Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1912-08-31


k.J Hampstead home and his
Wall street office On the way into
town he studied the market reports
and the street quotations. Not even
his chauffeur ever saw him glance at
the sporting pages of the newspapers.
For a decade he had bought his even
ing papers from the same newsman, at
the same hour each evening. Never in
all that time had he ever asked for
sporting extra.
In the season he would go to Sara
toga, where, after an afternoon at the
track, he would sit on the hotel veran-
da in the evening and gravely discuss
the merits of the horse with a gentle
man farmer from the Genesee valley.
His open wagers We're small. No one
ever suspected Mr.. Darlington of ever
having anything more than Il super
fetal interest in race horses or race
tracks.
One morning the punctual Barring
ton and his motor failed to turn Mas
sau and Wall streets at $50 o'clock.
At his offices it was announced he had
contracted a slight cold. Within the
week the superintendent Of his vari-
GUS clubs had posted the little black
bordered card announcing his death.
The exchange had passed set of
laudatory resolutions and Widow Bar
rington was looking over the contents
of his strong box.
What she found was choice assert
ment of handsomely engraved certifi-
Gates representing interests in COM
panies which were as defunct as their
late purchaser. The house on Long
Island had been given to her and was
free and clear of all legal entangle-
ments.
The problem of living-not how,
but where to get the wherewithaI by
which to WELCOMED large on her
mental horizon. Among his papers
were found various receipts for feed
bills and racing equipment. There
were frequent references to one Mat
Donovan. The Widow Darlington sent
for this Mr.. Donovan. The mem
DRY of the first meeting will never
fade. When Donovan had said 80
long, she found herself the owner of
racing stable, an asset which had al
most broke the late John Darlington
but one which if properly handled
would be paying investment for the
widow.
Never breathing her secret and keep
ing a tight hand on the working of the
stable, with Donovan's help she wrung
living from the game.
But always over her head hung the
fear of the exposure of her secret
Giving up her city home. she spent
the most of the year in the country
house, which was near the track and
the stables in which the horses of the
John Duffy stable were quartered.
That was the name under which John
harrington had raced. She retained it.
With her lived her sister. a winsome
young American girl, very much in
love with the son of neighbor
The season at the Hampstead track
was on. Mrs. harrington had filed
her house with guests. Between en-
tertaining and keeping her eye on the
stable she passed many busy and
anxious moments.
Little reliance could be placed on
her sister, Myrtle Wentworth. as she
had kept her in ignorance of her finan-
cial standing. and then again she was
so deeply in love with Ralph Wood
hurst
Even now she had closed her book
as she sat on the steps of the house
veranda and was thinking of her
wedding day, only fortnight away.
Her reverie was interrupted by the
binding of her eyes by pair of hands
and the imprinting of kiss on her
cheek.
With a startled cry she quickly
arose. tearing away the hands which
hid from her sight the man who had
dared to take such liberties. Flushed
and indignant, she turned to voice her
protest. But at the sight of Ralph her
anger faded. With a smile she sighed
happily: "Ohi It's your
Certainly, Who else dare take such
hberieS?" he asked banteringIy.
NO one, of coursei" replied Myrtle
well, / should hope not
He spoke with that pleasant air of
proprietorship which n woman delights
to have her wooer assume at times
not that she ever really intends him
to be her master save in legal fiction.
but as a faint throwhack to the days
when man wooed with a club and the
honeymoon started with the wife be
ing trailed by the hair down some
jungle path. viewing, if not entirely
senseless, the rearward retreat of her
bridegrooms rival for her hand
Changing her mood, she glanced shy
ly into Ralph's eyes.
-'You-you mustn't do it again, DEAR
she murmured.
why? Don't you like it:' laughed
her SuaaIsa.rf IaaIdIy