The Holly chieftain., 1910-07-01
CHAPTER xll.-continued.

CHRF n Nll.-Ion1Ir1bSo'
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 a fine mockery Of help
fulness.
81 tell you I'm looking for a lady
whose horse ran away with her! I'm
the duke OF Ballywinkle and brother
inlaw to Mr.. Ardmore. I'll have you
sent to Jail if you stop me here"
Come along, duke. and we'll 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
a pose assumed at the moment of the
dukes entrance 1t was a pose of en-
tire nonchalance, and Ardmores 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 lamplight, then he roared out JOY
ously:
"Ardy, old mani" and advanced to-
ward his brother-in-law with out
stretched hand.
Keep him off; he's und'yhtrdly
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 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 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 it.
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" grinnet
Cooke, taking his cue from Ardmore't
manner. And he says he's visiting
at Ardsley."
That" said Ardmore with decision
"is creditable only to the gentleman'l
romantic imagination. His face /.
anything but dukely. and there's a RET
streak across it which points clearl,
to the recent sharp blow Of weapon
and no one would ever strike a duke
It's utterly incredible" and Ardmor,
lifted his brows and leaned back will
his arms at length and his hand
clasping the riding-crop. as he con
templated with supreme satisfaction
tn6 tell-tdle Ttu llue ACROSS the Qukei
cheek
For Gods sake, Ardy-" howlet
the duke.
Ardmore drew from his poke
Johnston's American Politics" witt
an air of greatest seriousness.
Cooke" he said. half to himself a
he turned the pages, do you remem
Der Just what the constitution say
about dukes? Oh, yes: here we are
Now. Mr.. Duke of Ballywinkle, listel
to what it says here In Section O
the Constitution of the United States
which reads exactly as follows in thi
book: No title of nobility shall b
granted by the United States: And n
person holding any office Of profit o
trust under them. shall, without tn
consent of the congress. accept of an,
present, emolument, office, or title, o
any kind whatever, from any king
prince. or foreign state And it say
In Section 10 that No state shall gran
any title Of nobility Now, Mr.. Bally
Wrinkle, it is perfectly clear that tht