The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-10-13
CHAPTER XIII.
AT TWELVE O'CLOCK
4 NTE rar1Tre ssv s,a FaT1aesfss y

Il ing disgruntled and out OF sorts.
He had cut cheek and a broken
finger. beside bruises and scratches too
numerous to mention, but il was not
mis- physical Ills which were troubling
him.
In the first place. he had not vet en-
tirelv recovered from his bitter disap-
pOintment al failing To see Dorothy T. Q
night before and hear her transports
Of delight over the splendid present he
had bestowed upon her.
True. she had left an amectiOnate
little note for him stating that she
had been unavOidably called away but
she did not tell where she was going or
give any reason Tor her chanBe or
plan and since the clerk said that no
one had called her upon the phone or
come TO see her except the young lady
with whom she went out it certainly
did not look as though her errand could
have been very pressing
Seems TO me. ne Grumbled. II some
body had given me a present of a
200 diamond necklace, Ia have made
il something Of a point 10 stay at home
and thank him for it,
This was only the beginning, though,
OF Ralph's long list OF woes, although
in a way il was the focus and start
ing point for all the others
ThWarted in his original purpose,
means for probably employing the
evening, and bad finally decided that
q motor ride offered the best prospect
Accordingly he hired the finest and
most expensive car he could ind and
loaded IL up with party Of friends;
but, unfortunately, he was but an in
different chauffeur. and the motor ride
ended disastrOusly In a grand smash
ND against one of the iron pillars Of
the elevated.
Luckily. none of the party were seri-
Ously hurt, although all carried away
such souvenirs of the expedition as
now adorned Balph's cheek and finger;
bur the car was total wreck. and
since fl was "a brand new. imported
machine with value running wei
zap into hNe figures. Davis was out
pretty penny for his evenings enter
tainmeut, for he could not well eS-
cape entire response bility for the dis
aster-
Nor was the addition to his exist
ing Liabilities of a new item of several
thousand dollars at all d pleasant
thing for him 20 contemplate.
The actor had been living high since
money began TO roll In SO easily
Clothes jewelvy, dainties for mis- pal
ATE. He bought with lavish hand, and
. the qualification of each new eE-
peusIEe taste seemed to give birth TO
dozen others still more extraFa giant.
Moreover the cost of maintaining an
establishment such as the Temple Of
Mystery was no baEdlelie- and 20 add
f TO has worries in this REGARD, the mum
Der OF clients VINO came to cOns.,lt the
Woman iu LIc Purple Weir grew per
reptlblE fewer and fewer each day, now
that the first edge Of popular curiosity
bad worn Off
I'm short Davis was Ga hole. for
with all these pressing obligations
rTOWdluE iu upon him. He had rashly
taken every cent on hand TO pay the
deposit ON the necklace. and now the
. unsettled balance due tie jewellers rose
like an uneasy ghost al each turn Of
his meditatIonss 10 confront and Brighten
. him.
lie could not help asking himself what
would happen 3D. ne did not square up.
as he had promised. within the week
The answer was simple and not At
all Teassuriug. The JeWelTy firm would,
with Bodiue, and then If the broker
happened 10 wax Al ali fnqulsltives the
truth would undoubtedly come out
there would be pretty Kettle OF fish TO
fry
The glow Of reckless enthusiasm.
which had led him into making his
prodiE7l purchase and impatienty iu-
sistiug ora IT'S immediate delivery. mad
AN passed by this time, and there re-
manned only "a sense OF apprehension Of
impending trouble.
n would never do TO let things run on
this way to bother him, he decided.
No, he must manage some way To- pay
mp for the necklace and get DO off his
mind.
lie must manage some way. But
how How ne -iODmlly questioned.
ass Hc thoughtfuliv uHrsed with his hand
fHc big. bruised lump on the right side
OF his forehead
4 momeutary CLEAN of comfort came
10 him. as DE remembered that tire
.DoIble Eye" stock which he had been
soerceH into DuEiHE had. under judici0us
manipulation The Investments made in
Do bv Gabriel and q certain cautious
uibbliuz on the pari of the general pub
d.. advanced TO -. and that mis- profits
as represented by this quotation We're
already more than sufficient TO cover an
his debts but after all, this was only
feeble consolation
Paper wealth Of this sort he knew,
was bat . rotten staff 10 trust 10, liable
fn cIumpIc up al any moment under
ones hand and tumble ita pOssesser into
the aust.
Nor was he able iu any way 90 realize
upon his sEaW Of earnings. He would
have sold out IT., minute but. alas
Bodine, with far-sighted perspiCaCity.
had compelled him 20 deposit the shares
with Andrus q Bodne, and enter into
an agreement that they should not be
disposed OF for less than Is. the figure
"a which the firm was planning % un-
load.
To make short the long story Of his
various reflections. Davis. after thor
o.gl survey OF the situation. could
reach but ono conclusion. The slow
and sure policy ina regard TO Gabriel
would have 20 be abandoned. the young