Anadarko daily democrat. [volume] (Anadarko, Oklahoma) 1908-191?, 1910-10-12
CHAPTER xlI.-continued.

CHAPTER Xll.-continued.
Prisoner. you fool! I'm guest at
Ardsley and I'm looking for a lady"
That's a very unlikely story. Col
Inns. help the gentleman down" and
the reporter obeyed instructions with
so much zeal that the noble gentle
man fell prone. and was assisted to
his feet with a fine mockery of help.
fulness
81 tell you I'm looking for a lady
whose horse ran away with herr I'm
the duke o, Ballywinkle and brother.
in-law to Mr Ardmore. I'll have you
sent to Jail il you stop me here"
Come along. duke. and wen see
hat you look like" said Cooke. lead
AZ the way to the bungalow veranda.
Within Ardmore was lighting lamps.
There was long room finished in
black oak. with fireplace at one
end, and a table in the center. The
floors were covered with handsome
rugs and the walls were hung with
photographs and etchings. Ardmore
sat on the back OF leather settee i'm
a pose assumed at the moment of the
dukes entrance. II was a pose of en-
tire nonchalance. and Ardmore's cap,
perched on the back Of his head, and
his brown hair rumpled boyishly,
added to the general effect of comfort
and ease.
The duke blinked for a moment in
the lampllght, then he roared out joy
ously:
"Ardy. old mani" and advanced to
ward his brother-inlaw with out
stretched hand.
Keep him on; he's, undoubtedly
quite mad" said Ardmore, staring
coldly, and bending his riding-crop
across his knees collins, please
ride on after the lady and bring her
back this way"
Cooke had seated the prisoner rath
er rudely in a chair. and the noble
duke. having lost the power of speech
in amazement and fright. rubbed his
eyes and then fastened them In
credulously on Ardmore: but there
was no question about il, he had been
seized with violence; he had been
repudiated by his own brother-in.law
the useless. stupid Tommy Ardmore.
who. at best, had only a child's mind
/ for pirate stories and who was indubi.
tably the most negligible OF negligible
| figures in the drama of life as the
duke knew II.
Cooke" began Ardmore. address.
ing his lieutenant gravely from his
perch on the settee, what is the
charge against this person."
He says he's a duke" grinned
Cooke, taking his cue from Ardmore's
manner. And he says he's visiting
at Ardsley."
That" said Ardmore with decision.
SIS creditable only to the gentleman's
romantic imagination His face is
anything but dukely, and there's a red
streak across II which points clearly
to the recent sharp blow OF a weapon:
and no one would ever strike a duke.
It's utterly incredible" and Ardmore
lifted his brows and leaned back with
his arms at length and his hands
clasping the ridng-crop, as he con.
templa,sd with supreme satisfaction
the tell-tale red line across the dukes
cheek
"Foi Gods sake. Ardy-" howled
the duke.
Ardmore drew from his ,ocket
Johnston's American Politics" with
an air OF greatest seriousness.
Cooke" he said, half to himself as
he turned the pages, do you remem-
ber Just what the constitution Bays
about dukes? Oh. yes; here we are!
Now, Mr.. Duke of Ballywinkle, listen
TO what II says here in Section Of
the Constitution of the United States,
which reads exactly as follows in this
book: No title OF nobility shall be
granted by the United States; And 10
person holding any office OF profit or
trust under them. shall, without the
consent OF the congress, accept of any
present, emolument. office, or title, OF
my kind whatever, from any king,
nrince. or foreign state And II says
y Section 10 that No state shall grant
ny title OF nobility Now, Mr.. Bally.
'inkle, II is perfectly clear that this