Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1911-10-20
sorbed, as a man usually is absorbed
f0P ma rooonn anfU

sorDed, as a man usually Is absorbed
for one reason only.
In response to q telegram from 0s-
dene Park, Dan motored out there one
afternoon, and during his absence
EIggles was surprised at his hotel
by a call.
MY dear Mr.. Ruggles," Lord Ca
lorey said, for he It was the page 10y
fetched up, why don't you come. out
to see US? All friends of old Mr..
Blair's are welcome at Osdene."
Ruggles thanked Galorey and said
he was not visiting man, that he
only had a short time in London, and
was going to Ireland to look up his
family tree"
There are one hundred acres Of
trees in Osdene," laughed Galorey;
you can climb them all" And Rug
giles replied:
Il guess wouldn't find any
O'ShaughneSsy Ruggles at the top Of
any of 'em, my lord. The boy has
gone out to see you all today"
Galorey nodded. THAT is just why
! toddled in to see you!"
Ruggles' caller had been shown to
the sitting room, where he and Dan
hobnobbed and smoked during the
Westerner's visit. There was a pile
of papers on the table, in one corner
a typewriter covered by black cloth.
Galorey took chair and, refusing a
cigarette, lit his pipe.
Il didn't have the pleasure of meet
ing you in the West when | was out
there with Blair. l knew Dams IA
ther rather we'll"
Ruggles responded: 81 knew him
rather well, too, for thirty years. If,
he went on, Blair hadn't known you
pretty we'll he wouldn't have sent the
boy out to you as he has done. He
was keen on every trail. l might
say that he had been over every one
OF 'em like hound before he set the
boy loose"
Galorey answered, "Quite so, grave
ly. Il know it. l knew it when Dan
turned up at Osdene-" Holding his
pipe bowl in the palm of his slender
hand, he smoked meditatively. He
hadn't thought about things, as he
had been doing lately, for many years.
His sense of honor was the strongest
thing in Gordon Galorey, the only
thing in him, perhaps, that had been
left unsmirched By the touch of the
world. He was unquestionably a gen.
tlemaH.
blair, however" he said, wasn't
as keen on this scent as you'd expect.
His intuition was wrong"
Ruggles raised his eyebrows slight
ly.
Il mean to say" Lord Galorey went
on, that he knew me in the West
when had cut loose for few blessed
months from Just these things into
which he has sent his boy-from
what, If | had a son, God knows I'd
throw him as far as l could"
blair wanted Dan to see the
world"
"Of course, that is right enough.
We all have to see it, fancy, but this
boy isn't ready to look at it."
He is twenty-five" Ruggles re.
turned. When l was his age | was
supporting four people"
Galorey went on: "Osdene Park at
present isn't the window for Blair's
boy to see life through, and that is
what | have come up to London to
talk to you about, Mr.. Ruggles.
should like to have you take him
away"
What's Dan been up to down
there"
Nothing as yet. but he is in the
pocket of womsn-he is in a nest
Of women"
Ruggles' broad face had not altered
Its expression Of quiet expectation.
There's lot Of 'em down there?"
he asked.
There are two" Galorey said brief.
ly, "and one of them is my wife"
Ruggles turned his cigarette be-
tween his great fingers. He was a