The Elbert County tribune., 1910-04-08

er the noble duke OF Ballywfnklt
didn't break the bank at Monte Garlic
that last time"
You mustn't be SO thin-skinned
You pay the penalty of belonging tc
one OF the wealthiest families in
America" and Billings tone was pa
ternal
so I've. heard. but I'm not so ter
GOVERNOR
That's what troubles me-what OF
the GOVERNOR" Billings dropped his
voice so that no one but Ardmore
could hear Hes missing-disap.
, peared."
That's the first interesting thing
| ever heard OF a governor DOING
said Ardmore. Tell me more"
Hes had row with the governor
of South Carolina at New Orleans. /
was to have met him here on an i'm
portant matter of business this after
noon, but he's cleared out and nobody
knows what's become of him. His
daughter. even, who was In New Or
leans with him, doesn't know where
he is
"Ah! the daughter! She remains
behind to guard his retreat"
The daughter Is still here. She's
a peppery little piece" and Billings
looked guardedly around the room.
corner-the girl with the white feath-
er in her hat who's just signing her
check. There-she's getting upl"
Ardmore gazed across the room in
tently, then suddenly a slight smile
played about his lips. To gain the
door the girl must pass by his table,
and he scrutinized her closely as she
drew near and passed. She was a lit
tie girl. and her light fluffy hair swept
out from under small blue hat in a
shell-like curve, and the short skirt
of her tailor-made gown robbed her,
it seemed. of years to which the cal
eDdar might entitle her.
She gave me the steadiest eye
ever looked into when | asked her
where her father had gone," remarked
Billings grimly as the girl passed
She said she thought he'd gone fish
ing for whales"
so she's Miss Dangerheld. is she?"
asked Ardmore indifferently; and he
rose, leaving on the plate, by a sud
den impulse of good feeling toward
the world, exactly double the genef
GUS tip he had intended giving. Bit
ings was glad to be rid of Ardmore
and they parted in the ho;ol lobby
without waste of words.
Ardmore's effects had beer r-rught
down and were already pied on a
carriage at the door. In his pocket
was his passage to New Orleans and
a stateroom ticket At the cashiers
desk Miss Dangerfield paid her bill.
just ahead of him.
IF any kilograms come for my fa-
ther please forward them to Raleigh"
said the girl. The manager came out
personally to show her to her car
riage, and having shut the door upon
her. he wished Ardmore, who stood
discreetly by, safe journey.
"Off for New Orleans, are you. Mr..
Ardmore?" asked the manager courte-
ously.
No" said Ardmore. I'm going to
Raleigh to look at the tall buildings"
whereat the manager returned to his
duties, gravely shaking his head.
At the station Ardmore caught sight
of Miss Dangerfield, attended by
two porters, hurrying toward the Tar
Heel express. He bought ticket
to Raleigh. and secured the last avail
able berth from the conductor on the
platform at the moment of departure.
Ardmore did not like to be hurried.
and thus sudden change of plans had
been almost too much for him, but
he was consoled by the reflection that
after all these years OF waiting for
Just such an adventure he had proved
himself equal to an emergency that
required quick thought and swift ac-
tion. He had not only found the girl
with the playful eye, but he had
learned her identity without, as it
were, turning over his hand
The stateroom door stood open, and
from his seat at the farther end of
the car Ardmore caught a feeting
glimpse of Miss Dangerfleld as she
threw Off her jacket and hat; then
she SUMMONED the porter, give him
her tickets. bade him smiling good
night and the door closed upon her
Ardmore went back to smoke and
plan his future movements. For the
first time in his life he faced to-mor-
row with eager anticipations, resolved
that nothing should thwart his high
resolves, though these, to be sure,
were somewhat hazy. He did not
know why Billings was so anxious to
find Miss Dangerfield's father, but as
between man of Billings purely COM
mercial instincts and the governor of
great state like North Carolina Ard
more resolved to stand by the Danger
fields to the end of the chapter. He