The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-05-04
want you to let the boy co."

She smiled slightly, found her hand
kerchief. which was tucked up the cuff
OF her blouse. pressed the little bit
OF linen to her lips as though to steady
them. then she asked abruptly:
What has he said to you?"
Lord" Ruggles groaned. "Said tc
me! My dear young lady, he is much
too rude to speak. Dan sort Of
breathes and snorts around like a
lunatic. He was dangling around that
duchess when / was here before, but
she didn't scare me any"
And Lefty Lane, now smiling at
him, relieved by his break from a
more intense tone, asked:
Now. you are scared?"
Well" Ruggles drawled, IL was
pretty sure that woman didn't care
anything for the boy. Are you her
! kind?"
1t was the best stroke he had made.
She almost sprang up from her chair.
Heavens" she exclaimed, II guess
I'm not" Her face flushed.
| II had rather see a son Of mine
dead than married to a woman like
that" he said.
why. Mr. Ruggles," she exclaimed
passionately, addressing him with in.
terest for the first time, what do you
know about me? What? What? You
have seen me dance and heard me
sing"
And he interrupted her.
! "Ten times, and you are a bully
dancer and bully singer, but you do
other things than dance and sing.
There Is not man living that would
want to have his mother dress that
way"
She controlled a smile. Never
mind that. Peoples opinions are very
different about that sort OF thing. You
have seen me at dinner with your boy.
as you call him. and you can't say
that did anything but ask him to
help the poor. l haven't led Dan on.
| have tried to show him just what
you are making me 60 through now I"
II she acted we'll and danced we'll.
1t was hard for her to talk. She was
evidently under strong emotion and it
needed her control not to burst into
tears and lose her chance.
"Of course, know the things You
have heard. or course, know what
ls said about me"-and she stopped.
Ruggles didn't press her any fur.
ther; he didn't ask her II the things
were true. Looking at her as he did,
watching her as he did, there was in
him feeling SO new, so troubling
that he found himself more anxious to
protect her than to bring her to JUS
tice.
There are worse, far worse women
than / am. Mr.. Ruggles. will never
do Dan any harm"
Here her visitor leaned forward and
put one Of his big hands lightly over
one OF hers, patted 1t a moment, and
said:
Il want you to do a great deal bet
ter than that"
She had picked up a photograph off
the table, a pretty picture of herself
In "Mandalay." and turned 1t nerv.
ously between her fingers as she said
with irritation:
II haven't been in the theatrical
world not to guess at this Worried
Father act. Mr.. Ruggles. told you
| knew just what you were going to
say"
"Wrong!" he repeated. "The busi-
ness is old enough perhaps, lots Of
good Jobs are old, but this is little
different"
He took the turning picture and
laid 1t on the table, and quietly pos
sessed himself of the small cold
, hands. Blair's solitaire shone up to
him. Ruggles looked into Lefty Lanes
eyes. HE is only twenty-five; it amt
fair, it amt fair. He could count the
times he has been on lark, l guess.
He hasn't even been to an eastern col
lege. He is no fool, but he's darned
simple"
She smiled family. The mans face,
near her own, was very simple indeed.
You have seen so much" he urged.
so many fellows. You have been
! such queen, | dare say you could get
| any man you wanted" He repeated.
Most any man."
Il have never seen any one like
Dan."
, Just so: he amt your kind. That
is what ! am trying to tell YOU"
She withdrew her hand from his vio-
lently.
! There you are wrong He is my
kind. He is what like, and he is
what want to be like"
A wave Of red dyed her face, and,
in a tone more passionate than she
had ever used to her lover, she said
to Ruggles:
II love him-I love him!" Her
words sent something like a sword
through the older mans heart. He
said gently: Don't say 1t. He don't
know what love means yet"
He wanted to tell her that the girl