The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1909-02-11

7
perilous In other ways for her TO argn
/ with Gerald. for the boy had come {
! poiut where even his devotion TO he
could not stop him He must 20 on.
Meanwhile the Ruthvens were lIyini
almost lavishly and keeping four NOR
horses But Eileen Errolps bank bal
aDce lad uvw d~indled TO three Ok
ures. aud Gerald had not only acted OF
fensively toward Selwyn. but had quar-
relied so violently With Austin that thu
latter. thoroughly lncensed and disgust
ed, threatened to forbid him the house
THE little fool" be said to Selwyn
"came here last night sinking o.
wine and attempted TO lay down tn,
law TO me-trled to dragon Inc Into I
compromise with him over the invest
ments ! have made for himl BY God
Phil, he shall not control one cent until
the trust conditions are fulfilled
though II was left to my discretion
too. And ! told him so aatiy. told
him he wasn't fit TO be trusted with
the coupons OF repudlated South
American bond
Hold on. Austin That isn't the
way to tackle boy like that!
Isn't III Well. why nof7 Do you
expect me to dicker with hlmr
NO; but. Austin. you've always been
a little brusque with him. Don't you
+ think
mo, don't It's discipline he needs.
and he'll get II good and plenty every
/ time he comes here"
"I-Pm afraid he may cease coming
here. That's the worst OF It. For his
sisters sake think we ought to try
TO put up with
"Put up! Put up! I've been doing
nothing else since he came OF age.
He's turned out fool OF puppy. ]
tell you. He's idle, lazy. dissipated,
mpudent, conceited. insufferable"-
But not vicious, Austin, and not
untruthful Where his affections are
centered he is always generous: where
they should be centered he Is merely
thoughtless, not deliberately selfish.
And, Austin. we've simply got 10 be-
lieve in him, you know-on EIleen's
account"
Austin grew angrier and redder.
"Elleen's account Do you mean her
bank account2 It's easy enough to be-
lieve in him II you inspect his sisters
nal In,
certainly do. believe he's pup
enough to come sneaklng TO his sister
to pay for all the fooleries he's en-
gagged In. And I've positively forbid
den her to draw another check to his
order"
Its that little bangled whelp Ruth
ven," said Selwyn between bis teeth.
Il warned Gerald most solemnly Of
that man, but He shrugged bis
shoulders and glanced about him at
the linen covered furniture and bare
floors. After a moment he looked up
"The game there is, Of course. noto-
rions. If matters did not stand as
they do" = he flushed painfully - I'D
90 straight TO Ruthven and find out
whether or not this business could be
stopped"
II Alike had done her best to keep
Gerald away. she appeared to be quite
powerless In the matter; and II was
therefore useless to go to her. Besides,
he had every inclination to avoid her.
He had learned his lesson
To whom then could he gol Through
whom could he reach Geraldf Through
Nina7 Useless And Gernld had al
ready defed Austin. Through Neer-
gard. theni But he was on no terms
with Neergard. How could be 60 to
hlml Through Rosamund Fanei At
the thought he made wry face. Any
advances from him she would willfully
And Ruthveni How on
earth could he bring himself to ap-
proach him7
And yet he had promised Eileen to
10 what he could What merit lay In
performing an easy obligation? What
courage was required to keep a prom
lse easily kept1 II he cared anything
for her. II he really cared for Gerald.
be owed them more than effortless full
fillment. So first OF all. when at length
be had decided. he nerved himself to
strike straight at the center and with
" the hour he found Gerald at the
stuyvesant club.
The boy descended to the visitors
rooms. Selwyn's card IN bis hand and
iistrusf written on every feature. And
It Selwyn's FIRST frank and friendly |
words he reddened to the temples and
,hccked him.
Il won't listen" be said. They
Austin snd-and everybody has been
,utting you up to this until I'm tired
Il IL Do they think I'm baby7 Do
hey suppose ! don't know enough TO
taKe care OF myseirr Are they tryins
to make me ridiculousi ! tell you
they'd better let me alone My friends
are my friends. and ! won't listen &c
any criticism OF them, and that settles
L."
Gerald
''0h. ] know perfectly well that you
dislike Neergard. don't. and that's
the difference"
I'm not speaking OF Mr. Neergard.
Gerald. rm only trying TO tell you
what this man Rufhven really is do
ng'
What do I care what be Is doingr'
,rled Gerald angrily. And. anyway.
I isn't likely I'd come TO you to find
put anything about Mrs. Ruthyens
'econd hnsband.'
Selwyp rose. very white and stlll.
After a moment be drew o quiet
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