The Progressive West Virginian. [volume] (Williamson, W. Va.) 1911-1913, 1912-03-14
CHAPTER x.-contInued.


Dan altered his indolent pose and
sat forward But | am thinking OF
getting married. he said.
4 hope it's to the right girl, Dan"
And with young assurance Blair an
swered: 1t will be If | marry her.
know what want all right"
Il hope she knows what she wants,
Dam"
How do you mean"
You or your money. You have the
darnedest handicap, my boy"
Blair flushed. I'll get to hate the
whole thing" he said ferociously. 1t
meets me everywhere onds-stocks
figures dividends-coupons- deeds
its too much!" he said suddenly,
with resentment. ITS too much for
me. Why. sometimes I feel a hun
dred years old. and like hunk OF
gold"
Ruggles, In answer to this, said:
Why. that reminds me of what
man remarked about your father once.
1t was the same English chap your ia
Their bought the Sclaim of. Speaking
Of Blair. he said 70 me: You know
there's all kinds OF metal bars. and
when you cut into them some is bull
lion and some's coated with alum
mum. and there's others that when
you cut down. cut clean yellow all
along the line II. as you say, you
feel like hunk OF metal. 1t amt bad
IL 1t is that kind"
IT'S got to stop coming In between
me and the woman marry. all right,
though" Dan did not pursue his sub
ject further. for his feelings about the
duchess were too unreal to give him
the sincere heartiness with which he
would have liked to answer Ruggles.
He went over to the window, and,
with his hands in his pockets, stood
looking out at the fog. Ruggles. at
book of "Mandalay" and took out the
four checks made out to Lady Galorey
and which he had forgotten. He hur-
riedly thrust them into his pocket.
Come away, Dannie," he said cheer
fully. lets do something wild. | feel
up to do most anything with this mis-
cradle fog down on me. If it had any
nerve 1t would take some. form or
shape. so a man could choke 1t back"
Rugges blew his nose violently
There's nothing to do" said Dan
In bored tone.
Why don't you see who your teie-
gram is from?" Ruggles asked. 1t
proved to be a suggestion from Cor
don Galorey that Dan should meet
him at five O'Clock at the club.
What will you do, Rug?"
Sleep" said the Westerner serene
iy: I'm nearly as happy in London
as am In Philadelphia It's four
o'clock now and | can't sleep more
than four hours anyway. Let's have
real wild time. Dannie."
Dan looked at him doubtfully, but
Ruggles' eyes were keen.
What kind of a time do you
mean?"
Let's ask the Gaiety girl for din
ner-for supper after the theater."
Lefty Lane? She wouldn't 60"
why not?''
She Is awfully delicate; 1t is all
she can do to keep her contracts"
He knows that. Ruggles thought.
Lets ask her and see" He went
over to the table and drew out the
paper Come on and write ana ask
her to go out with us to supper"
See here. Rug. what's this for?"
What's strange in it? She is from
our state. and If you don't hustle and
ask her | am going to ask her all
alone"
Dan was puzzled as he sat down to
the table, rejecting that 1t was per.
fectly possible that old Ruggles had
fallen a prey to the charms of an
actress. She wouldn't come, of course,
He wrote formal invitation without
thinking very much of what he said
or how. folded and addressed his note
What did you say?" Rugges asked
eagerly.
Why. that two boys from home
wanted to give her a supperF
We'll" said Ruggles. IF the an
swer comes while you are at the club
I'll open it and give the orders. Think
she'll Gomez"
4 do not" responded Dan rather
brutally. shes got others to take
her out 10 supper, you bet your life
We'll. there's none of them as rict
as you are. | reckon. Dan"
And the boy turned on him VIC
Iently.
See here. Josh. If you speak to ms
again of my money. when there's {
woman in the question"
He did not finish his threat, bu
snatched up his coat and hat anc
gloves and went out of the door. slam
ming II after him.
Mr.. Rnggles' profound and happ.
g1ore was cut short by the page boy
VITO fetched in a note, with the Save
Stamping on the back. Ruggles ppene
II not without emotion
Dear boy" It ran y haven't ye