The Red Cloud chief., 1907-07-19

The rubber was q long one. Dun
combe played badly and lost his non
ey. Declining to cut In again, he re-
turned to the winter garden. Miss
Fielding and the baron were still to-
gcther. only now they had pushed their
chairs a little farther back and were
apparently engaged In a very conf
Dental conversation. Duncombe turn
ell on his heel and re-entered the bill
lard room.
1t was not until the party broke up
that he found n chance of speaking to
her. He was sensible at once Of a
change In her tanner. She would have
passed him with a little nod, but he
barred the way.
you have treated me shockingly,"
he declared, with n smile which was Il
little forced. You promised to let me
show you the winter garden"
"Did II" she answered. II am so
sorry. l must have forgotten all about
it. The baron has been entertaining
me delightfully."-. Good night
He half stood aside.
II haven't by any chance offended
you. have II" he asked in Il low tone.
She raised her eyebrows.
certainly not" she answered. sex
cuse me, won't you? l want to speak
to Lady Runton before she goes up
| stairs"
Duncombe stood on one side and let
her pass, with a stiff bow. AS he
raised his eyes he saw that Mr.. Field
i,.. -,,. .t,,li,, xritl;n a fnxt- foot nf
him, smoking n cigarette. He might
almost have overheard their conversa-
ton.
Good night. Mr.. Fielding" he said,
holding out his hand. "Are you stay
ing down here for long?"
"For two days, / believe Mr.. Field"
ing answered. 'My daughter makes
our plans"
He spCke very slowly, but without
any accent. Nothing in his appear
ance, except perhaps the fact that he
wore a black evening tie, accorded with
the popular ideas of the travelling
American.
"If YOU have an hour to spare" Dun
combe said, "it would give me Il great
deal of pleasure if you ana your daugh-
ter would walk down and have Il look
over my place. Part of the hall is
EliZabcthan, and | have some relics
which might interest Miss Fielding"
Mr.. Fielding removed the cigarette
from his mouth.
81 thank You very much, sir" he
said. 1--WE are Lord Runton's guests,
and our stay is so short that we could
scarcely make any arrangements to
visit elsewhere. Glad to have had the
pleasure of meeting you all the same"
Duncombe sought out his host.
"Runton, Old chap he said, "do me
a favor. Bring that fellow Fielding
and his daughter round to my place
before they go"
Lord Runton laughed heartily.
as 1t a caseT' he exclaimed. "And
you, u show bachelor, too! Never
mind my chaff, old chap. She's a rip,
ping good looking girl, and money
enough to buy the country"
81 don't mind your chaff," Duncombe
answered. Put will yo1 bring herr"
Lord Runton looked thoughtful.
"How the dickens can r. he asked
1--WE are all shooting at the dukes to
morrow, and l believe they're Off or
Saturday. You're not in earnest by
any chance, are you, GeOrge?'
"Damnably!" he answered.
Lord Runton whistled softly.
"Fielding doesn't shoot" he remark
ed, ''but they're going with us to Beau
manor. Shall drop him a hint? He
might stay n day longer just to make
a few inquiries about you on the spot
you know"
"Get him TO stay n day longer If yor
can" Duncombe answered, but dom
give me away. The old chaps non,
too cordial rs it u.s."
Il must talk to him. Runton said
your ~barOnetcy is n laundering sigh
better than any of these mushroom
peerages. He probably doesn't under
stand that sort Of thing. But wha
about the girl? Old De Rothe has beer
making the running pretty strong, you
know
I'VE all have to take our chance IL
that sort of thing" Duncombe sale
quietly. IL am not afraid of ID,
Rothe."
I'm do what a for YOU" Runtol
promised. Good night"
Andrew, who had left an hour or s.
earlier, was sitting in the librar!
smoking a pipe when his host returned
mot gone to bed yet, thenf" Dun