Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1908-07-24

adequate apology" CIaihnrno nod
ded and threw away his cigar that ht
might give his whole attention to what
Armitage might have to say.
"a man does not like to have his sis
ter forming the acquaintance of per
sons who are not properly vouched for
Except for Singleton you know moth
ing of me, and Singleton knows very
little of me indeed"
Claiborne nodded. He felt the color
creeping into his cheeks consciously as
Armitage touched upon this matter.
Il speak to you as | do because it is
your right to know who and what
am, for am not on the King Edward
by accident, but by intention, and I am
going to Washington because your sis
ter lives there"
Claiborne smiled I'm spite of himself.
But, my dear sir, this is most ex-
traordinary! l don't know that l care
to hear any more. BY listening J
seem to be encouraging you to follow
US. It's altogether too unusual. It's
almost preposterOus."
And Dick Claiborne frowned severe;
ly, but Armitage still met his eyes
gravely.
ITS only decent for n man to give
his references when it's natural for
them to be required. was educated
at Trinity college, Toronto 1 spent a
year at the Harvard law school. And
l am not a beggar utterly. l own "A
ranch in Montana that actually pays
and thousand acres of the best wheat
land in Nebraska. At the Bronx Loan
and Trust company in New York
have securities to a considerable
amount-I am perfectly willing that
any one who is at all interested should
inquire of the trust company officers
as to my standing with them. If ]
were asked to state my occupation,
should have to say that ! am a cattle
herder-what you call a cowboy.
can make my living in the practice OF
the business almost anywhere from
New Mexico north to the Canadian
line. l latter myself that am pretty
good at it," and John Armitage smiled
and took a cigarette from box on the
table and lighted it.
Dick Claiborne was greatly interested
in what Armitage had said, and he
struggled between an inclination to en-
courage further confidence and feel
ing that he should, for Shirley's sake.
make it clear to this young stranger
that it was of no consequence to any
member of the Claiborne family who
he was or what might be the extent OF
his lands or the unimpeachable char
acter Of his investments. But it was
not so easy to turn aside a fellow who
was so big Of frame and apparently SO
sane and so steady Of purpose as this
Armitage. And there was, too, the
further consideration that while Ar
mitage was volunteering gratuitOus in
formation and assuming an interest in
his affairs by the ClaibOrnes that was
wholly unjustifed, there was also the
other side of the matter: that his eX
plantations proceeded from motives OF
delicacy that were praiseworthy. Dick
was puzzled and piqued besides to find
that his resources as a big protecting
brother were so soon exhausted. Whal
Armitage was asking was the righl
to seek his sister Shirley's hand in
marriage, and the thing was absurd
Moreover, who was John Armitage?
The question startled Claiborne into
a realization of the fact that Armitagc
had volunteered considerable informa
ton without at all answering This oueS-
ton. Dick Claiborne was a human
being and curious.
Pardon me-" he asked, 'but are you
an Englishman?'
- .s-vs2 ysa,weu-.