The Spanish Fork press. [volume] (Spanish Fork, Utah) 1902-current, 1910-08-18

B NO; ] quit reading newspapers aft
er the noble duke of Balywinkl,
didn't break the bank at Monte Carl,
that last time"
You mustn't be so thin.skinned
You pay the penalty of belonging I,
one OF the wealthiest families IL
America and Billings tone was pa
ternal
80 I've heard. but I'm not so ter
ribly proud of 1t. What about thi.
GOVERNOR"
That's what troubles me-what o.
the governor" Billings dropped his
voice so that no one but Ardmort
could hear. Hes missing-disap
peared."
That's the first interesting thins
l 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
That's she, alone over there in the
corner--the girl with the white feath.
er in her hat who's Just signing her
check. There-shes getting up!"
Ardmore gazed across the room in.
tently, then suddenly 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,
1t seemed. of years to which the cal.
endar might entitle her.
"She gave me the steadiest eye l
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 Dangerfield, is she?'
asked Ardmore indifferently; and he
rose, leaving on the plate by sud.
den impulse of good feeling toward
the world, exactly double the gener.
GUS tip he had intended giving. Bill.
ings was glad to be rid of Ardmore
and they parted in the hotel lobby
without waste of words.
Ardmore's effects had been brought
down and were already piled on a
carriage at the door. In his pocket
was his passage to New Orleans and
stateroom ticket. At the cashiers
desk Miss Dangerfield paid her bill.
just ahead of him.
IF any kilograms come for my ia
Their please forward them to Raleigh"
said the girl. The manager came out
personally to show her to her car.
rage. and having shut the door upon
her, he wished Ardmore. who stood
discreetly by. safe journey.
of for New Orleans, are you, Mr..
Ardmore?" asked the manager courte.
ousIy
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 Dangerfeld, 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 &C.
ton. 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
S'' "'o oVot ct Tic dltuSl emu Vi
the car Ardmore caught a feeting
glimpse of Miss Dangerfield as she
threw off her jacket and hat; then
she summoned the porter. give him
her tickets, babe 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
md Miss Dangerfleld's father. but as
between man of Billings purely com
mercial instincts and the governor of
a great state like North Carolina Ard
more resolved to stand by the Danger
fields to the end of the chapter. He
was proud to remember his estate at
Ardsley, which was in Gov. Danger.
fields jurisdiction, and had been Wis
tied by the game warden, the state
forester, and various other members
OF the governors official household,
though Ardmore could not remember
their names He had never in his life