Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1912-08-09


my special benefit, what would .yoA
sayr
"Say!" George turned q serioua
oountenance toward the adventursr>
Why, theewhole thing Is absurd On
the face Of 1t. As joke. II might 20.
but as a genuine affair, utterly imposS
sible." 9
no." QuietlS.. Il admit that ie
sounds absurd, yes; but ten years ago
they,t have locked up, as insane. q
man who said that heGould ny. But {
think OF last summer at Paris, at
Rheims, at Frankfort. the Continental
air was full OF hying-machines. Bah,
It's pretty diMcult to impress the az.
erage mind with so4ething new. Why
shouldn't we cater to the poetic, the
romantic side Of man? We've con-
Germs for everything else. The faesI
is, mediocrity is always standing BE-
hind the corner with brickbats for
the Initiative. Believe me or not. mol
Jones, but this company exists, Thsl
proof is that you have the rug and 81
have the scars" I
But in these prosalc times!"e mur1
INJURED George, still skeptical.
"Prosaic ttmes!" smiled q Rysnas,
There's one Of your brickbats. Their.
swung II at the head Of the first piiat>
sr. Prosaic times! My friend, thia
10 the most romantic and bewilderinR,
age humanity has yet SEEN: Thers'S
more romance and adventure going
about on wheels and steetbottonA
than ever there was in thu days Of
Drake and the. Spanish galleons.
There's an adventure lurking round the.
nearest corner-romance, too. What
this organization does is to direct youS
after that you have to shift for your
self. But, like first-rate physical a.
structor, they never map out more
than q man can do. They gave ne
the rug. Your bones, on such q1est.
would have been bleaching upon the
banks Of the TigriA" o
What the deuce is this company
called?" George was enjoying the con-
versation immensely.
The United Romance and Adysn>
ture company, Ltd, Of London, Parts,
and New York"
Have you any Of the compsny1a
paper with your" George represssd
his laughter because Ryanne's face
was serious enough.
Unfortunately. no. But If VOC VIII
give me your bankers address III be
pleased to forward you the Eospec>
tus." o
"Knau.h, Nachod and Kuhne. 4
am shortly leaving for home. Better
send 1t to New York. | say, suppose
a chap buys an adventure that Is aoS
up to the mark; can be return II or
exchange It for another?'i 80
NO. It's all chance, you know
The rules Of the game aFa steel
bound. We find you an adventureS
it's up to you to make good o
But, once more suppose chap gets
a little too rough game, and doesn't
turn up for his dividends; what theny'.
"ln that event." answered Ryaane,
sadly. "tbe stock reverts to the eeal
eral fund" "a.
George lay back in bis chair and lei
10 his laughter. You are mighty
good company, Mr., Ryanne."
We'll. well; well say nothing more
about It. But a moment gone VOC
spoke as II you we're game for an exl
plot" j
81 still am. But II / knew the az
venture was prearrange1, as you
and ! was up against wall, there
would be the inclination to cable the
firm for more Instructions" a d
Ryanne himself laughed this time
That's a good idea, don't believe
the company ever thought OF such
contingency. But | repeat, our busSl
ness is to give you the kickoff. AfterS
that you have to fight for your own
downs" .
The stock isn't listed?" again.
laughing.
Scarcely. One man tells another,
as tell you, and so on" .
"You send me the prospectus. I'm
rather curious to have a look at it,
Il certainly shall do so,". replied
Ryanne. with gravity unassumed.
"Ah! Here come Mrs. ChedsoyS and
her daughter. II you don't mind, III
make myself scarce. do not care,
to see them Just now, after your has>
ing told them about the stolen
Yhiordes.n
lm soTIy sAlu GEORGE rislng
eagerly.
IT'S all in the game" galhptly.
George saw him gracefully ma
neuVer his way round the crush to-
ward the stairs leading to the bar,
Really. he would like to know more.
about this amiable frOe-lances As the
old fellows used to say. he little
dreamed that destiny. one Of those
things from Pandora's box, was pre-
pairing a deeper and more intimate
acquaintance.
-And what has been amusing you,
Mr.. Jones?v asked Mrs. Chedsoye. Il
saw you laughing"
Il was talking with the rug chap
He's a droll fellow. He said that be