The evening world., 1914-02-20


aforesaid and 80 to join him. was
very sure of my welcome.
But the shacklcs Of business arc
not so easily shaken off. ana the
spring had already come before an
other vacation In the woods had be
sun 10 merge into possibility. About
this time l paid one Of my periodical
visits TO Boston, and II was while
was there in the office OF my agents
and correspondents that Linda Peter
sham rang me UP on the telephone
and demanded my presence at lunch
But I am engaged" said ].
Then You must put your en-
gagemcnt off,"
II don't see how ] can. VIII to-
morrow"
"No--to- morrow will do for him
whoever he Is. l want you to-day"
what is III"
Il will tell you when YOU come.
want you"
I made another effort to explain
lust word and rung off. / smiled az
I called up the picture Of small
Greek head crowned with golden
hair, a pair OF dark blue eyes and
mouth wearing q rather sruper'ous
expression.
The end Of II was that I went, for
I have known Linda all her life, and
the fact that breaking my previous
appointment lost mo the option OF
purchase OF a valuable mine caused
me little trouble, for to be able to
pay for ones pleasures IL one OF the
few assets OF the very rich, and.
speaking personally. | have all my
life seixed every opportunity OF es-
cape from the tyranny Of the mill
Ions that have inherited and accu-
mulated. I have cared little for the
pursuit Of money--the reason perhaps
why everything l have touched has
turned to gold.
The Petersham family consists OF
Linda and her father, and though In
business relations Mr.. Petersham 10 a
power to be reckoned with at horne
he exists for the sole apparent pur-
pose OF carrying out his charming
daughters wishes. II Ia a delightful
house to go to, for they are the hap
piest people l know. and the moment
one sets foot inside their doors ones
spirits begin to rise. l said as much
to Linda as we shook hands.
THAT speaks we'll for my self-com-
mand. for happen to he feeling
pretty mean to-day. Come, we'll 60
in to lunch at once"
I found myself tho only guest.
which surprised me. for the Peter
sham mansion has reputation for
hospitality.
, Really. Linda. this Ia very charm
ing OF you. wonder how much
Tom Getchley or that young Van
Horne would give TO be In my place
at this moment" ! said, as we sat
down.
Linda looked at mo with PARKWAY
eyes.
"what? You mean lunching alone
with me?"
YES, II In an unexpected pleasure. "
Dear Jamesi II 10 not q pleasure
at all, It IL a necessity. want to
talk TO you"
$50 YOU said before. Go ahead.
then: I'm ready
mot now: after lunch"
We carried on a fragmentary con-
vcrsatlon while the servants waited
on us, and all tho time ! was wond-
ering what on earth Linda could have
TO say to me. II was evidently some
thing of the deepest importance in
her eyes, for she was obviously abb
sorbed in thinking about II, and an"
swercd my remarks at random.
Wnen AT laSt We WtTt toeStHcI III
her boudoir. she began at once.
'James, want You to do this for
me. want you to persuade Pop not
20 do something"
81? persuade him? You don't
need me for that: you. who can make
him do or not do anything, just aa
you wish"
~ thought could. but find
can't"
How is that?"
wen. he is set on going back to
Kalmacks."
"ISalmacks?"
Linda opened her blue eyes upon
me.
Haven't you HEARD"
Heard what?"
Where in the world were you last
September"
"camped la the woods Of Maine
Beauce."
THAT accounts for II. But you
have heard Of Kalmacks?"
II know II Ii the place julius
Fischer built w In the mountains,
Iie used to go shooting and Ashing
there"
"rhat 10 It. It's a place you'd love;