Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-05-05
BY ARTHUR BROOKE.

ANY one less seif-confident than the
bumptious little merchant would have
seen that he was unwelcome-
Ronald has been getting into a scrape
again" he spluttered as he shook hands.
and I've come TO you 10 get him out
of it.
Graham forced a smile
Won't you sit down. he asked.
Ever since YOU saved his life. out there
in the states the boys regarded You as
an elder brother and /, if may say So
as sort of SON
Graham repressed shudder.
Not bit deserved he said lamely;
'.he had fallen into bad hands-men VINO
wanted the money with which your boy
was making very iniudicious splutter.
and | carried him off That's all.
Dick Graham stood looking down at
the little man with grim amusement
More than once he had regretted the
benevolent action which had resulted IN
his unsou.ht and unappreciated friend
| shin Ronald a little bounder, ne
told himself sure 10 come 10 grief some
! time other =,
What's he done this time he asked
! after a pause.
actress.
All
Tells me he's engaged but if he is:
he's got TO get disensaged. that an
haven't accumulated three-quaTters Oh
| million to be- squandered OH
What is the girls name!
! ''Madse EardleN.
! Dick turned quickly away and walked
to the window.
+ poor girl said Dick a last.
Mr. kingsbury jumped up
Poor girl indeed sir. he spluttered
Il don't understand you.
! Then it's time you ala, MT. hlhSs-
bury
Dicks face. when he turned, had un-
-dergone a change. The cynical curves
had left his lips. and his eyes mashed
as angrilN as his visitor ).
You're a successful man of bust
ness" he said. which means that
you've acquired a knowledge of men.
You ought to know. then, that your
son is not fit to marry a decent girl!
. Mr.. kingsbury's trembling fingers
reached for his hat. There We're tears
of sheer rage in his eyes.
Dick felt suddenly repentant' \
course of action suggested itself.
I'm sorry | put IL so bluntly, he
said.
"And-to think that I came to you
for sympathy and help said Mr..
kingsbury.
I'm afraid you don't get my sym
pa thy.
But your help" He put his hat
down again and waited. He had spent
ambitions centered on only son who
had given him nothing but trouble. OF
society he knew nothing-it had never
had any fascination for him. and in
Dick Graham he thought he had seen
the man who was capable of launching
his son into what that youth had
termed "a swell set
If there's anything ! can do in re-
turn, suggested Mr.. King sbury tim
idly.
Dick laughed bitterly.
There's nothing, thanks" he said.
but I'll help you out of this--if |
can
You WILL"
Hope returned to Mr. Kingsbury He
polished his hat briskly, and then
nervouSly held out his hand.
TN send the boy to YOU
Il expect he has a front seat at the
theater where Miss Eardley is playing.
Tell him to get one for me-next to
But / had forbidden him TO go"
You must leave the matter to me-
Mr.. kingsbury. III do what | can.
but | must do it my own way. Tell
Ronald I've half persuaded YOU that
Miss Eardley is ten times too good for
him
Mr. Ningsbury laughed as though he
had heard rather good joke. But Dick
did not laugh.
Just three hours later Ronald Kings
bury burst in.
Nh You're ready That's good, era
ham,, he cried bosterously Il say.
YOU re no end of d brick The guv-nov
came home like a whipped puppy.
| He stood for moment admiringly be-
fore the glass. adjusting his opera hat to
the angle which he considered the acme
of rakishness
Don't thank me till the end replied
Dick. drily.
But the battles half won.' pursued
me youth And I'm as happy as they
make EN- She's little ripper Graham:
You'll say so when you know her.
Il dare say
| Tisnt as if she were one of the or
dinary type he went on, shes merely
on the stage because she's got a glorious
voice and had to earn her living Her
father Was a colonel in the artillery"
Positive: And she's as good as gold
so long as you're quite satisfied that
shes worthy of you-''
Now, Graham. that's heastly cutting
YOU know. ] don't profess to be saint
but, hang 1t all; a girl overlooks lot
when fellows heir to million
of course! But your father put it at
only three-quarters of million
The irony of the remark was lost on
Well. I'm not particular to naught
or two he declared. Come on, Graham
If We don't buck up We shall miss her
first song, The Robin and the Wren.
ready
NO doubt / shall recognize it," said
Dick
There was a block in PiccadiIlv where
! because it was the height of the season.
they were mending the road. And il hap
pened that as they made their way to
their seats i'm the front row Miss Madge
Eardley was in sole possession of the
stage
Dick looked mp and for an instant his
eyes met those of the singer across the
footHghts. Then strange thing hap
pened The orchestra PLAYED. hut Madge
Eardley was silent. The conductor from
his perch and II panic-stricken stage man
aser from the wings called ont the miss
ing words. but the girl apparently did not
hear them. She swayed "A little uncer-
tainly and closed her eyes. Then tho gal
iery started round of sympathetic an
plausc. The singer recovered herself and
smiling gratefully upward. nodded To the
conductor and the second verse was start
ed again The girl sang the rest of the
song without faltering. and left the stage
amid an outhurst of applause But she
kept her eyes fixed on the gallery as she
came on to make her how-not for an in
slant did she glance toward the front
: row of the stalls
'All fake" Dick heard a man mutter
!: Silly little beggart' whispered Kings
!. bury: made me feel cold all over Sorry
!. | didn't let her know ! was coming"
Dick was silent, but in the entr'acte
! he made anexcuse 10 leave his compan
!. ion. Once out in the corridor he took a
| visiting card and scrubbed some words
!. on the back of it. An attendant was
!. passing at the moment.
ss.It Ear di.,r ha,- tI., >