The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1909-10-07


with the care Of half a dozen fortunes
on my hands. Now. what's the mat
ter with me? | begin to tremble when
i look that sober old steward in the
face. If be had handed ME letter
tonight | should have had to lean
against the wall for support. This
will never do OF all. | have not seen
her face; | do not know her name.
For all | know she may be this Leddy
Lightfinger. No: that would be impos-
sible. Leddy Lightfnger would have
made an appointment. What possesses
me TO dwell in this realm of fancy,
which is less tangible than a cloud of
smoker He smoked thoughtfully.
''Or am | romantic? To create romance
out of nothing-l used to do that when
was boy. But I'm hoy no longer.
Or am l boy thirty-three years old ?
She does not answer my letter. Sensi-
BILE woman. Well. we'll" reaching for
the London Illustrated News. LETS see
what the society folks have been do
ing"
He dropped the paper. There was
really nothing new in the world II
Giovanni returned to Italy in the
spring he was of mind to go with
him. He looked up and was glad to
see Merrihew in the doorway.
Been looking for you. Jack. Want
your company tonight. Kitty KILL
grew is giving little bite to eat after
the performance and has asked me to
bring you along VIII you Gomez"
with pleasure. Dan. Are you din
ing with any one tonight" Hillard
was lonesome.
Yes A little bridge till H."
You're hopeless. / can see you in
limbo. matching coffin plates with
Charon. I'll hunt you up at H."
Heard the taIk?''
about what?"
.TWhy. some one in the club has been
using the agony column. The j. H.
are being guyed numerically. and
You'll come in for it presently. It's
case of wine on the man who did it
Hillard felt of his collar and drew
down his cuffs. Probably some joke"
be ventured tentatively.
III
to such tommyrot and tack the name
of his club to it must be an ass"
mo doubt abont that Odd that this
is the first time | have heard about 1t. :"
But sileutly Hillard was swearing at
his folly.
81 may depend upon you tonight.
them" said Merrihew.
81 shall be pleased TO meet Miss XII
ligrew," which was a white one. Hill
lard would have paid curt to laun-
dress rather than offended Merrihew.
And promptly at II he went up to
the card room and dragged Merrihew
away. Merrihew gave up his chair
reluctantly. He was winning. The
amateur gambler never wants to stop.
On the way TO the Killigrew apart
ment Merrihew's moods varied. At
one moment he was on the heights. at
the next in the depths. He simply
could not live without Kitty. Per-
haps If this trip abroad turned out
badly she might change her mind.
Seven thousand could be made to mus
ter. Twice Hillard came very near
making his friend a conhdant OF his
own affair. but be realized that. while
Merrihew was 10 be trusted, In all
things. it was not yet time.
He found a pleasing and diverting
company. There was Mere Killigrew.
a quaint little old lady who deplored
her daughters occupation. but admit
ted that without her success heaven
only knew how they would have got
along. There was the genial Thomas
O'Mally. a low comedian of genuine
ability. whom Hillard knew casually;
Smith. a light comedian. and Worth, a
moderately successful baritone. TO
whom HIllard took one of those in
slant and unaccountable dislikes.
These three and Kitty were going
abroad.
Kitty fancied Hillard from the start.
and be on his side found her well edu-
Gated. witty and unaffected. She was
even prettier than her photograph.
Merrihew's face beamed upon them
both In a kind of benediction. He had
known all along that once Jack saw
Kitty he would become good ally in
fighting down her objections.
Think of singing in Italyr cried
Kitty Isn't 1t just wonderful?"
"And has Merrihew told you to get
return ticket before you sail?" with
half jest.
"Don't you think 1t will be success
fulg" shade OF disappointment.
",rhere will be thousands of lonesome
Americans over there. Out of patriot
ism. if for nothing else, they ought to
Dme to see us.
They certainly ought to. But I'm
an old kill-joy.
mo. no: go on and tell me all your
doubts. You have beeL over there so
many timss.'
well. supposing your tourists are
tired after having walked all day
through the churches and galleries,