American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1910-11-12
CHAPTER XII.-Continued.

Prisoner, you fool! I'm a 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
mar fell prone, and was assisted to
his feet with a fine mockery of help
fitness.
Il tell you I'm looking for a 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 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 a fireplace at n
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 a leather settee in
a pose assumed at the moment of the
dukes entrance. 1t 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 lamplight, then he roared out joy
ously:
"Ardy, old man. and advanced to-
ward his brother-in-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 a chair, and the noble
duke, having lost the power of speech
in amazement and fright, rubbed his
ewes 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
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
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 it 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 dt lehSlH anu his
clasring 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
Iobnston's american Politics with
an air of greatest seriousness.
Cooke" he said, half to himself as
no turned the pages, do you remem-
her inst what the constitution says
about dukes? Oh, yes; here we re!
Now Mr.. Duke of Ballywinkle, listen
r. what it says here in Section y o.
tho constitution of the United States
which roads exactly as follows in mis-
hook. No title of nobility snaii De
granted by the United States: ana no
nerson holding any office OF pront or
,r,st under them, shall, without the
consent of the congress. accept OF any
auosent emolunlent. Office, or title, o
nr lind whatever, from any kipg'
an;rce or foreign state And 1t says
IN Section 10 that No state snaii graz
~ tit,e of nobility Now. Mr.. baiiy-
a s"inr,e II is perfectly clear thai MS