The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1913-09-25

ton 81 -.Ia; .atefM principle 70 the
choice Of a husband for Cecilia. could
not guess, but assuming that ne hao
caucht that clew. he might reacily
, enough have managed the rest. l must
not allow him to see what I suspected.
INV dear professor, there's an an
Gent warning against the Greeks bear
ING gifts. You must give me time TO
inspect the horse"
"Are you questioning my good faith!
BE It far from me! I'm good deal
tickled. though, by your genial as
sumption that II offered myself 10
this lady / should be declined with
thanks"
He was again belligerent. 1t may
have occurred to him that l might
know us much as he. but at any rate
he grinned. 1t was a saturnine grin
did not like.
T'm starving to death at the door OF
an inn. and you must excuse me. have
you seen Hartley Virgins lately?'
II have indeed. He's taken to lonely
horseback rides. He's off somewhere
now. He hasn't the stamina for con-
test like this. One by one the autumn
leaves are falling" he added, with spe-
cial intention, land have given you
your chance"
Thanks. light bringing Socrates
from the lands of the Ogalallas. For
20 much courtesy shall take pleasure
In reading all your posthumous works.
Let us cease being absurd"
With this left him and entered the
low raftered Office 1t was really a
pleasant lounging room, unspoiled by
the usual hotel Office paraphernalia.
Dick had followed close behind, and as
I paused, hearing voices raised angrily
in the dining room beyond, ] turned to
him for an explanation. As the suitors
had been the only guests Of the inn
since their advent. attributed the CON-
motion to strife in their own ranks.
you'd better take look at those
fellows. I've quit them-quite out Of
It. Remember that" said Dick.
The dining room door was slightly
ajar, and I flung it open.
Ormsby, Shallenberger, Henderson,
Hume, Gorse and Arbuthnot had been
engaged with cards at round table In
IN alcove, but some dispute having ap-
parently risen, they stood in their
places engaged in acrimonious debate.
As near as could determine. some one
Of them-I think it was Ormsby-wish-
ed to abandon the game, which had
been undertaken to determine In what
order they should be permitted to pay
visits to Hopefield in future, the calls
together having grown intolerable.
They were 90 absorbed that they failed
to note my appearance.
TITS no good, I tell you" cried Orms-
by. There's no fairness in this unless
all take their chances together:"
you ought to have thought Of that
before We began. This was your
scheme. but because the cards are run
ming against you you want to quit ]
cay wen 60 on" This from Hender-
son. who struck the table sharply % be
concluded.
"You knew Virgins and Dick weren't
going " when We started. and you are
not likely to get them in now. Your
anxiety to cut the rest Of us out by
any means seems to have unsettled
your mind" shouted Gorse. II say
let's drop this and stand to our original
agreement that no man speak till the
end Of the fortnight"
AFTER that whole scheme has been
torn to pieces like paper! There's been
nothing fair in this business from the
start! We ought to have kept Arrowood
here and held together. And we ought
to have got rid of that Ames fellow
he didn't belong in this at all!'
Ormsby's voice rose to disagree
able squeak as he closed with this IN
dictment Of me. Shallenberger seemed
to be the only one Of the group who
had not lost his senses. He was In tho
farther corner Of the alcove. out Of
sight from the door, but heard him
distinctly az he addressed the other
suitors with rising anger.
Were acting like cads, and cads
Of the most Contemplate sort! only
agreed to this game to satisfy Ormsby.
The idea Of our sitting here to draw
cards 30 determine the order In which
~ 1aell ,oner euFseiye In DE qqltest
|'and most beautiful woman n the
world would be coarse and vulgar II Il
were not 20 ridiculous! I'm out Of IL"
Ny interest in this colloQpy had led
me further into The room, and hearing
my step they al turned and faced me.
Dick had continued at my side. but
the black looks they. sent our way
were intended. thought, rather for
me. Ny appearance reused Ormsby to
. fresh outburst.
You're responsible! II you hadn't
forced yourself upon the ladies. at
Hopefeld there wouldn't have been
any of this troublev'
You're only an impostor anyhow.
You went to the house to AZ chfm-
ney and seem to think you're engaged
to spend the rest Of your natural life