The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1914-02-26


and tell him that I want to see him.
Hurry up!"
Rankin yielded.
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 GERARD'S ENGAGE
MENT.
1.-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 it as it lay upon the floor
with discomfort apparent in his soun-
tenance. That's the biggest laugh
New York has had in years." he
groaned. I'D like to"
Upon a nearby table the telephone
buzzed busily. He went to it.
Hello" said he. Eyes. No;
this is Mr.. Wallace speaking. :.
No; not Mr.. Jones. am a friend Of
his. No; he can't come to the
phone. He's dressing. .
can't make an appointment for you.
What's the name? Yes;
I have it: Peter Pembroke. .
You must see him today? :. Z.
Very we'll, I'll tell him. Say
you'll call? All right. I'll tell
him. Good-by."
He returned from the phone as Ran
kin reappeared. wake him, did you?"
Yes, sir. He'll be dressed in about
ten minutes" He 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
pers and whisky sour. He says be
sure and wait"
"Oh, III wait, all right"
There was something stronger than
mere acquiescence in the young mans
voice. There was determination in it;
the determination of man who has
plan in mind. Thus might fond, but
angry father speak, who held 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 caller!" he COM
planned. The situation had begun to
get on his nerves.
IL it's newspaper reporter tell him
Mr.. Jones is out of town.
YES, sir"
Wallace felt his nerves rasp as he
heard the voice which greeted Rankin
in the hall. 1t was not that of jour-
nalist, but that of the fair and ancient
widow to whom Jackson was alleged
to be affianced. For a moment he con-
sidered fight, but he was made Of
sterner stuff and held himself in check.
The lady swept into the room.
1t was evident that she was just
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 to hide it. He had
not seen her previously, save by arti-
fetal light
He 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 that old
woman of his early youth had smiled
when she with diabolical ingenuity had
been devising comprehensive plans for
spelling days fishing.
His greeting of Mrs. Gerard was
very formal, but she did not seem to
mind.
Where is Mr.. Jones?" she asked
Rankin.
He's dressing, ma'am."
"Well, tell him l am here and wait
ing to take him for a spin through the
park. Say to him that it's glorious
morning"
There was an JUNCTION In her tones,
q hint of triumph and proprietorship
which maddened Wallace. Could 1t be
possible that his good friend was to be
linked in wedlock with this-er-this-
He was instinctively courteous
man and his thoughts refused to form
word to suit his wild emotions.
She turned to him. won't you join
NJ, Mr.. Wallace?" Her voice was hon
eyed, though he saw that she was sure
Of his antagonism and reciprocated it.
NO." he snapped. It was as an aft.
erthought he added: "Thanks!"
"You went away early last night"
she ventured, still with the honeyed
smile.