The Dolores star., 1909-08-27

/ ut Ut yOuI ACCt- hOpC you diC uOt
going to worry your old poppy by be-
ing obstinate. little girl?"
Il would be willing to give up Jack
MIR. Dedrock--for your sake, poppy:
but II don't care for the duke.
would rather retire from the world al
together"
Nonsense, child! My daughter in a
convent?"
"Oh. l didn't mean that! But would
like to go on the stage"
"Ahem!' coughed Mr.. Swobe. RE
tire from the world-go on the stage"
"All of my friends say that have
great natural histrionic talent that
only needs to be cultivated" averred
vivien complacently.
Sometimes" reflected Mr.. Swobe-
sometimes l am Of the same opin-
ion."
"Of course" he added. "all such talk
is sheerest nonsense. You must prom
ise me. vivien that, II all goes well.
you will not hesitate to take your
rightful place In the world when the
time arrives"
when the duke arrives, you mean,"
laughed Vivien tremulously. And
nothing more was said until dinner
was announced.
Scene, the same. Time. afternoon
of the next day. Enter the Due de
vintinta Bogusa. aftef his card-an
exceptionally broad-shouldered Gall
clan, with mustache and chin-tuft in
tho fashion OF the lesser Napoleons
Before Mr.. Swobe had reached his feet
the nervous Frepchman let fly vol.
ley of his native language that almost
caused the old man to stagger back
ward.
'I don't speak French, duke" he
expostulated politely.
POUNDS! How IL zeez Ameariques
what you call zee damp fool! Anglaise
-Anglaise, nozzing but Anglaise! Zee
educate Pareesian spik all--damp An
glaise so! Come. ! spik Anglaise wiz
vous-we spik business Queek-
comet"
He threw himself into the sacred
armchair, leaving his host standing in
the middle Of the floor. Alonzo
Swobe gaped at his guest with some
thing OF the aspect Of bull in its own
pasture when 1t first glimpses the girl
artist in the red jacket. He surmised
that the duke was the worse for wine
but he excused no man on that
ground.
Come" bullied the fatuous duke
Why don't you sect? Come! am q
beexy man; have no time to waste
need zee money immeedit'-one
meelyon."
"Ahem!" coughed Alonzo Swobe
And he went and sat on the Uttered IL
brary desk, drawing up one knee in
his two hands. Men In Chicago and
Kansas City had often seen the "Old
Man" in that attitude when things
were doing. But this was the dukes
first view of his intended father-in-
law at his station for battle. and be
did not catch the significance Of the
pose.
Comet" he gibbered Il have zee
title of zee proud due. which Is zee
alice whole ting, as say zee ca.
naille Anglaise; two meelyon. I have
zee castle: one meelyon to stop zee
mortgage. I have zee-what you call
him ?-preserfs of zee forest for zee
shoot Of animals: one meelyon. have
zee mansion in Paree; for to make
beautify wiz zee art and repair. one
meelyon. For zis take zee mademoi.
selle, hey? In adding zereto. l have
zee"
Il think" observed Alonzo Swobe
dropping the knee that he had been
nursing and sliding of the desk-"l
think that you have zee jimmies."
He caught the duke by the collaS
behind, lifted him to his feet, propei
led him to the nearest door and thrust
him into the hands of butler loiter
ing In the hallway.
Throw him into the street, Driggs.'
he ordered quietly. and turned back
into the library.
him caused him to turn round in time
to catch vivien. the eavesdropper. al
she flung herself into his arms.
Would you marry me to that-that
rat. poppy?" she walled.
"Rat?" snorted the old gentleman
RAT? That-that skunk. you mean
Shades of Shadrach!" he roared
with a thousand gewgaws in thii
bookshop. there's nary horse
whip"
With. his left arm he was pressing
Vivien suffocatingly against his shoul
der. while with his right hand he
reached and squeezed an electric but
ton overhead.
What am bid for her, bedrock 2
he demanded harshly. as his secre
tary appeared in the doorway in re
sponse to the summons. bid high
boy. The toadeater has made a game
offer; but-but he carries handicap
and there's a chance for you yet
Going at-what? Bid high. bedrock
Remember (here the old mans voict
ltered)-remember, she's my baby.
The puzzled expression on the secre
tary's face was only momentary. fol