Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1914-04-01
CHAPTER ".

Ss6 wallace was m1d-mOrnlnS Vleito1.
He came in briskly, inquiring OF the
very much puzzled butler for the very
lelegant apartments master.
He's not yet up, sir Z 5.S .5
This apparently had not the least De.
,terrent effect on the young caller. He
urged his firm athletic frame through
the short hall into the dim illumina-
ton Of the flats; reception room. It
was evident enough that he had no in
tention Gof departing, simply because
the master OF the house had not yet
risen. Rankin understood that and did
not gainsay him. Wallace had his his
privileges as the best friend Of the ten
ant of the fat
Shall l tell him, you are here 2"
Yes, said Wallace firmly, "and tell
him that want to Isee him right away.
It's very important. Do you under.
stand y \. AZ Il 43
Rankin had already read the morn.
ing's papers which were lying In q
neat pile on the table. He lcnged for
fuller news than theirs. II
Eyes, sir. But he hesitated slight
". Broadway was an indulgent mas.
ter still, strange things were happen
ing; he was doubtful He said he
didn't wish to be disturbed till satur.
day, sir v IS, a:$ Il "a (
Wallace was not impressed. That
doesn't make any, difference. You tell
him I want to see him"
Eyes, SIR But the perfect servant
still hesitated, filed { with curiosity
about the previous night. Wallace
might enlighten him. "He didn't get
home until Ave o'clock this morning.
He attended some big dinner-party, I
believe" &. 55s 4; 4.
Eyes; was there was there! Go
on and call him! Tell him am wait
ing I'm going to have a heart to heart
talk with that young man."
n Yes, sir" said the butler without
Fastening, for he saw that Wallace
had picked up a paper from the neat
pile he had made Of all Of them upon
the table. s. s'i3g
Great scott!" Wallace cried, dis
mayed Here 1t is on the front page 2"
Il beg pardon, Mr.. Wallace, but Is 1t
all true, sir?" 4 s &
tslsWhat?" 81 + a
'"'The story in the morning papers,
sir, about er-his engagement"
II don't know. Someone rang me up
and told me Of It. It's what brought
me here want to find out If it's
true. I left the dinner at 1880. The
engagement, / am told. was announced
shortly after had left. Were you up
when he got home this morning?" IA
8'if 1" Yes, sir. !" "a ~ Il:
did he talk Of it at all 2"
4 HE couldn't talk SO very much.
sir. VI e b. z .f E. .3< !. n u. 4 Il 81
"Tipsy?"
Rankin nodded very solemnly.
"Stewed, sill" s sTfs5E " IN e
did he come home alone 2"
He came in here alone, but a crowd
was serenading him upon the sidewalk
for4 ten minutes after he arrived. It
was the wedding march they tried to
sing. / couldn't understand why they
chose that until read the mornings
papers, sir" III
"Well, what do you think OF it. RAN
king" 55
Rankin shrugged his shoulders, but
did not reply. His instructive loyalty
to his employer, his perfect knowledge
OF his own proprieties prevented that.
""Oh, come on Wallace urged. you.
can tell me. Just between US now"
4 "She's old enough to be his mother,
SIR Rankin said with lowered voice.
She's old enough to be his mothers
mother!" Wallace cried explosively.
Then, with determinations: GO on
and tell him that want to see him.
Hurry up"
Rankin yielded. /" s J.! II 4, IA
These were the headlines Of the item
Wallace had perused with such dis
may upon the first page OF the news
paper. There were columns of it.
MRS. JAMES GERARDS ENGAGE
$.,i, MENT.
"The Three Times Widow to Share
Her Millions With Broadway's
Own Jackson Jones. s.st
"This Announcement Which Surprised
+ New York, Was Made Last Night at
Dinner-Party Given by the Young
X Spendthrift In Honor of the Wealthy
Widow Il ~
a Wallace dropped the paper and
looked at it as 1t lay upon the floor
with discomfort apparent in his coun-
tenance. That's the biggest laugh
New York has had in years" he
groaned I'D like to-"
s Upon nearby table the telephone
buzzed busily. He went to it.
Hello" said he. Eyes. -. No;