The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-03-17
The Sunday Times. Dispatch.

u,
sounded irregularly. on the marble outer
hall. Then the front door slammed,
and she was gone
The final scene between Conover and
his sons wife had endured less than
twenty seconds. 1t was over, and she
had departed before Gerald realized
what had happened. Then, with cry,
nc was on his feet and hurrying to
the door. But his father stood In front
OF It,
III you're not cured now" said Con-
over, you never Will be. Go back and
ring for your mothers maid
The boys mouth was open for o
wrathful retort. But embcrs Of tho
blaze that had transformed Caleb's face
as he had dismissed tho chorus girl
still nickered there. and under their
scorching heat Gerald conover SUNK
back, beaten but still muttering de-
hant incoherences under his breath.
MRS. Conoyer, under Anice's gentle
mlntstration, was coming to her senses.
She opened her eyes with q gasp OF
fear. then sat up and looked nppre-
henslvely around
she is gone, dear whispered Anice.
divining her meaning, and Gerald
didn't mean what he snid. He was
excited, that was all. he's nll right
again now. Shall help you upstnirs2"
But Mrs. Conovcr insisted on being
assisted to the nearby sofa, from which
refuge she feebly waved away her
maid and vetoed Anice's further offices.
II am all right" she pleaded under
her breath. Let me stay here. Caleb
hates to have me give way to these
heart attacks. I'll stay till he has gone
to his study. Then"
"Ali right 1galn. old lady?" asked
Caleb. walking across to the sofa.
Like mo to send for the doctor?"
mo. Yes. I'm quite we'll again now"
stammercd his wife. THANK you for
asking"
1t was not wholly Indifference which
had kept Conover from the invalid's
side. So great Rad been the unvonted
fury that mastered him. he had dared
not speak to either OF the women un-
til he was able to some extent to curb
It His usually iron nerves were still
a-quivcr. and his voice was unlike Its
customary self.
Until further notice." he announced
dryly. looking from one to the other,
these pleasant home hours are sus-
pended. BY request. They're too ex-
citing for quiet man like me.
hope you'll all try to smother any dis
appointment you feel. And now" turn.
ing to the butler who had come In
answer to his ring. "l'll see IL I can't
get the taste OF this farewell perform
ance OF the pleasant hour series out OF
my mouth before / start my evenings
work Gaines. order Dunderberg
brought around in ten minutes"
where are you going?" asked MIRA.
Conover. who had imperfectly caught
the order.
ITO got into my riding clothcs,'' an.
swered her husband from the door.
way.
"But you spoke about Dunderherg.
You're surely not going to ride Dun-
derberg when I'm 80 shaken up. shall
worry So"
why? You amt riding him.
"But why not ride Sultan7 He's 80
gentle and quiet and"
Lefty! do look as II was on n
still hunt for something gentle and
quiet? want something thatll give
me fight. Something that'll tire me
out and take my mind OF black, Hobby
pompadours and stocking-leg gloves!
Jerry. You come along with me. I want
talk with you"
ooh, IL only that dreadful horse
would die!" sighed Mrs. Conovcr. II
mover have an instants peace while
you're riding him"
"Rot" growied Caleb, grinning re-
assurance at tho pathetic little figure
on tho sofa. .Thcre never yet was a
horse couldn't manage or that could
harm me. Come along, jerry"
He stamped upstairs to his dressing
room followed by the reluctant. still
muttering Gerald.
This was by no means the first time
Mrs. Conover had plucked up courage
to entreat her lord not to ride his
favorite horse. Dunderberg. the most
vicious, tricky brute in all that horse
breeding State. And never yet had the
Rallroader deigned to heed her re-
quest In fact, such opposition rather
pleased him than otherwise. lnasmuch
as 1t enhanced, to all listeners. his
own equestrian prowess
Caleb Conover was VIGOROUSLY bad
rider. Horsemanship must be learned
before the age OF twenty or never at
all. And Conover was we'll past forty
before he threw leg over saddle. But
he loved the exercise, and took special
joy In buying and mastering the most
unmanageable horses he could find.
How so wretched horseman could
avert bad falls or even death wiss