Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1913-01-09

good company, Mr.. Ryanne."
We'll, well; we'll say nothing more
about it. But moment gone you
spoke as II you were game for an ex,
ploit."
Il still am. But IL I knew the ad,
venture was prearranged, as you say,
and I was up against wall, there
would be the inclination to cable the
firm for more instructions"
Ryanne himself laughed this time.
That's a good idea. don't believe
the company ever thought of such a
contingency. But I repeat, our bust,
ness is to give you the kickoff. After
that you have to fight for your own
downs"
THE stock isn't listed?" again
laughing.
Scarcely. One man tells another,
as tell you, and so on"
You send me the prospectus. I'm
rather curious to have look at It."
II certainly shall do So" replied
Ryanne, with gravity unassumed.
"Ah! Here come Mrs. Chedsoye and
her daughter. If you don't mind, I'll
make myself scarce. / do not care
to see them just now, after your hav-
ing told them about the stolen
Yhiordes."
I'm sorry" said George, rising
eagerly.
Its all in the game" CALAMITY.
George saw him gracefully ma
neuver his way round the crush to-
ward the stairs leading to the bar.
Really, he would like to know more
about this amiable free-lance. AS the
old fellows used to say, he little
dreamed that destiny, one of those
things from Pandoras box, was pre-
pairing a deeper and more intimate
acquaintance.
"And what has been amusing you,
Mr.. Jones?" asked Mrs. Chedsoye. 81
saw you laughing"
81 was talking with the rug chap.
He's a droll fellow. He said that he
had met you somewhere. but con-
cluded not to renew the acquaintance,
since told him that his adventure in
part was known to YOU"
"That is foolish. I rather enjoy
meeting men of his stamp. Don't you,
Fortune?"
Sometimes" with a dry little
smile. 81 believe We have met him,
mother. There was something IA
miliar about his head. OF course. we
saw him only from distance"
81 do not think there is any real
harm In him." said George. What
made me laugh was a singular propo-
sition he set before me. He said he
owned stock in concern called The
United Romance and Adventure COM
pany;' and that for a specified sum of
money, one could have any adventure
one pleased"
did you ever hear of such q
thing?" cried the mother merrily. For
tune searched her face keenly. The
United Romance and Adventure Com
pany! He must have been joking.
What did you say his name is?"
"Ryanne. Joking is my idea exact
ly," George agreed "The scheme is
to plunge the stakeholder into real
live adventure, and then let him pull
himself out the best way he can.
Sounds good. He added that this rug
business was an instance of the sue
cess Of the concern. There goes the
music. Do you dance, Miss Ched-
soye?"
"a little" Fortune was preoccu-
pied. She was wondering what lay
behind Mr.. Ryanne's amiable jest.
GO along, both of you," said Mrs.
Chedsoye. Il am too old to dance. I
prefer watching people," She sat
down and arranged herself comfort
ably. She was always arranging her.
self comfortably; 1t was one of the Sc
crets of her perennial youth. She
was very lovely, but George had eyes
for the daughter only. Mrs. Ched-
soye saw this, but was not in the least
chagrined.
ut is so many years since l tripped
the light fantastic toe," George con-
fessed, reluctantly and nervously, now
that he had bravely committed him
SELF 1T is quite possible that the
accent will be primarily upon the
trip"
Perhaps, then" replied the girl,
who truthfully was out of tune, per
haps / had better get my wraps and
we'll go outside. The night is glori-
ous."
She couldn't have suggested any
thing more to his liking. And so,
after little hurrying about, the two
young people went outside and began
to promenade slowly up and down the
mole. Their conversation was desul-
tory. George had dropped back into
his shell and the girl was not equal
to the task of drawing him out.
Once he stumbled over a sleeping
beggar, and would have fallen had she
not caught him by the arm.
Thanks. I'm clumsy"
TITS rather difficult to see them In
the moonlight; their rags match the
pavements."
The Egyptian night, that sapphirine
darkness which the flexible magma
tion peoples with lovely and terrible
shades, or floods with mystery and ro-