Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1908-04-09
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M SEAFORD'S IDEAL tx
sKXl BY n. S. CANFIELD JR IM
By II. S. CANFIELD, JR.
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,copyrrht. by DAILY story Pub. Coz

othe. social functions as was possible
in his waking hours.
The girl of the crowd had indeed
become Seafords ideal. She was his
one thought, and what he now felt 20
be the futility of the search was tell
ing on him. He no longer found rest
in sleep or satisfaction in dining wei.
The old quiet games at billiards and
bridge held no charm. To find the
girl of the eyes was all he lived for
now. At times he almost dreaded the
moment of their second meeting, for
he had placed her on a pedestal so
high that he feared he might be
weighed and found sadly wanting
With Waters he had dropped into
the club for the first time in weeks.
when old white-haired Hayden came
to him with a break in his voice and
mist in his eyes. Young Billy Hay
den had never proved OF the best stuff,
and lately he had gone completely 10
the dogs. Set after set had cut him
and he had been dropped from every
club. Times innumerable his father
had settled his obligations and given
him a new start, but now the old man
was driven TO seek aid from others.
II want you 10 find him tonight and
force him TO come to me-" he cried
despairingly TO Seaford. IL reproached
him to-day for his open association
with a woman who can bring nothing
but ruin in her path. and he left the
house in a drunken rage, vowing that
he would prove his affection for her
by marrying her offhand. ] don't want
that woman shall never have a cent
of my money. For Gods sake get him
away from her and bring him TO me.
1t is save him now or never
|, II believe ! can find Billy, Mr.. Hay
den" Seaford answered confidently,
placing his hand affectionately on the
bowed shoulder. AT least can
make a good try. Come on, Waters.
get our things while | phone around
for my car.
Place after place they visited. the
places where myriads of lights
turned night into day. Just past mid
night when revelry was at food tide,
they entered the gaudy cafe where
alike the hotsam and jetsam OF the
great city met and mingled. Here
came those who had only been drawn
half down into the whirlpool of vice
as we'll as those who had long since
shed the last shred Of responsibility
Here it was that all came sooner or
later in their nightly rounds, and Sea
ford and his friend seated themselves
unobtrusively to wait.
Surrounded by sycophants who
drank greedily of his wine, young
HAYDEN came. Seaford was shocked
at the change in the boy. His eyes
were wild and his heavy hair tumbled,
and his face bore every trace Of the
pace that kills. Three women and
two other men came with him. All
were seated so that. Seaford could
see their faces, except the woman
that sat facing the young rake. To
Seaford the rounded shoulders seemed
in some way vaguely familiar. From
Haydens attitude. he guessed that
she was the one of whom the old man
had spoken.
sit tight, old man." Seaford wills
pered to Waters. IF l can catch
young Billy's eye and coax him over
to us. the hardest part will have been
done" AS he finished speaking, the
youth at the other table saw him and
bowed shame-facedly, and his com.
panions turned to see TO whom he had
spoken. Waters was seated facing his
companion and he did not look behind
him.
1t was upon the girl Of the beautiful!
shoulders that Seaford had uncon.
sciously centered his interest, and as
she turned her face full toward him,
an inarticulate cry, cry of sudden
pain. was wrung from his lips. He
leaned far forward, one hand gripping
the table till the knuckles whitened,
the other poised with glass half to his
lips. In CONSERVATION Waters now
turned toward Hayden's table, only TO
look squarely into a pair of wonder
fully beautiful blue eyes, smiling
mockingly out from wine-hushed
face He heard a faint snap and the
tinkling of falling glass. AS he again
faced Seaford, the blood was trickling
from the now empty hand, still poised
in air.
Waters mode OF life was not in.
ducive to quick thinking, but he acted
splendidly. Slipping his wine slowly,
he seemed not 10 notice the misery In
the livid face opposite.
II expect / can manage this affair
better than you can, Arthur" he said
matter-offactly. You know young
Billy never took TO you very strongly
and you may complicate matters by
remaining here. Take your car back
to the club and will corral the young
idiot and follow. Go on now, like a
good chap
With unseeing eyes Seaford dazedly
rose from the table and took his
proffered hat and coat. Without a
word TO his friend he turned and