Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-09

girl. dark hair and brown eyes. and-and
a way with her, $50.
II guess So Very likely. l haven't
seen her"
Van seemed to be thinking III go
over tomorrow he says.
Then he commenced to whoop for more
mackerel and twas time for me to load
up the platter. thought I'd cooked sup
per enough for six men. but when the
Twins got through / had to fry another
ration for me and Lord James. Eat. 1
never see such sharks in my life.
When they'd finished everything on the
table except the knives and forks and
the dishes. the Heavenlies went outside
to smoke cigars and promenade UP and
down the beach. His lordship and 1 set
down to have a bite ourselves.
Say" says !. "that Page girl Is good
locker. amt she?'
He was Mortified. same as he always
was when YOU mentioned the New York
big bugs without getting up and bowling.
Miss Page" says he. lis member of
one of our first families
Want to know says I. First in
what?''
First in everything" he says Her
father was one of our oldest residents"
"So?" says 1. "Oldest inhabitants, hey?
1 suppose he could, remember way back
afore the town hall was built. and about
the hard winter of '3S, and how his mas
cousin used to do chores for, George
Washington
knew pretty we'll what he meant. but.
you see, ! liked to stir him UP. He was
such an innocent critter: always swal-
lowed hook. line and sinker. 1t done rue
good to see him stare at me after l said
things like this.
All he said now, though, was .''Or-
rors.''
How about your boss. this Van
Brunt?" says. l. He's another first
rater. hey?'' ,
The Van Brunts was even more first
families than the Pages. so the valet
York was built. Twas their ancestors
that got up the first barn-raising, or
words to that effect.
And Hartley" says L.
That was different. The Hartleys was
another breed of cats. Martins dad was
born in Chicago or somewheres outside
of New York. He'd repented OF it, of
course and tried to live it down. but he
never had been quite the big apples on
the top layer. like the Van Brunts. He
was dead now, old man Hartley was;
been dead three or four years.
How about MAJ says I.
She was dead. too: died u year or more
ago. Martin was an orphan.
And then / carlated it was about time
to heave out the question that I'd been
leading up to all along.
"What made the Page girl cut loose
from him and take up with Van?" says.
She don't look like the kind that would
be too hard on a chap just because his
dad made the mistake of being born. out
of township limits
Lord James fdgeted some over that.
First he said he didn't know.
Well says l. lets guess then.
ought to have picked it up by this time
You guess first"
He didn't want to guess. but kept at
him. throwing out all sorts of foolish
maybes and perhapses. Finally he got
tired Of saying No
''Oh. don't know" says he. Il card
as Ow twas because e was too mer-
cenary. f was an awful chap in the
street after is old man died. e was
there night and day. 'Ardly came ONE
at an
"Humph.' says l.. I'D never sus-
ing well at his job?''
Lord James said 1t want that. Said
calling him a born financier'' ard all
sorts Of names.
1907" says I. Then I don't see that
Miss Page had any complaints. Taint
usual for young woman to kick because
her steady company Is making too much
money. There's something else. Out
with it. III keep my mouth shut"
SO then he told me litt,e-much as he
knew. l guess likely. Seems that he was
acquainted with the feller they call the
was-over at the Page girls house. And
this butler was sweet on the maid
the young woman valet who took care of
Agnes buds and spare rigging. And one
night this maid happened to be In the
conservatory" 1 presumed likely
was the heightened name for the preserve
clOeet-and Miss Page and Hartley was
In the setting room. And Agnes was lay
ing into Martin for staying down town
and neglecting her.
The maid said she could hear only part
Of the talk, but twas more than average
sharp and vinegarry.t Agnes told Martin
he was getting more mercenary every
day he lived. That all he thought Of
was the Office and making monay. She