Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1910-05-25

we got married we'd never SHY obey,
and we never have. though only three
Of our class are married yet. but we're
all engaged"
"Engagedr
"Of course; we're engaged. I'm en-
gagged TO Rutherford Gillingwater, the
adjutant general OF this state. You
couldn't be my private secretary II I
wasn't engaged; it wouldn't be
proper"
The earth was only a flying cinder
on which he strove for n foothold.
She had announced her engagement
to be married with n cool finality that
took his breath away: and not real
izing the chaos into which she had
Hung him, she returned demurely to
the matter OF the letter.
We can't change that letter. be.
cause it's signed close to the 'obedient
servant and there's no room. But
I'm going to put it into the typewriter
and add postscript"
She sat down before the machine
and inexpertly rolled the sheet into
place: then. with Ardmore helping
her to find the keys. she wrote:
L demand an mediate reply
Demand and immediate are both
business -,--c, go you sure there's
only one Ill IN immediate? All right,
If you know. 1 reckon a postscript
like that doesn't need to be signed.
I'll just put w. D. there with papa's
stub pen, so 1t will look really fierce.
Now, you're the secretary; you copy
it In the copying press and I'll ad-
dress the enTelope"
She bade him give the letter plenty
or time to copy. and talked cheerfully
while he waited. She spoke of her
friends. as southern people have a
way or doing, as though every one
must OF course know them-a habit
that Is illuminative of that delightful
southern neighborliness that knits
the elect of n commonwealth into a
single family that neither time and
tide nor sword and brand can destroy.
wen, that's done" said Miss Jerry,
when the letter, still damp from the
compress. had been carefully sealed
and stamped. Gov. Osborne will get
1t in the morning. l think maybe
we'd bettor telegraph him that it's
coming"
The message, slowly thumped out
on the typewriter, and several times
altered and copied. finally read:
Raleigh, N. C.
The Honorable Charles Osborne.
Governor OF South Carolina,
Columbia, :. c..
Have written by to-night's mail I'm APP
pleweisht matter. Your vacillating course
not understood
WILLIAM DANGERFIELD.
Governor OF North Carolina
u reckon that will make him take
notice." and Miss Jerry viewed her
work with approval And now, Mr..
Ardmore, here's telegram from Mr..
Billings which 1 don't understand See
II you know what II means"
Ardmore chuckled delightedly as he
read:
Can not understand your outrageous
conduct in bond natter If payment ia
not made June first your stnte's credit IN
ruined. Where is Foster? Answer to At
ianta. GEORGE T.. BILLINGS.
1 don't see what's so funny about
that Mr.. Bassford was walking the
floor with that message when I came
to the office. He said papa and the
state were both going to be ruined.
There's a quarter of million dollars
to be paid on bonds that are coming
due June first, and there isn't any
money to pay them with That's
what ne said. And Mr.. Foster is the
state treasurer. and he's gone fishing"
''Fishing?"
He left word he had gone fishing.
Mr.. Foster and papa don't get along
together. and Mr.. Dassford SAYS he's
run of just to let those bonds default
and bring disgrace on papa and the
state"
Ardmore's grin broadened The Al.
pleweight case was insignificant com
pared with this new business with
which he was confronted. Billings
had always treated him with con-
tempt, as a negligible factor in the
Ardmore millions. and here at last
was an opportunity to balance &C.
counts.
Il will show you how to fix Bill
ings. Just let me have one OF those
blanks"
And after much labor. and with
occasional sugge 5tlons from Mics
jerry. the following message was
presently ready for the wires:
Your Infamous imputation upon nv hon
or and that OF the state shall meet vim
the treatment 81 deserves defv Won
TO do your worst. II you como into North
Carolina or bring legal proceedings FOR
the collection 81 your bonds + will an
you so fun OF buckahot that 90 men Will
not be strong enough to carry you to your
grave.
Isn't that perfectly grand" muir.
INJURED jerry admiringly. but |
thought your family and the Bronx
Loan and Trust Company were the
same thing"
Don't you worry about Billings.
lie is used to having people get down
on their knees 90 him, and tue change
will do him good Where is this man
FOster?"
Just fishing that's what Mr.. Bass
Il