Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-11-30
A Thrilling Story of THE Great Whit.
Way"
BY BERTRAND RAscock
TODAY'S INSTATTNfEN-T

she insisted that she must see Won and
talk with YOU" Rankin answered
Il won't see her ] won't talk to her 81
exclaimed the youth
There was calm tinality in the butIer,s
tone now as he said:
ANOTHER ENGAGEMENT
But she's right up The road a bit
You must see her, sir. She's perfectly
reconciled, sir, believe me"
Weakly Jackson leaned against his
erandfathers elm This was too much.
'Reconciled!' he gasped You mean
she understands"
"Oh, yes, sir broke in the suave Ran
, kin. She's already sent out a denial
of her engagement to You in the form
of another announcement"
she's engaged to some one else"
Yes, sir; she's going to marry the earl
OF cortland, Rankin answered with what
seemed to the other shade of an on
tirely foreign dignity.
THE earl of Cortland" he calculated
"Wha's he? Where does he live? Up in
the Van Cortlandt Park golf house,"
His triple inquiry was ignored by Ram
kin.
''Will you see her, sir?"
Then, without waiting for his master's
consent, he raised his hand waving IT as
he stepped into the road, and giving a low
whistle.
There was instant response. A little
figure stepped from the darkness of the
path, several hundred feet away. and
trudged toward them. 1t seemed to
Broadway that he was dreaming
Cad he commented. you've got her
trained like d good little doggie!'
MRS. GERARD ARRIVES.
Yes. sir, said the butler.
No other words were spoken during the
short interval that Mrs Gerard's advances
upon them Broadway saw that she was
smiling.
Has Rankin told YOU" she asked.
without a trace of resentment
Yes, Mrs, Gerard, he has told me"
The triple widow sighed and in that
sigh mingled all her old regrets and new
er aspirations. Then she explained:
I'D never be happy if New York should
imagine that I'd been Tilted. or the sub
ject of a practical joke My excuse for
throwing you over was my engagement to
the Earl of Cortland After few hours
talk with Rankin I became convinced
that our marriage would never have been
HAPPY one; hence my decision TO marry
ire earl" She laid one hand upon Jack
sons arm, and for the first time that
youth failed to shudder at the contact
i've played fair with you. Jackson, and
now I want you to do the same by me-"
\ quick involuntary step backward
carried Broadway away from Mrs. Gerard,
while equally without reflection h clapped
both hands over his pocket. Thrift had
a last been born in the spendthrift In
the old days he would have turned his
pockets inside out. Nevertheless, he was
not ungenerous.
I'm do anything you ask within reason,
Mrs. Gerard" he said quite in the tone
ne had used in his interview with the vice
president of the gum trust.
Mrs Garard did not seem to have no.
ticed his caution, which had been purely
instructive, and not at all due to mean
ness.
Very good, she said IAN that I ask
5 that you'll keep my secret.
THE 8UTLER-EARL.
For answer she pointed to Rankin.
Then she added words to her gesture:
May l present the Earl Of Courtand?'
What
TITS true. she went on we've had
thorough understanding, and Rankin has
agreed to become an earl Don't be sur
prsed. It's not at all unusual It's being
doue-its being done in New York. |
know three dukes who were buffers, and
French count who was a chauffeur less
than two years ago. Have I your solemn
promise that you will not divulge the Sc
cret?"
81 give you my word of honor" said
Jones.
Then ne led Rankin aside.
You remember Rankin he said,
''that when | gave YOU that furniture |