Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-04-03
A MANS MAN
IAN HAY,
AUTHOR OF THE RIGHT STUFF"
CopyriEht, 1891, ~ william
Blaekw0oA 4 Sens.
C~pyrixht, 1919, BY HouGhton
Mimin Company.
CHAPTER XV.-Continued.

YOU give US some sort Of explanation
some yarn we could put about the place
to account for this state OF things
What state OF things:' said Hughie,
doggedly He was in an unpleasant tenn
| per.
| We'll, Hughe.'' said Mrs. Leroy. keep
| ing hers, here is Joan, known to have
| been left lot of money for her imme-
date use-she admits it herself-living
quite humbly and cheaply and obviously
not we'll Off People are asking why.
There are two explanations given. One,
| the more popular, IS that you have en-
bezzled or speculated the money all away.
| The other, which prevails among the
! elite
The people who are really in the know.
YOU know" explained Leroy.
| Yes: they say continued his wife,
| that Joan won't marry you so you have
"By cutting off supplies" suggested
Hughie.
| Until she is starved into submission
eh?''
That's about the size OF it. old son.
said Leroy.
There was a long pause. Finally. Hughie
said:
well. it's a pretty story; but. honestly,
I'm not In position to contradict 1t at
present
Mrs. Leroy desisted from plating the
window cord, swung round. walked delib-
erately to the fireplace and laid hand
| on Hughes arm.
| "Huglie," she said, in tones which her
husband subsequently affirmed would have
drawn ducks off pond, what have you
done? Tell us!''
Leroy followed his wife across the room.
| Get it off your chest. old man." he said,
with the air of a father confessor.
| Hughie smiled gratefully. He took Mrs.
! I.eroy's two hands into one Of his own
and laid the other on Jack Leroy's
Jack and Milly," he said, earnestly.
my two pals:-I would rather tell you
than anybody else; butt simply can't.
It's not my secret! You'll probably find
must ask you to accept my assurance
that I'm not so black as I'm painted
; "Hughie." said Mrs. Leroy, you are
simply stupid! We have not come to YOU
! II know that" said Hughie, heartily.
"And ] think YOU might give us some
| sort Of an fnkling-a sort Of favorable
bulletin-that I could pass on to joey, at
any rate
Joey" said Hughie, involuntarily;
Lord Forbid
Mrs. Leroy, startled by the vehemence
Of his tone. paused; and her husband
| added. dejectedly:
IAN right, old man: Let's drop it.
Sorry you couldn't see your way to con-
fde in us. Wouldn't have gone any
further. Rather sick about the whole
business-eh? No wonder! Money is the
devil, anyway
Somehow Leroy's words hit Hughie
harder than anything that had been said
yet. He wavered. After all
| We've bought the hat. and I'm perfect
ly ravenous," announced Joan. appearing
in the doorway. "And we've brought Mr.
darcy. Hughie, are those plover's eggs?
OOH
This was no atmosphere for the breath
ing of confidential secrets. The party re-
| sumed its usual demeanor of off-hanL
British insouciance, and began to gather
round the luncheon table Only Mr..
D'Arcy's right eyebrow asked a question
OF Mrs. Leroy, which was answered by
slight but regretful shrug Of the shout
ders.
| Hughes apartment was L-shaped, and
the feast was spread in the smaller arm.
| out of the way Of draughts and doorways.
would fail to see the luncheon table I'M
| less he turned to his left and walked
| round corner.
Hughie was helping the plover's eggs-it
Benjamin's portion of the same-when
Mr.. Goble suddenly appeared at his elbow
ard whispered in his ear:
Him again.
Muttering an apology, Hughie left the
table and walked round the corner to the
other arm Of the room. Lance Gaymer
had just entered. His face was flushed
and his eyes glittered. and Hughes half
uttered invitation to INN to come in and
have some lunch died away upon his lips.
Halo. Lancet he said, lamely.
Mr.. Gaymer replied. in the deliberate
and portentously solemn tones OF "a man
who Is three parts drunk:
Il understand YOU have got party on
here
YES" said Hughie, endeavoring to edge
his visitor through the doorway.
what l. want to say" continued Mr..
you OF embezzling my sisters property. |
and I'm going to make things damned hot |
for you. Yes-you! Go and tell that to |
your luncheon party round the cOrner!" |
he concluded with snort. "And-glug-l
glug-glug!'
BY this time he had been judiciously |
backed into the passage, almost out of
earsho1' Of those in the room. Stimuli |
taneously Mr.. Coolies large hand closed |!
upon his mouth from behind. and having |
thus acquired d good purchase, turned it's |
owner deftly round and conducted him |
downstairs.
Deathlike silence reigned at the lunch !
they had heard. Not that it mattered
greatly. for Master 1ance's accusations,
making allowances for alcoholic direct |
ness. partook very largely of the nature
OF those already leveled at Huehie by
more conventional Populations.
Before returning to his seat. Hughie
crossed to the window and looked down
into the street.
Mr.. Lance Gayn1er was being assisted
into waiting hanson by the kindly
hands Of Mr.. Guy Halliburton
Hughie, having seen all he expected to
see. returned with faltering steps to his
duties as a host.
1t was a delicate moment. calling for
the exercise OF much tact. Even Mildred
Leroy hesitated. Joan had flushed red,
whether with shame. or anger. or SYM
pathy. it was hard to say. Mr.. d Arcy
rega rded her cUriouSly.
But heavy-footed husbands sometimes
rush in, with success. where the most
wary and diplomatic wives fear to tread
Jack Leroy cleared his throat.
Now, Hughie, my SON." he observed.
your pals on the doormat. perhaps you'll
many old friends collected round your
table like this, We want to drink your
health, young-fellow-my-lad! Fill UP
your glass, Miss Hartford. No heel taps,
Milly!'
There was an irrelevant bonhomie about
this whole speech which struck exactly
the right note. Mrs. Leroy glanced CRATE
fully at her husband and lifted her glass.
The others did the same. But it was
Joan who spoke first.
"Hughie:'' she cried with glowing eyes.
"Hughie:' cried every one. Good
health"
In the times of our prosperity our
friends are always critical, frequently un- |
just, generally q nuisance. and sometimes |