The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1910-04-14
AN UNSCRUPULOUS AFFAIR

Certainly Good Luck appeared t.
have her habitation far from the ker
of Jimmy Singleton, as upon a certain
afternoon in June ne awaited the dis
tinguished pleasure of Rupert Sur
face, the We1l-knOWn actor manager
Journalism was the crutch that sup.
ported the steps of Jimmy in hi.
search for daily bread; but such
hours as could be spared from The
eXacting search were devoted to the
manufacture of plays-unacted plays
And for long enough there hat
seemed every prospect that those
plays would remain Enacted, until Mr.
Surface, with a vaguely promising
letter had sent Jimmy almost into {
delirium of mad hope. He had read
Diana'S Device. and had been rather
struck by it's crude possibilities, but
but
After that had followed interviews
Mr.. Surface would be encouraging
but never was he definite. Months
had drifted by, and now, perhaps, fOl
the twelfth time, Mr.. Singleton was
waiting upon his patron.
"Ah! dear boy, so. glad to see your
was his greeting.
When the author ventured to bring
forward the object of his visit, the
great man grew almost peevish,
plays, dear boy! I'm not thinking
Of plays. My doctor say [ must give
my mind and body a complete rest
He says that no brain can stand the
strain L impose continually upon
mine. He's sending me off to the
wilds of Ireland for a week or So"
Can you not give me a definite
answer about my play?"
No, L can't possibly say anything
now. Perhaps, when L come back
Jimmy Singleton made his way out
of the august presence, and in his
heart were curses black and deer
against Rupert Surface. And that
evening he wrote a letter to the girl
whom, in his utter raShnesS, he had
included in the wilder, more dainty
hopes and dreams of his struggling
life.
I hope you are having a
great time at Achill," he wrot among
many triVialties. who do you think
is going there, too, and to the same
hotel? No less a person than Rupert
Surface, the actor-manager! If you
should get a chance Of pushing the
brute into the sea, darling, think OF
me and do not spare him! | saw him
Yesterday and he was rather more
brutally vague than ever. And il
would mean such a lot to u.s."
The girl who ead that letter above
a SMOKEY fragrant peat fire had some
thing in her face that might inspire
any man of courage. When she had
read it, Christine Danvers wandered
to the window with compressed lips.
An outside car had just driven up,
and from it a man and his servant
were descending. Christine saw the
mans face under his soft hat, and
recognized it vaguely from the photo
graphs OF many magazines. But the
man himself was looking older and
more Wrinkled than the kindly photo
graphs had allowed.
A marvelously rejuvenated Rupert
Surface appeared al Dime that night
and made himself exceedingly agree
able to the few occupants of the long
table. He sat near Christine and he1
brother and his wife, and even the
former was compelled to admit un-
willingly that the man was an admir-
able talker.
AS a rule, Mr.. Surface was averse tc
active exercise. But the wind was
blowing softly, as it blows only in Ire
land. and it was scented marvelously
with damp, sweet Doggy grass and
with the very freshness of the sea
The other visitors at the hotel a sci
off after breakfast as usual, upon
some harebrained expedition, regard
less OF the weather., anu So, WllnOu'
a companion of any sort, Mr.. Surface
set himself to climb a hill.
Mr.. Surface had scarcely noticed
that veil IF clinging pearly vapOr. The
going was somewhat heavy, but he
stuck to his task quite manfully. But
suddenly it began to rain with steady
violence. In a few minutes he had
entirely lost all sense of direction.
Christine had parted o her rela-
ca @lAiGf i nni n ~ n n
had attempted an ascent of the hill
from the other side. She a gained
the cairn upon the crest without mis-
hap. and then the mist had swept
about her. Almost instantly she LOST
the track, but she possessed a coo,
head and a most useful sense of direc-
ton. She was cropping her way down
wards with steady caution, when she
was suddenly aware of muffled, brok-
en- n almost fearful bowls proceed
ing oi the mist upon her right
She turned toward the sound ano
upon MI. Surface stretched upon the
uosgy turf.
Mr.. Surface explained thai he had
sprained his ankle. Where are the
rest of my party?" he asked. Il must
get them to help me down somehow
st am sorry to say hat L am alone
Christine answered. and 1 have
UlOIS VI 1888 1OSI lily way llySGlI. Val
I do anything for your ankle before
go on? The sooner [ get down the
sooner I can send help to you
But the idea of being left utterly
alone shattered Mr.. Surfaces nerves
once more. There were actual tears
IN his eyes as he said:
II must beg o to stay with me
II am not fit to be left alone. This
pain in my ankle makes me feel quite
foirf 0n6 Snnnnr or latn~ +IAu txyil
send to look for both of u.s.
And then an idea came to Christine
with a sudden memory of Jimmy's
letter.
Il don't want to stay a bit" she
said frankly. will you do me a ia
vor if 1 stop?"
Rupert Surface forgot his pains and
Christine rather suspiciously.
Yes, of courSe-anything in rea-
son, that isl he answered.
1T seems a queer time to speak Of
it, but 1 must" she began. You are
considering a play of Mr.. Singleton.
know that you like the play-any sen
sible man would-but you won't give
him an answer. l want you toto
say you will produce the play"
You amaze mel" he said. "Wha
interest have you in Mr.. Singleton p
H is engaged to marry me-"
But this-this is almost black
MALL"
Christine did not answer the accu-
sation.
"And-and your suggestion is un-
heard Of" Mr.. Surface continued. "A
"a business matter is not decided in
this fashion. I say again that it is
p~erilously near to blackmail."
81 suppose it u.s." Christine muir
INJURED, gently, and-faded into the
mist.
Left to himself, face to face with