The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1912-07-11
COPYRIGHT 1911 Iy BObBS r1ERRILL COMPANY

was even now on his way to his room.
The urban gentleman nodded. Then,
with finger slim and well-trimmod,
he trailed up and down the guest-list.
'Ha! 1 see that you have the Duke
Of What.d-ye-call from Germany here.
III give you my card. Send 1t up to
Mr.. Ryanne. No hurry. shall be In
again after dinner"
He hustled off toward the door.
He was pursy, wellfed, and decently
dressed, the sort Of man who, when
he moved in any direction, created the
impression that he had an important
engagement somewhere else or was
pairing minutes from timetables. For
q man in his business it was clever
expedient, deceiving all but those who
knew him. He hesitated at the door,
however, as If he had changed his
mind in the twenty-odd PAGES 1t took
to reach it. He stared for a long
period at the elderly gentleman who
was watching the feluccas on the
river through the window. The white
mustache and imperial stood out in
crisp relief against the rudy sunburn
on his face. If he was aware of this
scrutiny on the part of the pursy gen.
tleman, he gave not the least sign.
The revolving door spun round, send.
ing a puff of outdoor air into the
lounging-room The elderly gentleman
then smiled, and applied his thumb
and forefinger to the waxen point of
his imperial.
In the intervening time Mr.. Ryanne
entered his room, threw the bundle
on the bed, sat down beside it, and
read his letter. Shadows and lights
moved across his face; frowns that
hardened it, smiles that mellowed 1t.
Women hold the trick Of writing let.
tiers. Do they hate, their thoughts
fash and burn from line to line. Do
they love, tits lettered music. Do they
eonspire, the breadth of their imagi.
nation is without horizon. At best.
man can indite only a polite business
better, his love-notes were adjudged
bong since a maudlin collection of
bose sentences. In this letter Mr. Ry.
snne found the three parts Of life.
shes a good general; but hang
these birthstone efforts Of hers. She
talks too much of heart. For my part,
] prefer to regard it as q mere phys
zeal function, pump, a motor, a pow
81 that gives action to the legs, either
in coming or in going, more Especially
IN going" He laughed. "Well, hers
Is the inspiration and hers is the law.
And to think that she could plan all
this on the spur of the moment, down
to the minutest detail! It's science"
He put the letter away, slid out his
legs and glared at the dusty tips of
bis shoes. "The United Romance and
Adventure Company, Ltd, Of New
York, London, and Paris. She has the
greatest gift Of all, the sense of hui
NOR"
= He rose and opened his kit-bag
houbtfully. He rummaged about in
the depths and at last Strengthened
up with mild oath.
mot a pair Of cuffs in the whole
outfit, not shirt, not collar. Oh,
we'll, when a man has to leave Bagdad
The way I did, over the back fence,
% to speak, linen doesn't count"
He drew down his cuffs, detached
and reversed them, he turned his fold
ing collar wrong-side out, and used
the under side Of the foot-rug as a
ehoe-polisher. It was the ingenious
procedure Of a man who was used to
being out late nights, who made all
things answer all purposes. This rapid
and singularly careless toilet COM
pleted, he centered his concern upon
ehe more vital matter Of finances. He
was close to the nadir: four sover-
signs, a form, and collection of bat
tered coppers that would have tickled
khe pulse of an amateur numismatist.
mo vintage tonight, my boy; no
long, fat Havana, either. A bottle of
stout and a few rags Of plug-cut;
that's the pace Wen travel this eve
ming. The United Romance and Ad-
venture Company is not listed at pres
ant. II it was, I'd sell few shares
on my own hook. The kind Lord
knows that I've stock enough and to
spare" He laughed again, but with
nut the leaven Of humor. when the
eool-killer snatches up the last fool,
Bet rogues look to themselves: and
fools are getting scarcer every day.
"Percival Algernon! o age Of DO.
cts! ! wonder, does he wear high col.
bars and spats, or has she plumbed
him accurately? She is generally
right. But a man changes some in
seven years. I'm an authority when It
comes to that. Look what's happened
10 me in seven years! First, Horace,
ne shall dine, then Wen smoke our
pipe in the billiard-room, then we'll
softly approach Percival Algernon
end introduce him to Sinbad. This in.
dependent excursion to Bagdad was
stroke on my part; it will work into
the general plan as smoothly as if it
bad been grooved for the part. Sinbad.
] might just as well have assumed
that name:. Horace Sinbad, sounds
well and looks WELL" He unused in
silence, his hand gently rubbing his
chin; for he did possess the trick Of
talking alOud in low ynCuCfouo n