The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1908-08-08
Continued from last week.

=; There was an instant of dead 81
left-hand neighbor, Agatha Third, rose
to her feet, and, with quivering lips,
started to say something But she had
hardly time to rise before the other
Ave girls sprang to their feet, and
raising their glasses, Agatha Third
with the rest, they cried with one
voice: ITO the Honorable Agatha!"
and although it seemed to me that
Agatha Third had very nearly let the
cat out Of the bag by rising, as if ia
acknowledge the courtesy. yet by the
promptness of the other girls the day
was partially retrieved, and Vincent
and I were still somewhat at loss
as to the identity of our fair and
wealthy hostess.
asked Vincent afterward what he
made of Agatha Thirds behavior.
cit looked to me-" said that young
person, "as If those girls had them,
selves so much in command that they
would never betray the secret they're
guarding, no matter what You did"
But didn't you see Agatha Third
get up before the others did?" I said,
excitedly. "She gave herself away. I
tell you, Wilfred, she's the real hon,
orable, without doubt There can ba
no two ways about it,"
How keen you are!" he said and
I tell you what it is, Arch bald Win,
cent always calls me "Ach bald" with
the 81" left out and the EMPHASIS on
bald" when he's particularly affec,
tionate or sleepy; he was the later
just now-'I'm just as keen about
marrying this heiress as You are; the
only difference is that l insist upon be-
ing In love with her into TIE blrgain.
and you don't. For I'm hard up. fear
fully hard up, you know. a"I the gov
ernor's so awfully good hate to ask
him for anothor's -mO1th's allowance
Just now I'm way b5hind as it is,
and / owe Jack Gordon for that prize
polo pony OF his. l offered him s100
for her the day of the birmingham
games and he sold her to me on the
spot Jacks as hard up as l am
poor fellow. And then, you know, it's
all perfectly fair. If we only had the
time, that's all. It's pretty quick work
to expect a man to find out the heiresS,
learn to love her and teach her to love
him, all in six weeks, and propose on
the last day Of"
But that's just it," 1 interrupted,
you're not expected to find out the
hsireSs first. That's just what old
Fletcher Boyd wanted to prevent
when he made the will
Nevertheless, you yourself mean
TO find out first, don't you, Arch?" was
Vincent's facetious response.
1 was disguised and made no an
swer.
"Of course" he went on, II wouldn't
propose to any girl 1 didn't love, but
I'd like the chance to learn to love
this particular lady, the Honorable
Agatha. l feel that there would be no
trouble about her learning to love mel"
Vincent has few really serious faults,
but don't attempt to deny that he il
oonceited.
The trouble IS" he said, they're
al so attractive I could love one as
well as another. wish, though, 1
could just naturally fall in love with
enc of them, and I'd propose to her on
the last day and take my chances.
Who knows? I'm sometimes lucky.
might win the prize!"
$50 you might" said, ''but as 1t is,
we haven't even discovered the heir
egs as yet
"And l can't fall in love with any
Of EN-" finished Vincent, because
I'm madly in love with the whole six,
and there you are!" and he shook his
head hopelessly. Come. let's to bed"
he added.
mot just yet, Freddy" 1 said.
never call him that. as 1 have before
stated, but his hair was all rumpled
up and his face flushed and I felt
warm toward him because he was so
dense Surely with a rival as unob-
s~cvtnZ a - e." tAOazhk 81 an aoa