The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1910-11-10
CHAPTER XIV.

esteemed it most providentlal tina
Hubert Bangham the upstate buyer
remained at his side to symiathiz'
and counsel with him.
George Augustus an Ban9han
had reached the formers rooms a
a quarter to seven in the evcnin'
Rufus was TO join chem. Rufus die
not present himself at the appoint
ed hour. Eight o'clock came, anC
nine, but still the cattleman was
my stcriously missing.
Something has gone wrong de
clared George Augustus, nervous
pacing his sitting room. 81 felt al
along as though it wasn't ,he righ'
thing for him to do-meeting al
enemy at the obelisk in the park
if he's got into trouble this time
he won't get our of it as easily as
he did before"
IF he's westerner." remarked
Bangham, "he ought to be able to
take care of himself"
Put him on a cattle range, or
turn him loose in a settlement con
sisting of half dozen shanties stuck
on the side OF a hill returned
George Augustus. and he can give
any one carts, spades and little
IN look in q
out for Number One. But here it's
different, Bgnaham; here, where ey-
cry prospect pleases, the lure is too
strong. He has enemies who are
tac full and know the weak spots
in his aI1nor. No man can handle
Rufus with anything short of a
bucking- strap, but a woman with a
griey yance-real or fancied-can get
his good money for any kind OF Il
god-brick. oh, | should never have
allowed him to 20 alone TO that
obelisk!"
George Augustus flung himself
down in chair and drummed a rest
less tattoo with his fingers on the
chair-arms.
Don't take it so much 20 hear,
Smith" said Bangham, cheerily.
From what you tell me about Ru-
fus I'll back him against all comers,
bar none. He'll bob up serenely with
another hair-raising yarn from the
Thousand and One Nights-my
word for IT,"
Il wish was sure of it," NUT
tered George Augustus. sloOmily,
We'll, anyhow, sitting here and fire.
ting won't bring him back. Wen drop
in at the chop+house and get some
hing to eat. Well be a little late
for the theater, but"
Never mind the theater," inter
posed Bangham with a generous dis
regard OF his own pleasure. We'll
eat. but Wen cut out the show !
wouldn't think of dragging you of
for half the night when you're in
such a taking over your western
friend. BY George, I'm interested,
am. for a fact. Wen come back
here from the restaurant and wait
for Rufus to show up. If you've got
some cards. well have a little eu-
chre or something 10 beguile the
time"
"Bangham," said George Augustus,
fervently, you're a friend worth
having Come on Maybe the Old
will be back by the time
We finish our supper. He has keys
10 the house and the rooms so he
won't have any trouble getting in"
George Augustus hardly knew what
he ate that night. All he realized
was that Bangham ordered the
meal. and that it cost him-George
Augustus-five dollars and sixty
cents. On the way back to the rooms
the salesman preceded the buyer by
a dozen feet. bursting .yto his log
ing only 20 find them as empty as
when he and Bangham had left,
n short hour before.
He hasn't come back" mourned
George Augustus.
Keep a stiff upper lip. Smith"
adjured Bangham lightly. Get OUT
the cards. I'll bet a plugged nickel
he's here before midnight
But Rufus wasn't there before
midnight, nor for ,wo hours after
midnight. George Augustus lost in
teres> in the cards on the stroke
% twelve
Il believe" said he. pushing back
!fom the tbale. that ought to