Elk City mining news. (Elk City, Idaho) 1903-1913, 1913-05-08
I'D. FLETCHER ROBINSON

the grip OF giants teeth. The gray
front looked up, across a slope of
grass land, to a semi-circle of forest
that swept away In dark standings of
FIR and oak. From the long oblong
Of the main buildings were thrust
back two wings, flanked on the nearer
side by a chapel.
From the back of the house to the
edge of the sea cliffs, a distance of
some quarter Of a mile, ran an ir-
regular avenue of frs with clipped
yew walks and laurel-edged flower
gardens on either hand.
A dozen men sweeping tho paths
and telegraph boy on a pony mount
ing the hill towards me showed as
black pIgmies against the drifts Of
snow.
Ny bachelor host was absent when
was ushered into the great central
hall where the house-party were met
| together for their tea. l am by ma
ture shy Of strangers, taken in large
doses. and 1t was with relief that l
recognized Jack Talman, the grizzled
cynic of an Academician, sitting In
a corner seat wo' out Of reach Of
| IA Adehec anu ACIudl0 COANcIbdLlO
Hello. Phillips" he welcomed mo.
And what financial gale brings you
here7"
What do you mean?"
Don't put on frills with me. rye
come to paint old Stems picture, II
he will give me the fifteen hundred
that I'm asking for it. Lord Tommy
Retford yonder is here to unload
some Of his old furniture-you know
Tommy's rooms In Piccadilly, don't
you? Furnished by a dealer In Bond
street. and rs per cent. commission to
Tommy on everything he can sell out
OF them. That's Mrs. Talbot Slingsly
talking to him. Pretty woman, got
into trouble in New York. was cut by
all America, and captured Slingsly
and London society at one blow.
Scandal never does cross the Atlantic
somehow-all the dirty linen gets
washed in the herring-pond. That's
old Lord Blame by the fire; very re-
spectacle, and lends money on the
sly. Private gentleman will make
advances on note of hand'-you know.
Fine woman, Mrs. Billy Blades-that's
she on the sofa. She's been making
desperate love to Steen, but no 60
The gay old dogs too clever for her
That long chaps her husband. Watch
him prowling round, looking to see II
he can pouch a silver ashtray OF
something, 1 expect. By Jove, Phil
lips. but it's as good as a play. amt
it?'
"And this is London society?" ex
claimed.
NO" he cackled. shaking with
vast amusement. mo, man; no
It's the Smart Set, that advertised
criticized. glorious, needy brigade Of
rogues and vagabonds-the Smart Set
Bless 'em all, say l.; they're the best
OF company, but It's as we'll to loch
up your valuables before you be
come too intimate with them"
l finished OF my tea while old Tai
man sucked at his cigarette in great
entertainment.
You'd like to see the house." he
commenced again. Come along, III
show you round-I want a walk be
fore dinner"
1t was a most interesting ramble
We passed from room to room admir-
Ing the carved oak, the splendid pic
lures, the Sheraton furniture. the
cabinets of old china. the armour, ant
the tapestry. For the manor was
filled with the heirlooms of the d.
Launes. from whom Baron Steer
rented it. And though the presen
peer. a broken-down old drunkard
was living In little villa at East
bourne on eight hundred pounds
year. the family had been a great ant
glorious one, finding mention OF
many a page in English history.
At the end of the great dining-room
set In the blackjack wainscot abov,
| the fire, was the portrait of boy. 1
was Reynolds, and a worthy effor
OF that master hand. The lad coul,
have been no more than fifteen year
of age, but IL his eyes was tina
grave, distracted expression tina
usually comes with the painful wis
dom Of later years. In more closel,
examining the picture, 1 noticed tina
large portion of 1t at the bottom
| right-hand corner had been re
| paired or painted out. called Ia
mans attention to this misfortune
, asking If he knew the cause.
They painted out the WOLF" b
| said. land with good enough reason
, too"
| "A wolff" 1 said
I IF old de Laune were to hea
| me gossiping about 1t he'd kicl
, me out of the place-he would. b
Jove! But with Steen in possession
| ffto oafoe