Las Vegas optic., 1913-03-24


wise chaperon. and you must have a
corking memory for names, but even
a head-yeller is better than a glee-cIub
quarterback" He nodded toward the
bunk-house, whence they had come.
you haven't told anybody"
Not yet"
yet" he quoted "The futurity
implied in that word disturbs me
Suppose you and keep it for a little
secret? Secrets are very delightful
at house-parties.
Don't you consider your action de-
ceitful?"
mot at all My motto is We strive
to please"
Think of Helen"
That's it; can't think Of any.
thing elsei She's mad about athletics,
and had to do something to stand OF
this weight-lifting tenor"
is it any wonder woman distrusts
every man she meets?' unused the
chaperon. Helen might forgive you,
I couldn't"
"0h, it's not that bad. l know what
I'm doing
you viii cause these cowboys to
lose a lot more money"
Not at all. When Culver arrives"
"Oh, that is what I want to talk
over with you," Mrs. Keap broke in.
nervously.
"Then it isn't about the foot-race?
You are not angry?" Speed frightened
amazingly.
I'm not exactly angry; I'm sur
prised and grieVed. OF course, I can't
forgive deceit dare say l am more
particular than most people"
But you won't tell?" Mrs. Keap in
dicated in some subtle manner that
she was not above making terms.
whereupon her companion declared.
warmly: I'm yours for lifei Ask
me for my watch, my right eye, any.
thingi I'll give it to you'll"
81 assure you l shan't ask anything
so important as that, but shall ask
a favor"
Name it and it is yours!" Speed
wrung the hand she offered.
And perhaps I can do more than
keep silent-although I don't see what
good it will do Perhaps / can help
your suit.
Gracious lady, all l ask is that you
thrust out your foot and trip up
TQa4s1voIorr Es,-oe.,o l,1,,,--c,. ~ .+~,.&,,
toward her. Put him out of the play,
and l shall be the happiest man in
the world
Agreed"
Now, in what way can I serve
you?"
Mrs. Keap became embarrassed,
while the same shadowy trouble that
had been observed of late settled upon
her.
Il simply hate to ask it" she said,
"but suppose l must There seems
to be no other way out of it" Turn.
ing to him suddenly, she said, in a
low, intense voice: "I-Tm in trou-
bic. Mr.. Speed, such dreadful trou.
blel"
ooh, I'm so sorry!" he answered
her, with genuine solicitude You
needn't have made any conditions.
would have done anything l could for
you"
That's very kind, for I don't like
our arr Of conspiracy, but'-Mrs. Keap
was wringing her slender hands-T
just can't tell the girls. .You-you can
help me"
Speed allowed her time to grow
calm, when she continued:
II am engaged to be married"
"Felicitations!"
Not at all" said the young widow,
wretchedly. ''That is the awful part
of it. am engaged to two menl" She
turned her brown eyes full upon him;
they were strained and tragic.
Speed felt himself impelled to laugh
immoderately, but instead he OBJ
served, in a tone to relieve her anx-
iety:
Nothing unusual in that; it has
been done before. Even have been
prodigal with my affections. What can
/ do to relieve the congestion?"
please don't make light of it. It
means so much to me I'm in love
with Jack Chapin"
with Jack!"
@Yes. When I came here I thought
/ cared for somebody else Why,
wanted to come here just because I
knew that-that somebody else had
been invited too, and we could be to.
gether"
And he couldn't come"
wait! And then, when l got here,
l met Jack Chaplin. That was less than
a week ago, and yet in that short time
l have learned that he is the only
man / can ever love-the one man in
all the world"
"And you can't accept because you
have a previous engagement, l seel
Jovel It's quite dramatic. But don't
zee why you are so excited? If the
pther chap isn't coming"
"But he is! That is what makes It
20 dreadfull If those two men should
neetn-Mrs. Keap buried her face in