Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-08


high horse at once anywhere. Anyhow, he
made fuss, and no attention was paid to it.
Morija directly struck him"
Struck whOm?"
"GraftOn."
Southby looked at Wellesley, Wellesley
looked at Dalton, and conformity they stared
at one another with something of alright in
their gaze.
"The curious thing is" continued the mar
rator, that Grafton would naturally be the
last man to submit to such an indignity, the
first to resent it. He seemed, though, per-
fectlv ObliviOus of verything-dazed. He
kept straight on as if he had never noticed
and passed out of sight without a coat or
hat
"Without coat or hat?" repeated Dalton
insistently.
"Why, yes-I suppose that he was going
back again to the ballroom"
Hurry up!' ordered Dalton sharply, and
his friends left the teller of the tale con-
founded by the sudden departure of his audi
enCe.
WHEN Dalton reached the street with
" the other two closely following him
he Intercepted the chauffeur of his own
automobile.
"Do you know Mr.. Grafton?"
"Yes, Sir" said the man. II saw him just
now"
"Where is he?"
"Mr. Grafton came out few moments
ago, got into his motor, and ordered out his
driver. Then he started off. l noticed, Sir
because he was without coat or hat and
though the nights not cold"
THAT settles it, declared Dalton, turning
to his friends. Il may be an idiot, but |
can't stand it. Do any of you know the
roads across Long Island to Gunners Point?'
Wellesley and Southby shook their heads.
"Wilmarth could show u.s." announced
Dalton. "Perhaps we ought to take him,
anyhow. If I'm not fool, we ought. Go"
he commanded Southby, "and get him
Southby hurried off. At his departure
Dalton with the chauffeur busted himself in
specting the automobile. Before they were
finished Southby was back with Wilmarth.
"Here!" exclaimed the young man. what
does this mean-I've been hurried out"
II don't know myself replied Dalton
morose1y.
"I'm collared by Southby, and told | must
show you the nearest way to Gunners Point.
Is there he spoke with sudden manifest
anxiety, 4any bad news from there that do
not know"
Nothing" returned Dalton earnestly.
"You may set your mind at rest about that.
we nave heard nOthlng from Inere 10 Trouble
you-nothing in the very least"
"Then-"
"There ism t time to tell you now, growled
Dalton resentfully, "what we don't know
ourselves. Get into the machine, and you
can hear then. We may be pack of fools
bound on a FOOLS Grand; but 1 m going, for
one"
"And l." echoed Wellesley.
Wilmarth glanced at one after the other
of those about him.
"And l." he said gravely.
DALTON had urged the rest, who needed
L no urging into the car. He himself
sprang to the drivers seat, the chauffeur be-
side him, with the three others at the back
The engine was working furiously, and start
ed with dislocating suddenness. He darted
past an arriving automobile, lodged be-
tween several more, and started at racing
speed down the deserted avenue. AS best
they might, Southby and Wellesley gave
Wilmarth hurried description of what had
taken place. Beginning as if in fear Of ridi-
Guile, they found in the seriousness with
which their account was received sudden
augmentation of their fears. The few ques-
tons Wilrnarth asked proved that he was