The Washington times., 1914-01-11
CHAPTER yYYIV

BOUT : o'clock that night a mad
n taxi. from which came the
~ sound of singing, broken by
shouts Of laughter, turned in
TO Eaton square. rushed round two
SIDES ana drew up in front Of the Ley
den's house.
The chauffeur reached a hand round
Ihe side OF the machine and opened
the door"
\ leg came out, then another, and
finally a 4ong body backward, crown
ed with an opera, nat. II was Ruddy
ia the evening clothes he had worn at
oxford. He had grown a lot since
those days and MS purse mad not
swelled corresp0ndinSly, he showed seN-
eral inches 3t gray sock and several
inches OF whlSe cuff. Add TO that red
hair and a crush hat which had never
really fitted, and yOu get figure Of
fun. II might have been rather a tragic
figure were il not that nothing could
cuench the mans optimism.
To the tune of ''EverybCdy's Doing
it, he went up the steps and rang the
bell, and a moment later was facing
Robinson, whose countenance remained
solemn in spite OF the quick up-and
Down look with which he took the cali
Ct in from head to foot.
Mr.. ETeTard leyden."
Yes, sir. he lives here There was
a touch of doubt in the mans voice.
Rudoy disregarded il and walked IL.
Just take me up will you?'
Robinson closed the door reluctantly,
If you viii be so good as to wait here.
sir, / will go and see If he Is m But
the occasion was too great one to eE-
pect such a man as Ruddy to stand
still and twiddie his thumbs while 4
Cignihed man servant went of to make
inquiries.
As soon as Robinson moved 20 the
stairs he followed him up and along
the passage until ne tapped AT the
door. Then he brushed him aside.
Thanks" ne said. That il be all
tcnignt 1 think"
He thumbed on the door, and with the
familiarity acquired at Oxford turned
the handle and went in.
The room was very dark, and for a
moment Ruddy stood blinking Lncer-
Jainly. Then he saw Everard sitting in
an armchair near the window. his arms
ON the table and his head upon his
arms He went across quickly, his mind
echoing with Angy's remarks about his
friend being worried about something.
EYerard started as RUdOlDh's hand
Stripped his shoulder. He raised his
head.
Good Lord"' Ruddy exclaimed under
Everard looked as if he had suddenly
grown years older. What's the trou-
Bile, old man? Can ] help? Look here,
pull yourself together and chuck the
cursed thing on one side, whatever it
3E. You're wanted tonight. You've got
20 come along and be merry and bright
and drinl, champagne and be an opti-
mist ana let the dead past bury its
dead You've got to come and help
AnCy and me celebrate. It. night OF
nights and you're essential To our we'll
being. We want you, and were jolly
well going TO have you. Come on. We're
not taking no for an answer. AnSy is
waiting in q taxi outside and she'll 90
on waiting until you're ready. l know
Sou'Ye never kept a lady waiting in your
life, and you're not going to begin now
Now, look here! I'll valet you SO as to
save time. First of all. let's have some
light on the scene, and then I'll see
u I can't have you downstairs inside of
ten minutes"
He went across and found the switch
asking himself silently what WAS the
matter, what had hit Everard SO hard
As he turned round from flckinE on the
light he caught sight Of the pistol lying
on the carpet and the spilled cartridges.
And again he said. Good LUrd,'' and
shiveTed- The whole point was 10 take
10 notice of EVerard, he told himself, !
and so he kept on talking.
What's in here? Bathroom by Jove.
You're a pretty luxurious fellow TO have
q bathroom out of your bedder. Top
ping place, too
He switched the light up in there
and then turned on th, taps. You
should see how AuEy and ! work our
taths in the morning, Then you'd
sVpTeCiate tnis a bit moro than vnfF
ready. sir Where do YOU keep ynur
"rening clothes? I'm this rlaDUrat,Iy
simple wardrobe I sUuuose Yes.
.'retty colossal check. my barEin- in
Ike this, don't yOu think n had -
Ce dcnc, though, because W" want /
.Ou. Angy and l. You're going to
hclp us nave the biggest bingr on
record. It's day Of days and III
tel you all about il whom youvc
changed. But Of course. yOT needn't
change. II you like. I've only raE"d .
"p a SUIT Of misEts. These arc the
things w did Alpine climbing in At
oxford love. great time s. what
All the time he ialEDd and walked
bout and started the bath and open (
ID wardrob-s ne had one oy. On his .
friend, one seaT,Ein-. questioning .
wondering eve. He saw that at first
D might nav" been TALKING to 4 IcaI !
body, 50 obvious was il that fv"rIro /
did not hear him. And all the timn I
~ the back Of his mind b.. Il,I,."- /
hat AnGy was getting more and moro :
worried down there in the motor.
But If this boy had been thinking /
o. suicide, ii was up TO him 10 stay !
q ere until he brought him back 10 /
reasonable frame Of mind even If he T.
kept her waiting al night. she wouId /
agree I" that point Of view, he knew. /
Gradually. however. as he babbIed on. I
me saw EvcraTd ueg!u to take himself /
~ hand. (
At last he got UP and began 70 fin /
FgT the books on the able. Hello. /
he said. "Wnat are yOu--I mean 20 I
Ruddy went across and pulled out (
& box Of cigarettes. "Hale one Of .
these. They're so rotten ] should like /
you to try them
Everard shook his head NO .
thanks"
You're a very sociabIe person. /
aren't yoU," said I;Uddy. Here I come /
round with -AnEy, il a taxi, and my
hest bib and tucker. and you refus,
my cigarettes you tall. in mOnOsyI- !
lables, and you stand about, looking /
l'lSe good imitation Of the ghost of
Hamlets father Did you hear a word /
] said 10 you Just now"
EVerard shock his head.
Then smoke one of these and listen !
while / say ii all over again. II is well |
worth hearing. Here" He handed Z |
cigarette to EVerard and held match |
while he lit It Nov. listen. This Is
one Of those times in ones life when il |
j. necessary TO leap about, TO break
ThrEs, 70 make Q fool Of oneself 1t is |
p dsy when one forgets the past and al! I
ind Esre TF.l