Shiner gazette. [volume] (Shiner, Tex.) 1893-current, 1910-06-16
CHAPTER xIi.-cOntInued.

Prisoner, you fool! I'm guest at
Ardsley and I'm looking for 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 fine mockery of help
fulness.
II tell you I'm looking for lady
whose horse ran away with her! I'm
the duke of Ballywinkle and brother
in-law to Mr.. Ardmore. I'll have you
sent to Jail if you stop me here"
Come along, duke, and well see
what you look like" said Cooke lead
ing the way to the bungalow veranda.
Within Ardmore was lighting lamps.
There was a 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 in
pose assumed at the moment of the
dukes entrance. 1t was 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 moment in
the lamplight, then he roared out joy
ously:
"Ardy, old mani" and advanced to-
ward his brotherin-law with out
stretched hand.
Keep him off; 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.
err rudely in 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 it, 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 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 1t.
Cooke" began Ardmore, address,
ing his lieutenant gravely from his
perch on the settee, what is the
charge against this persona"
"He says he's duke" grinned
Cooke, taking his cue from Ardmores
manner. And he says he's visiting
at Ardsley."
"That," said Ardmore with decision,
as creditable only to the gentleman's
romantic imagination. His face is
anything but dukely, and there's a red
streak across it which points clearly
to the recent sharp blow of weapon;
and no one would ever strike duke
It's utterly Incredible" and Ardmore
lifted his brows and leaned back with
his arms at length and his hands
clasping the riding-crop, as he con-
templated with supreme satisfaction
the tell-tale red line across the dukes
cheek.
For Gods sake, Ardy-" howled
the duke.
Ardmore drew from his pocket
Johnston's american Politics" with
an air of greatest seriousness.
Cooke" he said. half to himself as
he turned the pages, do you remem-
Der just what the constitution says
about dukes? oh, yes; here we are!
Now, Mr.. Duke of Ballywinkle, listen
to what 1t 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 no
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
any kind whatever from any king,
prince, or foreign state And 1t says
in Section 10 that No state shall grant
any title of nobility. Now, Mr.. Bally-
winkle. it is perfectly clear that this