Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1912-12-26
PYRIOfiT 1911 By BOBBS NERRILL COMP

was nothing to indicate that George
Percival Algernon Jones was in any
way handicapped by his Arthuresque
middle names.
mo fool, as Gioconda in her infinite
wisdom hath said; but romantic, ter
ribly romantic, yet, like the timid
bather who puts a foot into the water,
finds 1t cold, and withdraws it. 1t will
all depend upon whether he is real
collector or merely buyer Of rugs.
Forward, then, Horace; a sovereign
has already dashed headlong down the
far horizon" The curse Of speaking
his thoughts aloud did not lie heavily
upon him tonight, for these cogitations
were made in silence, unmarked by
any facial expression. He proceeded
across the room and sat down beside
George. 81 beg your pardon" he be-
gan, but are you not Mr.. Jones?"
Mildly astonished, George signified
that he was.
George P. A. Jones?"
George nodded again, but with some
heat in his cheeks. YES. What is
it?" The girl had just finished her
coffee and was going away. Hang this
fellow! What did he want at this mo.
ment?
If Ryanne saw that he was too
much, as the French say, he also per-
ceived the cause. The desire to shake
George till his teeth ratified was in
stantly overcome. She hadn't seen
him, and for this he was grateful
you are interested in rugs? mean
old ones, rare ones, rugs that are
bought once and seldom if ever sold
again."
why, yes. That's my business"
George had no silly ideas about trade.
He had never posed as a gentleman's
son in the sense that it meant idle
ness.
Ryanne presented his card.
How do you pronounce it" asked
George naively.
"As they do in Cork"
Il never saw it spelled that way be.
FORE"
Nothing surprising in that" replied
Ryanne. mo one else has, either"
George laughed and waited for the
explanation.
you see, Ryan is as good a name
as they make them; but it classes
with prize-fighters, politicians and bar
chemists. The two extra letters put
the finishing touch to the name. A
jewel is all right, but what tells is
the way you hang 1t round your neck
To me, those additional letters repre-
sent the jewel Ryan in the hands Of q
Lalique."
"You talk like an American"
81 am; three generations. What's
the matter?" with sudden concern.
George was frowning. Haven't
met you somewhere before?"
mot to my recollection" A specu
lative frown now marred Ryanne's
forehead. 1t did not illustrate a search
in his memory for such casualty as
the meeting of George. He never for
got face and certainly did not re
member Georges. Rather, the frowr
had its source in the mild dread thai
Percival Algernon had seen him some
where during one of those indisposi
tions of the morning after. mo;
think you have made a mistake"
Likely enough. 1t just struck me
that you looked something like chaI
named Wadswortb, who was half-bacl
IN the varsity, when entered my
freshman year."
"A university man? Lord, no!
was turned loose at ten; been hustline
ever since" Ryanne spoke easily, moi
a tremor in his voice, although hi
had received a slight mental jolt
mo; no college record here. But
want to chat with you about rugs
I've heard Of you, indirectly"
From the carpet fellows? We de-
a big business over here. What have
you got?"
well, I've a rug up in my room
I'd like to show you. want your judg
ment for one thing. VIII you do mt
the favor?"
Since the girl had disappeared ant
with her those imaginary appurte
nances that had for space trans
formed the lounging-room into n stage
George saw again with normal vision