The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1914-01-15

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 1t as 1t 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 1t.
Hello" said he. Yes. 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.
i. . What's the name? Yes;
I have 1t: Peter Pembroke.
You must see him today? !. .
Very well, 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 your
Yes, sir. He'll be dressed In about
ten minutes" He hustled about the
ROOM, gathering up the newspapers. II
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 a whisky sour. He says be
sure and wait"
"Oh, I'll wait, all right"
There was something stronger than
mere a~cquiescence In the young mans
voice. There was determination I'm it;
the determination of a man who has a
plan In mind. Thus might a fond, but
angry father speak, who held a rod in
pickle for the erring son for whom he
waited.
Ffercely 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 OF his nerves.
IF it's a 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. II was not that of a jour.
nalist. but that of the fair and ancient
widow TO whom Jackson was alleged
TO be affianced. For a moment he con.
sidered flight, but he was made oil
sterner stun and held himself in check
The lady swept into the room.
Ii was evident that she was just q
bit nonplussed at seeing him, but she
recovered quickly; she had had much
experience with the emergencies o.
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 ar
unpleasant boyhood schoolmate. He
had hated all of them. Exactly as this
old m now was smiling that ole
woman of his early youth had smiled
when she with diabolical ingenuity hat
been devising comprehensive plans fol
spelling a days fishing.
His greeting of Mrs. Gerard wa,
very formal. but she did not seem Il
mind.
Where is Mr.. Jones?" she asket
Rankin.
He's dressing. ma'am."
We'll, tell him l am here and wait
ing to take him for a spin through the
park. Say to him that it's a glorious
morning"
There was an JUNCTION in her tones
a hint of triumph and proprietorshiI
which maddened Wallace. Could 1t be
possible that his good friend was to BIZ
linked In wedlock with this-er-this-
He vas ~instinctively a courteous
man and his thoughts refused to form
a word to suit his wild emotions.
She turned to him. Won't you ioir
US. Mr.. W~allace?" Her voice was hon