Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1907-10-24
! Alive or Dead?'.
The Strange Disappearance Of
Gerald Rathbone.
~ THoRNR
" guy THoRNE.

L
lions are very welcome to me, though
J you have said far more than deserve.
hope we shall meet again soon. am
generally at home in Regents Park
in the afternoons. 1t would have made
! me very happy If poor. Eustace could
have been with us tonight. He was
one Of my most intimate friends, as
you know. And tell you that he took
great interest In the experiments
which have now eliminated SO salts
factorily for me. Poor, dear fellow!
1t Is great sorrow to me that he is
not with us. Well, well; suppose
that these things are arranged for us
by power over which we have no
control, 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 Charliewood-who had not
cared twopence for his son during his
lifetime-full of pleasing melan-
choly and regret for the dead man.
Such Is the power of success to
awake dormant emotions in finty
hearts!
Such is the aroma and influence
which "doth hedge 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 boy again, hap
Ply, conquering boy. Yes, all was in
deed we'll upon this night Of nights!
AS they entered the supper room
and found 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 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
Poole, an inspiration came to the
rackety young fellow.
He jumped up from his chair and be-
gan to clap loudly.
There was 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 @. OilderNan 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 one followed
suit. There was 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 it the duke of Perth, boy
fresh from Oxford, caught thu infec-
/, tlon 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 scene
Of wild excitement began. Stald and
| ordinary people forgot convention and
restraint. There was high and
jocund chorus OF congratulation and
applause. The painted roof OF the
supper room rang with it. Society
had let itself go for once. and there
was madness of enthusiasm in the
air,
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 ut last! She stood by
his side. her face a deep crimson, and
It was as though they were d d king
ands queen returning home to the seat
and city Of their rule.
It was so public an avowal. chance
| had been. SO kind, fortune so oppor-
tune, that Sir William knew that Mar
! jorie would never retrace her steps
now. It 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
ionalre who was the prop and main
stay of the English church, pressed a
lace handkerchief to her eyes.
The bewildering enthusiasm OF the
4 moment cought her. too. She rose
from her seat-oniy yard or two
/ away from tbs triumphant and
went up to them with an impulsiye
/ gesture.
Heaven bless you, my dears!"' she
said, in 9 broken voice.
Marjorie bowed her head she
dropped like a lovely flower Fate, II
seemed to her, had taken everything
out OF her hands. She was the crea-
tnre Of the moment. the toy Of a wild
and exhiliaratlng environment.
She gave one quick, shy glance al
4 Sir William. He read In It the fulfil
Esment Of all his hopes.
!. = N.fl