Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1908-02-07

cent show would be heavenly enter
tainmcnt; without her 'Gotterlammer.
ung" was just noise Others not In
love have thought the same.
He spent his time in wandering aim
leSsly about making and rejecting one
idiotic plan after another. lie was en-
tirely unknown in the city. lonely, mis-
cradle and as far from meeting the OBJ
ject of his affection as though he were
back again in the Lone Star State.
On the morning of the fifth day of
his suspense while crossing upper
Fifth avenue he was nearly run down
by a coffee colored touring car which
recklessly swung around a corner,
skidding as it took the turn. He leap
ed for his life to the sidewalk. turned
and was about to express a candid
opinion of the driver when his sulphur
GUS salutation was exchanged for one
of surprise and pleasure The Offend
ing automobile had come to a stop, and
in its solitary occupant Richard recog-
nized a friend of former days, one
George Henry Fitz-Clarence de Courcy
Howard, earl of Croyland.
This gentleman had spent several
months with Richard on the ranch In
Texas. and, while the two men had
few tastes in common, still friend
ship knit upon the boundless plains is
usually more lasting than one contract
ed in the whirl and rush of city life.
In general appearance the two were
not unlike, both blends, rather tall and
marked with the branding iron of Wig
orous manhood, although Richard was
the younger, the fresher and the more
virile. The earl had been in America
for perhaps a year. seeking by various
schemes to rehabilitate an impoverish-
ed estate and in all his undertakings
meeting with Indifferent success. He
had become the sole owner of salt
ed" mine in Colorado; he had recouped
in Birmingham real estate, only to
drop his pile" again in Texas cattle.
At present his bow was strung with
two widely differing cords-one a Sc
for an oriental government regarding
the surreptitious purchase of subma-
rines and other war material in viola
ton of the neutrality laws; the other
somewhat hackneyed scheme of ex-
changing an earl's cOrOnet for a seven
figured bank account, the figure of the
necessarily accompanying lady being a
matter of little moment.
The meeting between the two was
cordial. not to say affectionate. A
friendly face in New York to Richard
was like water hole in the desert
To the earl he was as welcome as q
If pun note when I'm strapped, by
gad" Lord Croyland suggested a spin
in his motor. and Richard, who had
nothing but leisure on his hands and
was glad Of any break in the dun mo-
notony. accepted with alacrty. The
motor was Il four cylinder Layton,
with Il vicious back fire and hoarse,
wet cough. which would have warned
an eXpert 10 look after his igniter and
relieve the oil vent. The auto car was
rented. ana, besides, machinery was
detail to be looked after in the garage;
therefore the driver hiccoughed up Riv-
erside drive with a charming disregard
for signs and omens.
The Englishman talked, and the Tex
an listened, though he adroitly kept
the conversation in a social vein on
the chance of finding some opening for
an attack on Irvington. In this he was
not disappointed. The earl had Sc
cured letters of Introduction to Jacob
Renwyck but on calling at the Broad
street offices had found the gentleman
absent. He left his letters. together
with a note of regret, and had prompt
ly received cordial invitation to join
a small house party in the home of
the Renwycks on the Hudson. He
had accepted and intended to go there
on the following day. where his valet
would join him, bringing his luggage
from Washington.
Richards heart rose and rejoiced.
Here was possible chance to meet
Miss Renwyck. yet he must proceed
with caution.
"Renwyck." he said thoughtfully.
Seems to me I've heard that name,
Well OFF,"
The earl became so eloquent on that
subject that his companions suspicious
were at once aroused, and more so as
the Englishman's attention was riv-
eted upon an income rather than his
steering gear
ANY daughters in the .family?" ask
ed the Texan carelessly.
lone. Aw-quite passable, l under
stand"
Richard agreed with him. but did
not think It necessary to mention the
fact.
ibid you ever meet the lady?"
"No, old chap"
"Nor any of the family?"
"Never. | am-ah-not so keen, how
ever. on Miss Renwyck 's-er-relatives
don't you know" drawled his lordship
in his most blase and superior manner
The Texans white teeth closed with
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