The sun., 1908-08-09
III

II is hard to zee Gentleman George Ring
gold at his wust. since at his bist 90 nanny
allowances mast be med for him. But
vanity is 30 large part OF him that when
It is wounded he smarts all over.
very pretty he growled, 'but let me
tell you, Mr.. Steuben. that you will lose my
countenance. with all that implies, unless
you have this swindler ard vagrant pun
ished to the extint Of the law.'
'Of coorse feel bound by your lard
ships Wishes" faltered the old banker.
Elm amy evints this impostor must clear
out and take his ridiculous pertinshuns
with him. But why run the risk Of pub
licity? You know what ] mean.'
If he doesn't know father. I will tell
him. interrupted Alike. -The fact ID.
Count Frederick Won Steuben. that this
gentleman's pietnshuns to my hand. what
ever his no me and stashun. cannot be ridicu-
lous We are all in the same bost-father.
Charlie, over In Europe. and myself. plain
Alice Stubbs. Stubbs is Our name and we
came out Of the muck
sNot plain Alics; but divine Alice, ador-
able Alice, with the bravest, truest hearth
declared Won Steinmetz passunately.
And with q groan the old banker COL
lapsed.
IF you're all in boat together largo
wint on pashunately, thin, by the Lard
Harry, you've got to pay high for the privi-
lege Of floating down my family stream.
You med me an offer, old gentleman. Q
short time since which didn't care TO
consider. In view Of the oornp'ny you
and yours choose to keep win consider Il
now. and leave you to your own Devices
sIfeel am de Troy said Won Steinmetz.
and in way he looked as IL he had como
from there. 'I'n just step into the nsxt
room until you come to tarms.'
-If you wudn't take him. said large.
crossing over to Alike. and speaking low
with scarnful glanot after Won Stein
metz's retresting farm; III you wudnt
take him. dear. ! wudnt take anything
exdpt you.' ..
For a moment the girl hesitated; as well
the adniterashun Of t'ousands Of surfs, and
sech gallant caviller as large be her side.
Thin seen the warm true blood rush with
it's message Of fidelity from her heart to her
brain.
pered
large tunned his back and wint at old
Steuben hard So much down, and q good
lot, too; the balance, and oh, what weight
1t had, to be paid on the deiiveranoe from
him OF letters Of adopshun into the direct
Steuben line.
1T must include the Won stelnmetses too,
papa insisted Alike. as disdainful now
as she had been dub'us but Q moment BE-
fore.
And so they bickersd back and fort,
until the old banker reached for his check
bool>and dashed OF an order for the pre-
liminary amount.
M checks ok JfFfe the cold s..'O sOsds
and gittin ketched.
sDo YOU t'ink don't know my bis large
whispered back, scarnful. He set down OF
the desk and indorsed the check. aFred-
srick Won Steuben.' in fine German script.
sHere, old man. he continnered. Just get
me the stun on that in hundrids.
Old Steuben took the check and started
for the door to the banking room. At the
same instinct the door to the little reoepehun
room opened and Won Steinmetz retained. =.
In the excitemint OF the negotiashun had
forgotten all about him. but now with .
sart Of suboonscious dizziness reelized that
been he at the telephone In there, What
Job bad the little rat been putting up aginst
PRAY hurry along. Mr.. Steuben,' ven-
tered TaSnly. Nc nave AL tnlpOfUaut on-
eagemint now with our Council-Oiners In
this city
Won Steinmetz snatched the check from the
bankers hand.
you thief Do you dans' cried large
with rush.
But little Won Steinmetz, skipping behind
a big leather chair, levelled a bulldog over
Il like a sharpshooter.
sSit DOWN. he snapped. and large skunk
into bis chair. sAnd yol, too" And 60
cepted the insult with like disgrace. sNow
thin you two might as well understand
that am going to hold this check pending
q certain call that is about TO be made.
after II is over, and in no wise during
It's pindency shall eeder Of you be i'm
peached, II you wish the check back you
shall have 1t. You needn't be alarmed
about your engagement. eeder. for the
uggency of It viii be violated as you will
see.
aDon't trimble, Alike, sweetheart; theee
men are too worldly wise to resist There.
i win put this little oorrector Of public
morals back into my pocket
Tho door into the banking room opened,
A boy In livery appeared and announced:
sHis Excellency the Council Ginerall'
"