The Progressive West Virginian. [volume] (Williamson, W. Va.) 1911-1913, 1912-05-02
CHAPTER xv.-contlnued.

now can II nurtz ner, my dear man
to tell her you are poor?"
Its lie I'm not up to lying to
her; | don't care to. And you. mean
to think that II told her was busted
she would throw me over"
Like shot. my green young friend
-like shot"
You haven't very good opinion OF
women" Blair threw out with as near
sneer as his fine young face could
express.
No, not very" agreed the pool play
er, who had continued his shots with
more or less sangfroid. When Galorey
had run off his string Of balls he said,
looking up from the table: But I've
got very good opinion of that nice
girl you told me of when you first
came, and l wish to Heaven she had
kept you in the states"
This caught the boys attention as
nothing else had. There never was
any such girl" he said slowly; there
never has. been anywhere; l rather
guess they don't grow. You have
made me a cad In listening to you,
Gordon, but as to playing any Of those
comedy tricks you suggest. they are
not In my line. II she Is marrying me
for my money. why. she'll get it,
You're coward" said GaIorey,
like the rest Of American husbands
all ideal and no common sense You
want to make a mess of your life.
You haven't the grit to get out Of a
bad job"
He spurred himself on and his weak
face grew strong as he felt he was
compelling the boys attention ''If
you only had half the character your
father had. you wouldn't make mis-
take like this; you wouldn't run blind
into such deal as this"
Blair was impressed by, his host.
Galorey was SO deadly in earnest and
SO honest, and, as Dams face grew set
and hardened, his companion prayed
for wisdom. IF l can only win
through this without touchinr Lily
hard" he thought. and as he waited
Blair said
You haven't hesitated to call me
names Gordon. You're not my build
or my age. and / can't thrash you
And his host said cheerfully: ooh.
yes. you can; come on and try" and,
metaphorically speaking, Dan struck
his first blow:
They say-people have said to me
that you once cared for Lily your
self"
The Englishman's heavy eyelids did
not flicker. ITS quite true"
Taken back by this frank response,
Blair stammered: We'll, guess that
explains everything. It's not surpris-
Ing that you should feel as you do II
you are jealous, can forgive it a lit
tie bit. bun it is low down to call a
woman fortune hunter
Now Gordon Galorey's face changed
and grew slightly white. Don't make
me angry. my dear chap" he said in a
low tone; Il have said what wanted
to say. Now. go to the devil If you
like and as soon as you like"
And the boy said hotly, stammering
in his excitement:
mot yet-not yet-not before l tell
you what think"
Gordon, with wonderful control OF
his own anger. met the boys eyes. and
said with great patience:
mo. don't, Dan; don't go on. There
are many things in this affair that we
can't touch upon. Let 1t drop. The
right woman would make a ripping
man of you, but you oughtn't to marry
for ten years"
Dan took the hand which Galorey
put out to him. and the Englishman
said warmly: My dear chap. hope
1t will all come out right. from my
heart"
Dan, who had regained his balance,
said to his friend:
I've been very angry at what you
said. but you're the chap my father
sent me to. There must be something
back of this, and I'm going to find out
what it is. and I'm going to take my
own way to find out | wouldn't give
a rap for anything that came to me
through trick or a lie, and wouldn't
know how to go to her with cock
and-bull story. / shall act as / feel
and go ahead being just as am and
perhaps she won't want me after all.
even If have got the rocks!"
And Galorey said heartily: Il wish
there was chance of 1t"
When, later, Gordon thought of Dan
1t was with glow What a chip
of the old block he is" he said; what
a good bit of character, even at TWEEN
ty-two years" He was divided be-
tween feeling that he had made a
mess of things between Dan and him
self, and feeling sure that some OF his
advice had gone home. After a mo-
ment's silence. Dan Blair's son said: