Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-01-24
THE GREATEST
OF THESE
BY CHARLES BELMONT DAVIS
Illustrated by E. R. higgins.

Copyright, 1914, by the Newspaper En-
.terprlse Association.)
As he stepped off the train erich
ton glanced up at the big black clock
with the gold hands. 1t was already
a quarter past o'clock, SO he hurried
over TO the telephone booths to call
up Curtis before his friend should
have left the little glass Office down
in Wall street.
A quarter past is usually a very
busy moment in a brokers' office, and
Criehton was reminded of the fact by
the snarl from the office boy who an
swered his call. Even Brook Curtis
himself spoke somewhat peremptor-
lily until he quite understood who was
at the other end of the wire. Then
there came: well, well. well-thats
fine. Arrived in Boston this morning
Ell? You say you're at the Grand
Central Well check your stuff right
out to the place and take the three
forty train. Try to make yourself
comfortable and I'll be out on the
four-forty-fl in time for a game of
squash"
An hour later Crichton was loung-
ing in a deep leather chair in Cur
tis's billiard room. The whole place
IfWeo liiAtu VIII d SOiQtil udZts anu
through this and the gray smoke
Crichton looked out of the broad win
dow on the stretch of deep green
sward running down to the water
and then beyond to the great heights
iof the palisades.
r When through half-closed eyes he
shrst saw the tall figure with the fiimsy
white waist and the long. close-fittins
ilduck skirt. it seemed as if some fairy
saaaz I. Il
was coming to waken him from his
i.dream. And then, as he instinctively
ipulled himself out of the low chair, he
lSbecame quite conscious that this was
mo fancy at all, but a very cookbook
ling girl who was breaking in where
Sshe had no right to break in. She
seertainly was very good to look upon,
Eat least so Crichton thought, as. I'M
sconscious of his presence she came
isthrough the high French window, the
teunlight falling on a mass of golden
Brown hair and lighting up the clear
ssBkin, flushed crimson after a long
walk over country roads. 1t was. |
fhowever. with a certain amount of
both as to his mental |
and physical attitude, that Crichton |
rose to receive his lady visitor.
= At the sight of him the girl uttered |
q low cry of surprise and stepped back |
howard the window.
= Its all right. | assure you, it's all |
Wight" urged Crichton. Just let me
get into my coat and I'll introduce
myself"
:, "It's all right if you don't get into
your coat" said the girl. It's rather
Becoming. Ned told me I must never
Come in here. but was quite sure no
zone was at home"
& Ned told your" asked Criehtoh, |
49,. ~ ~
y are stopping over at the Ellisons'." /
s. Delighted" and Crichton bowed. |
ss'I'm Jim Crichton-you may have
and L
IS I'm afraid not" interrupted the |
girl, and she held out her hand as if
'Crichton had been her Oldest man
Friend. "You see I've only Joined the
Family very recently, and I really
don't know anyone in New York. I'm
from the Golden West.
Really" said Crichton, land did
understand you to say that you had
Joined the family
"Oh. you don't know, them" And /
the suggestion of a blush heightened
the girls color.
I'm afraid not" he answered. 81,
too, have been away for some time. "
well, you see," said the girl, I'm
engaged to Ned. Yes, l am regularly |
engaged. Announced and everything. /
Would you like to see my ring?"
The girl laid her hand in his, and I
Crichton examined with much solicit |
tude a splendid cabochon ruby.
DO you like it?" she asked.
z Perfect" he said, and released her
hand.
Half an hour later Ned Curtis
found his fancee still at the piano
and Crichton deep in an armchair |
Slipping his Scotch and looking |
straight ahead at the girls brown I
hair. which the soft rays of the dying |
sun streaked with gold. The two men |
shook hands warmly
And then Brooke Curtis, the master I
of the house, came hurrying in with |
a boisterous welcome, and the song
and even Miss Ferguson and her |
fiance were forgotten in the greeting |
of the two old friends.
Come on" said Curtis, well take |
q walk around the grounds. I want |
TO hear all about yourself, and these |
two young lovers would be in the |
way"
"Good-bye, Mr. Crichton," said Miss
Ferguson; 1--WE won't be here when |
you return"
They shook hands and then
Criehton and Curtis arm in arm, |
WtflI Oul anu iell the BlTi ana Neu
together.
What an unusual person your
friend Crchton is" she said. How
I Is it that I never heard you speak of
him before?'
The young man, still holding the
girls hand, sat on the broad arm of
the chair. 81 don't know he said.
Il rather thought pretty much every
.one had at least heard of Jim erich
ton
What would one hear" she asked,
good things?"
Ned got up and crossed to the table
slowly and began to prepare himself
II drink. Yes and-no" he said. HE
is and always was one of the finest
eTnen God ever made, but Jim made
one mistake
what kind of mistaken" she asked.
TT must have been serious"
when CrichtCn had finished col
siege." Ned began. "he went over to
Paris and settled down. One way and
another he spent a good deal of
fmoney; at least Jim's father thought
so, although the old man was very
rich. Finally, Jim got in with a
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