Middletown transcript., 1914-09-26

/ belieVe, ana want YOU 20 Know pST
lieve. that your attempt 70 help him ia
disinterested. know that forty tholl-
sand dollars or two hundred thousand
does not mean much to a man of your
position and financial standing, and that
you are going out OF your way to lift
friend out of narrow, hopeless channel
of mere existence We can, as you say,
enter into little conspiracy to aid him;
to bring him to his senses in spite Of him
self and his deluded ideas. With that
end in view I can willingly be a party to
it, and shall be most glad to see you
any afternoon and perfect the plot.
Sincerely yours.
JANE REYNOLDS.
This letter was in response to one
Brand had written expressing his re-
gret at Reynolds foolish attitude.
and suggesting that they "conspire"
to make him reconsider his decision.
The reply had come without delay, ana
he saw that he was to have willing
ally. He pressed a button at his left
and young man entered from an ao-
joining room.
Just a minute, Radcliffe" said the
millionaire as he dashed on a feW
words on a telegraph blank. Have
this sent at once and If there is any
business this afternoon that requires
immediate attention refer it to Mr.
Burns. l will not return after lunch
con. Telephone for the car
He put on his automobile coat and
+ cap and went out After he had d1ned
meant a substantial repast
for Brand-he headed for Staten Is
land and arrived at the Reynolds cot
tage a few minutes after the telegram
had been delivered. Mrs. Reynolds
answered his knock. She was dressed
in the best that her meager wardrobe
would afford for the occasion. A
macintosh served as a motor coat
and she wore a modest tam-o -shanter'
Or skating cap. Mrs. Collins had been
impressed into service as chaperon.
When summoned by Jane to enact the
role she had become duly excited over
the prospect of riding In an automo-
bile with its millionaire owner. quite
knowingly she had winked the other
eye when told that the trip was Gor
purely business reasons and that there
was no occasion to dress up. She hao
hurried home and made a more clad
crate toilet than her neighbor. Sne
donned her best coat and large haL
then hastily essayed a reJuVenanon
through the magic of cosmetics with
the result that the attempt was quite
obvious even If the accomplishment
fell short.
Jane greeted Brand most cordially.
Your telegram came only half hour
ago" she told him. II had no idea you
would be so prompt in getting to work.
But 1 guess we are ready. Mrs. COL
Inns will accompany us"
Brand directed a grudging nod to-
ward Mrs. Collins.
"Delighted, I'm sure" he answered
with an attempt at cordiality. "Therell
be plenty of room for her in the ton
neau."
He was as good as his word. He led
Mrs. Collins to the back of the huge
eight-passenger car, assisted Jane to
the front seat and ordered the chauf-
feur to await his return.
I'm going to run it myself" he told
Jane. There aren't many policemen
over here and l like little excitement
once in a while. 1t won't interfere
with our talk"
He threw down the clutch and
opened the muf1er, sending the big
machine off with a chug and jump.
They reached the main road and the
car settled down into the steady but
exhilarating gait Of trained thorough
bred. Brand looked at his guest.
1T was mighty fine Of you to send
that note," he said. Some women
wouldn't; they would have misunder-
stood me-, but you're too big for that
and l admire you for it. You know,
was so eager to help Bob, and now
that I've. seen you l want to help you,
too. I've got a wife and three children,
Mrs. Reynolds. and all Of the necesst
ties and some of the luxuries have
made our home life very beautiful
There's no reason why yours and
Bob's shouldn't be the same If we can
get some of those distorted notions out
of his head. Why, he seems to think
Pm one of the forty thieves. but I'd
like to see him tell Mrs. Brand that
sort of thing"
81 suppose your wife has just every.
thing in the world, hasn't she?"
Everything 1 can give her. She
would attend to that if l didn't. She
can make me do anything Sometimes
when think I'm big man with big
opinions, l find myself jumping through
the hoop, lying down and rolling over
and playing dead when it comes to the
real issue"
"She must be very fascinating
woman. wish knew her"
Il intend you shall know her. She
is not only fascinating, to my mind,
but she's also very sensible, and
think that on both those scores you
would be very congenial.
CTO BE CONTINUED.)
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