Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1911-04-20
Copyright. 1910. by Doubleday. Page 6
Company. Copyright. 1908. by
the Mcclure Company

Company. Copyright. 1908. by
the Mcclure Company
you really think Of me-"
Il don't say l do think it. I say
only why should I believe in you when
other people don't?"
II see now there's no reason, and
I'm not going to ask you to believe"
You're not going to assure me that
you are the real Lord Loveland?"
mo. I'm not. Pm not going to as
sert myself or defend myself in any
way to you. l var you to draw your
W conclusions"
Every WELL" said Lesley, with spar
king eyes. II do draw them"
i've no excuse to offer even for
stealing your friends play except that
we were hard up and we saw nothing
else to do. I've had no answer to my
cablegrams. There's no time for an
swers to have come to letters yet"
II see. Meanwhile?"
Meanwhile we're on our beam
ends"
'You say we You identify your
self with these people-these poor lit
tie stranded actors?"
ooh, yes: I'm one of them-a poor
little stranded actor too"
YOU'RE not going to desert them?'
NO. Well sink or swim together.
You see, I've got rather fond of two
of the poor little stranded a%ctors,' my
companions in misery, Ed Binney,
who's very i'll. really, and oughtn't to
be acting-a good fellow if ever there
was one-and Miss de Lisle. the STAR
Lesley's face changed slightly, and
her lips opened. but she did not speak.
"Who will perhaps some day marry
a great friend of mine in New York"
oh! So you have Il friend in New
York;"
Yes. one. He paints menus in the
Twelfth street restaurant where was
a waiter"
"How you have changedr" exclaimed
Lesley. "But perhaps it's only circum-
stances"
Perhaps" said Loveland.
If I knew a way in which you could
help your actor friends to escape from
here and go-wherever they want to
go. would you take it, I wonder" asked
the girl.
Il don't wonder; I'm sure" Love
land answered. thinking Of poor little
Lille, bills GAL" and Ed Binney.
HWor1d voy1 ooro RI to Ia a oocifio, io
somebody's house ~as-as-well, a paid
position with an advance on your sal
airy by which you could send all your
friends happily away?"
"Id do it like a shot-if any one
| would have me-" Loveland said quick
~.
Some one will have you-shall we
say as secretary? Do you know type
writing or shorthand?"
Loveland reluctantly answered that
he did not.
Dear me! The secretaryship won't
answer then, I'm afraid. Are you any
thing Of a linguist?"
Cant speak a word of any language
but my own. except a %hotchpotch OF
French. The little Latin I ever had is
practically gone. You'll have to give
me up as a bad job and chuck me into
Jail for the theft of Cremer's play.
I've never had any proper education"
Haven't you? Pm not so sure about
that" said Lesley, with an infection
in her voice that Val couldn't quite
understand. "And I'm not sure you
haven't learned your lesson rather
well. You must be able to do some
thing. Can you drive a motorcar?"
"Yes," said Loveland.
Good! Do you understand the
mechanism Of cars? Would you take
quite a temporary job as chauffeur in
in a private family, with a sal-oh,
I might as well say wages-of $50 a
week and your board and lodging be-
sides?"
IF 1 could get the first week in adj
vance l might send everybody to Chi
cago with what we've got out Of the
stolen play" Loveland said.
Never mind the stolen play. In
Sidney Cremer's name I forgive you
all, now I know the circumstances.
No more to be said about that"
"You must know him very well in
deed to speak for him SO positively"
broke in Loveland gloomily.
II do" said Lesley. You can have
the first weeks wages in advance and
the second too. The cars a Gloria"
my last was a Gloria"
"You mean Lord Loveland's?"
"Oh, yes; I e Lord Loyeland's.
Some men do make chauffeurs Of their
Wallets, and vice versa"
do you accept the situation I offer
your
"You offerY"
"Well, for my friend Sidney Cremer.
Sidney has just bought a new car and
sent it to us. I'm allowed to use II
for awhile as much as I like"
I'm hanged If I'll be his servant!"
Val exclaimed with something Of his
old vehemence.