wiles. aud Ridsdale went
on: "Well, anyhow here's luck to you, and
say, you might lend another twenty dollars
for preliminary expenses sort of thing, You're
not too broke for that. are you?"
Courtice admitted that he hadn't. thank God,
sunk quite low, and parted, evoking from the
other much applause and the promise that he'd
bring about the meeting OF Courtice and the
necessary Miss Armstrong as soon as he possibly
could.
day two later he told Courtice that Doris
and Sophie Armstrong were going to a dance
the following Thursday night and that he'd
cured invitations for Courtice and himself 1t
would be excellent opportunity for Courtice to
the first seeds Of love in Doris bosom. More
or less.
On the evening of the dance Ridsdale sought an
early opportunity of getting his charge off his
hands, and having seen Courtice safely delivered
unto Doris himself proceeded to book a goodly
number of dances on Sophie's program, and he
didn't trouble to think of Courice again for
long time.
Meanwhile, that gentleman had been getting
very well. He started to impress Doris right
away. He danced his best he flung compliments
at her (he'd spent the whole morning over an
"Everybodys Guide to Love'O he said smart
things (the afternoon had been devoted to
Book of Wit'') and, in fact almost succeeded
in shining. In himself he felt he was in for
triumph.
When eventually he led her to the consorya-
tory and discovered that the most secluded seat
carefully and wonderfully surrounded by secret
ing palms was unoccupied, he made up his little
bit OF mind to go in for the ''now-ornever" plan
of campaign. "The irons hot enough to strike
now surely he thought
He spoke passionately of love for little while.
though Doris had got earthly idea what he
was driving at, and suddenly he dropped on ono
knee before her, in absolutely the correct ro-
mantle way and, catching her hand fervently
exclaimed. Miss Armstrong Doris"
\ loud cough from the palms behind interrupt
ed him. and piece of paper squarcly folded up,
struck him on the head,
1t quite upset Courtice's thoughts and. ahan.
doning the proposal in confusion, he awkwardv
rose. Picking up the piece Of paper. he opened
it and read, scrbbled across it in pencil
"You silly fool you've got hold OF the wrong
girl"
Courtice was dazcd "You must excuse me-"
he stammered, "but really, Miss Armstrong, I've
.rcceyed some awfully serious news here. Let
..zzuul-...... hnnl. IL, Nv L.,.--... .---.-- -.