Pocahontas star herald., 1914-02-13
oOpyright. 1913, BY Q. W. DnlinehAn oompan,
fcontinued from last sssk }


Copyright. 1914 BY Q. W. DniinghAn Company
Continued from last sssk
Rankin shrugged his shoulders, but
did not reply. His instructive loyalty
20 HIS employer. his perfect knowledge
Of his own proprioties prevented that.
"oh. come on" Wallace urged. You
can tell me. Just between us now"
She's old enough to be his mother.
SIR" Rankin said with lowered voice.
She's old enough to be his mothers
motherl" Wallace cried exploslvely..
Then. with determination: Go on
and tell him that ] want to see him.
Hurry up."
Rankin yielded.
These were the headlines Of the item
Wallace had porused with such dis
may upon the first page OF the news
paper There were columns OF Il.
MRS. JAMES GERARDs ENGAGE.
MENT.
The Three Times Widow to Share
Her Millions With Broadway's
Own jackson Jones.
This Announcement. Which Surprised
New York. Was Made Last Night at
a Dinner-Party Given by the Young
Spendthrift In Honor Of the Wealthy
Widow
Wallace dropped the paper and
looked at II as Il lay upon the floor
with discomfort apparent in HIS soun-
;tenance. That's the biggest laugh
New York has had In years." he
groaned. "rd like to-"
Upon n nearby table the telephone
buzzed busily. He went to It,
Hello" said he. Yes. No;
this is Mr.. Wallace speaking. 4.
No; not Mr. Jones am a friend OF
his. No; he can't come to the
phone. He's dressing. Il 4.
can't make an appointment for you.
What's the nameg Yes;
have Il: Peter Pembroke. d.
You must see him today? 9.
Very well. I'll tell him. Say
you'll calf /. All right. I'll tell
him. Good-by."
He returned from the phone as Ran
kin reappeared. Wake him. did your"
YES. sir. He'll be dressed In about
ten minutes" lie hustled about the
room. gathering up the newspapers. Il
told him had just read of his engage
ment and ! congratulated him"
What did he say"
Nothing, sir; just asked for the pa
rars and whisky sour. He says be
sure and wait"
"Oh, I'll walt, all right"
There was something stronger than
mere acquiescence in the young mans
voice. There was determination In Il;
the determination Of a man who has a
plan in mind. Thus might fond, but
angry father speak. who held a rod In
pickle for the erring son for whom he
waited.
Fiercely he paced the room until his
steps, half way to the outer hall, were
arrested by the buzzing Of the door
bell Rankin. who had started with
the whisky sour and newspapers for
his masters door, turned back and put
them on a table.
!; Another early callerl" he COM
planned The eit-etion had begun TO
get on his neryeg.
III it's a newspaper reporter tell him
Mr.. Jones is out OF town"
Eyes, sir"
Wallace felt his nerves rasp as ne
heard the voice which greeted Rankin
in the hall. II was not that OF Jour
nalist but that of the fair and ancient
widow to whom Jackson was alleged
to be aflanced For a moment ne con.
sidered flight, but he was made OF
sterner stuff and held himself in check.
The lady swept into the room.
Il was evident that she was just a
bit nonplussed at seeing him, but she
recovered quickly; she had had much
experience with the emergencies Of
life.
Good morning, Mr.. Wallace" she
said sweetly.
Her age. he noted, showed more
plainly in the daytime, despite the arts
which she invoked 70 hide T. He had
not seen her previously save by arti'
fetal light.
ue was shocked She made him
think Of the unpleasant mother OF an
unpleasant boyhood schoolmate. he
had hated all Of them. Exactly as this
old woman now was smiling tnat OLD
woman Of his early youth had smiled
when she With diabolical ingenuity mac
been devising comprehensive plans i'i
spelling a days fishing
Ills greeting Of Mrs. Gerard wai