The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1914-02-28


life which he loathed to quit, yet felt
that he could not continue, Broadway
rose and bowed. I'm it," he an
swered. 81"
Protests ehorused.
What hard-hearted girl has turned
you down, Broadway" asked the love
Iy Inez.
Who is it. Broadway? Who could
possibly have the heart or been the
fool to do it,"
Mrs. Gerard. his neighbor. bent on
him glance so languisEing that he al
most had to turn his face away.
NO gil has ever turned me down"
he said, endeavoring to be gay NO
girl has ever had chance to turn me
down. 1 mean"
Realizing that this did not sound
gallant, being instinctively, by nature.
| a gallant, he would have modified it
if he could, but the howl of approba-
ton which arose from all the men, the
chorus of mock criticism which arose
from all the women. drowned his voice
From ali the women except one. That
| one sat on his right, that woman was
a widow and was worth million.
No girl could turn you down. she
murmured.
| All, that thought which so repeat
eddy had festered in his braini Here
were millions which admired him!
Here were millions which would pay
the debts which had piled up, which
would make the bottle with the
crimson label and the weapon with the
blued-steel barrel quite unnecessary!
Here were millions which would solve
! the last one of his difficulties and for
which, if he accepted them, he could
! offer adequate return in a devotion
which should be at once that of a son
for an indulgent mother and a near
drowned man for his rescuer! Why
not? Why not? Why not marry Mrs
Gerard?
mo girl could turn you down" had
Been her words.
In the hurry burly of the questions
and the answers, the froIic and the
nonsense, he scarcely had an opportu-
but he answered her by scribbling on
her menu card:
Couldn't you?"
He felt certain that she gasped with
pleasure.
why do you say such things?" she
scrubbed
Because love you." the unfortu-
nate youth answered.
Il love you, too" she scrubbed in
reply.
What sort of game are you two
playing there?" demanded Robert Wal
lace gaily.
Don't interrupt, Bob Broadway or
dered. It's a new kind of game OF
hearts. It's played with menu cards
Shut up!''
He turned again to his delighted. il
ancient partner in the novel pastime
TT can't be true he scrubbed.
1T is true" she wrote.
will you marry me2" he scrawled
With coy look at him which made
him feel little faint, but without an
instant's hesitation, yes" she an
swered.
1t was trem endously to the relief OF
the young host that Bob Wallace, al
about this moment, rose and said thai
he must leave.
It seemed to Broadway that the
others mattered less. For Wallace his
affection was so genuine that it includ
ed an intense desire to hold the mans
respect. Signing with relief he called
the major domo to his side as soon al
Bob had gone and whispered to hin
that all glasses must be filled. With
the intense alacFity which the youthful
spendthrift's orders were everywhere
observed along Broadway, this was at
tended to, and he rose to his fee
with all the dignity he could command
Friends" he said, 81 want to tel
you something. I want to tell you O
my luck
is it hard luck story, Broadway? o
someone asked.
''Er-yes," said he. 81 mean"
jackson" said a soft voice (per
haps little cracked) close at his side
. with something of reproach in it.
For the lady, he hastily corrected
Hard luck for the lady. Tm-Tm go
ing to be married.
I The men shouted and there were
more than one among the ladies who
t were seriously agitated. their number
, being co-eQuivalent to the number who
themselves at one time q. another hat
| had hopes of wS2siing Broadway anC
: his millions for their very own.
Everywhere about him rose the
shout: Who is she, Broadway? Name
Name."
He swayed there on his feet, a some
what sickly smile upon his face. hi,
, hand deliberately spiIling champaign,
! on his shirt front. a fact Of which b.
: was In ignorance and which no on,
: noted for time. It was Mrs Gerart
: who called attention to it by elabo
: rateIy dabbing at him with her hand
5 kerchief
3 There we're proprietary details erel
e OF movement of her hands and SOM
e shrewd wits suspected for an instant
even though they put the wild ide
( from them as absurd before it game
. | firm foothoId IN their minds.
who is she. Broadway? Name