The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1909-01-27

tables or at card suppers. And all the
while he was attending to his business
with an energy and activity that ought
to have shamed Gerald and did at
times, particularly when he arrived at
the office utterly unfit for the work be-
fore him.
But Neergard continued astonishing
ly tolerant and kind, lending him mon
ey, advancing him what he required,
taking up or renewing notes for him
until the boy, heavily in his debt,
plunged more heavily still In sheer des-
peration, only to founder the deeper at
every struggle to extrlcate himself.
Alike Ruthven suspected something
Of this, but 1t was useless as well as
perilous in other ways for her to argue
with Gerald, for the boy had come to
point where even his devotion to her
could not stop him. He must go on.
Meanwhile the Ruthvens were living
almost lavishly and keeping four more
horses. But Eileen Erroll's bank bal.
ance had now dwindled to three fig
ures, and Gerald had not only acted Of
fenslvely toward Selwyn, but had quar-
relied so violently with Austin that the
latter, thoroughly incensed and disgust
ed, threatened to forbid him the house.
"The little fool" he said to Selwyn.
''came here last night sinking Of
wine and attempted to lay down the
law to me-tried to dragon me into a
compromise with him over the invest
ments have made for him! By God,
Phil, he shall not control one cent until
the trust conditions are fulfilled,
though 1t was left to my discretion
too. And l told him so fatty. l told
him he wasn't fit to be trusted with
the coupons of repudiated South
American bond
"Hold on, Austin. That isn't the
way to tackle a boy like that!
"Isn't It? Well, why not? Do you
expect me to dicker with himT'
"No; but, Austin, you've always been
little brusque with him. Don't you
think"-
"No, don't. It's discipline he needs,
and he'll get it good and plenty every
time he comes here"
"I-I'm afraid he may cease coming
here. That's the worst Of it. For his
sisters sake I 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, l
tell you. He's idle, lazy, dissipated,
impudent, 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 to be-
lieve In him. you know-on Eileen's
account"
Austin grew angrier and redder.
"Eileen's account? Do you mean her
bank account? It's easy enough to be-
lieve in him if you inspect his sisters
bank account. Believe in him? Oh,
certainly I do. l believe he's pup
enough to come sneaking to his sister
to pay for all the fooleries he's en-
gagged In. And I've positively forbid
den her tn draw another check to his
order"
ITS that little bangled whelp Ruth
ven," said Selwyn between his teeth.
II warned Gerald most solemnly of
that man. but He shrugged his
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-
rious If matters did not stand as
they do" - he flushed painfully I'D
60 straight to Ruthven and find out
whether or not this business could be
stopped"
If Alike had done her best to keep
Gerald away, she appeared to be quite
powerless in the matter; and it 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 go? Through
whom could he reach Gerald? Through
Nina? Useless. And Gerald had al
ready defied Austin. Through Neer-
gard, then? But he was on no terms
with Neergard. How could he go to
him? Through Rosamund Fame? At
the thought he made a wry face. Any
advances from him she would willfully
misinterpret. And Ruthven? How on
earth could he bring himself to ap-
proach him?
And yet he had promised Eileen to
do what he could. What merit lay in
performing an easy obligation? What
courage was required to keep prom
ise easily kept? If he cared anything
for her, If he really cared for Gerald.
he owed them more than effortless full
fillment. So first of all, when at length
he had decided, he nerved himself to
strike straight at the center, and with
in the hour he found Gerald at the
Stuyvesant club.
The boy descended to the visitors
rooms, Selwyn's card in his hand and
distrust written on every feature. And
at Selwyn's first frank and friendly
words he reddened to the temples and
checked him.
II won't listen," he said. "They-
Austin and-and everybody has been
putting you up to this until I'm tired
Of it. Do they think I'm a baby? Do
fhnU ,wl. 90