Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-09-21
CHAPTER XVIII.
Clashes and Crashes.

The count was not a nice man. He
was extremely careless as to methods.
and he was so supremely selfish that I'M
pleasant results to others We're Of no i'm
portance. When he wanted his own
way he endeavored to get it and used
whatever tools were most available.
When Gladys had answered his signal
earlier in the evening he had kissed her
very dairtily. and had instructed her to
find out as much as possible of the con-
versation which was taking place between
Mr. Bennington and his private secre-
tary. promising to go deeper into the love
motif as soon as she delivered her report.
Gladys did not crave such commission;
but she was fascinated by Lorrains man
ner-his naughty disdain interspersed with
an occasional careSS-dnd even MS SelnSH-
ness seemed the seal of his noble origin.
SO she had played the eavesdropper FOR
him (as she had often done In a less de
gree for her own ENTERTAINMENT. ana
when she had brought him her report. he
had so far condescended as to take a
short walk in the park with her. He did
not do this payment for service Not
at ALL he never wasted MS 1aNors. ne
did this to prepare for the possibility or
needing her services at some future time
He deserved to be a count even though
his line did happen to be the wrong
branch of the family.
GLADYS had a good head for STYLES. but
a poor one for figures; and her lnforma-
ton was almost too abstract to be Vaiu-
able Size could merely tell him that
there was a large government contract
for steel to be used on the Panama con-.
struction steel for three new battleshlps
and steel for all the different railroads In
the world she admitted after some ques-
tioning that the railroads had been emu
merated but could not recall them She
said that the amount of the Panama con-
tract was to be exactly two million. three
hundred and SiXty-tiye thousand dollars.
She was sure of the figures because they
were the same as those of the telephone
number of her best friend in New YORK.
Lorrain had chided her for not being sure
of the amount Of the battleship contracts,
or even if they were government con-
tracts: but still he was elated and re-
ciprocated by being unusually affection
ate
Poor Lorrain was artistic and he de-
tested making love to common creature.
Gladys wore on him terribly. and he was
trying to induce her to return home: while
she was trying to induce him to speak
some more poetry, it went so well wEh
the moonlight.
was consumed with desire to rush forth
and wiring VANS neck. for he still
thought that Gladys was his ally, but at
last the figure wearing the dress came
plUlS toward where lie WAS HlulHS. W me
the man followed after AS he passed
close to Dick. Dick tackled him savagely.
1.orran uttered a startled imprecation.
and Dick rolled off and dove into the
bushes. hoping that he had not been
recognized For the same reason Lorrain
sprang to his feet and ran toward the
house.
Dick leaned against a tree. 'Lorrain
and Gladys. Great Scott he exclaimed.
bereath his breath. 'Oh, this is only
In
happen. ! suppose my respected uncle
and the cook will next appear
He walked over to the den. wondering
as to the fate of Ivan.. and deciding that
if he did not appear shortly he would
go and get Emil. But if l leave here
and he comes back and is captured with
that dress on he'll commit murder he
said, stopping short and throwing out his
arm. as though inviting controversy.
But" he added. ii delay much longer,
Miss Burton will reach home and call out
the militia"
He composed himself with an effort and
approached the den. did you hear
scuffie?" he called.
Yes. | did. and l cant stand this an
other minute. II you do not get me out
at once l shall go hysterical ard scream
or else l shall faint"
NO. no. you mustn't" cried Dick, in
alarm. 1T would spoil everything II
you are calm enough to make choice be-
tween two such perfectly silly perform
ances. don't see why you can't cut them
both out altogether"
'.Of course you can't see.'' angrily.
you're a man, and a man can never see
anything except something to eat or
drink What kind of nerves do you think
/ have? Here l am locked up in q bear
den my family searching the neighbor-
hood for me and / just heard you fighting
with some ore. Who was he? Did you
njure him.
You poor little thing" comforted Dick.
II don't blame you bit. 1t was only a
fool boy flirting with the maid. No. did
not injure him. Merely frightened him.
/ never injure a man unless it is abso-
lutely necessary"
''Will you please tell me why you do
not try to get me out? II. must be nearly
morning.
1T isn't 0 o'clock. / thought it was
late, myself. until heard the clock strike
down in Minister"
What did it striker
1T struck one for half-past ST. an
swered Dick, promptly.
'Or half-past anything else or really
!. and l am sure 1t will strike two next.
Why don't you do something's"
Il have done a lot of things You're
unreasonable. replied Dick Il have laid
plans which would make Napoleon green
with envy. and in a few minutes /
shall Hist l think it is about to
happen"
Dick dropped into his shadow, and the