The Elbert County tribune., 1910-07-01
CHAPTER xII.-continued.


Prisoner. you fool! I'm 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 obcyed 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.
Il tell you I'm looking for lady
whose horse ran away with her. I'm
the duke of Ballywinkle and brother.
7n-law to Mr.. Ardmore I'll have you
sent to Jail II 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 we're covered with handsome
rugs and the walls were hung with
photographs and etchings. Ardmore
sat on the back of a leather settee in
pose assumed at the moment of the
dukes entrance. 1t was 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 mani" and advanced to-
ward his brother-in-law with out
stretched hand.
Keep him OF; he's undoyhtrdly
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
creduluusly on Ardmore: but there
was no question about 1t. he had been
seized with violence: he had been
repudiated by his own hrother.in-law
the useless. stupid Tommy Ardmore,
who. at best, had only childs mind
Tor pirate stories and who was indubi-
tably the most negligible of negligible
figures in the drama Of life as the
duke knew 1t.
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 duke" grinned
Cooke, taking his cue from Ardmore's
manner. And he says he's visiting
at Ardsley."
THAT" said Ardmore with decision,
"is creditable only to the gentleman's
romantic imagination. His face is
anything but dukely. and there's red
streak across 1t which points clearly
to the recent sharp blow of weapon;
land no one would ever strike duke.
It's utterly Incredible and Ardmore
. lifted his brows and leaned back with
his arms at length and his hands
clasping 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
Johnston's American Politics" with
an air of greatest seriousness.
Cooke he said. half to himself as
he turned the pages. do you remem-
ber just what the constitution says
about dukes? Oh, yes; here we arel
Now, Mr.. Duke of Ballywinkle. listen
to what 1t says here in Section 9 of
the Constitution of the United States.
which reads exactly as follows In this
book: No title OF nobility shall be
granted by the United States: And no
person holding any Office of profit or
trust under them. shall. without the
consent of the congress. accept of any
present. emolument, Office, or title. OF
any kind whatever. from any king.
prince, or foreign state. And 1t says
in Section 10 that No state shall grant
any title Of nobility Now, Mr.. Bally-
winkle. it is perfectly clear that this