Middletown transcript., 1914-02-28

whatever might be broken would be
charged up in the bill at double value
and paid for without question by the
sensational spendthrift, to whose own
wealth was now linked the extraordE
nary fortune of the recent John Gerard
(wholesale leather) who had made his
millions, married a very vital lady
Of his own ripe years and then died OF
sheer antiquity, to leave her, trium-
phant in superior vitality, relict and
craving for that gaiety which life with
him had not provided.
Broadway" breathed the ancient
lady with skillful stimulation Of en-
/ barrassment. You naughty, naughty
boy!"
Naughty, possibly; but how ex-
tremely lucky!" said the wholly un-
expected bridegroom-elect without a
Fquiver, much to his own surprise and
self-congratulation.
AS it broke up the party rioted with
Joy, very largely alcoholic. Mrs. Ge-
rarPs car, when it came up from its
hiding place around the corner, was
straightway encumbered with the
flowers from ladies' corsages, table.
bouquets and mems boutonnieres. One
enthusiast thrust in a potted palm.
and Mrs. Gerard screamed when she
sat on it. Another made a thoughtful
contribution of two lobster-claws
which, to his astonishment, he had
found in his hands as he arrived upon
the sidewalk. A lady, being under the
impression that the wedding had been
celebrated while she briefly mapped up
at the table, insisted upon throwing
one white satin slipper at her whom
she believed to be the bride, refusing
to accept the theory that Mrs. Gerard
was, as yet, only Broadway's fiancee.
But you can't walk without il" her
escort pleaded earnestly.
I'D limp year for Broadway" she
insisted, missed Mrs. Gerard's coiffure
by quarter of an inch and then burst
into tears.
Four yellow government notes were
placed in circulation in police circles
before the long and rangy touring car
reached the granite archway which in
vited entrance ten stories underneath
the bachelor apartment in which Ran
kin waited for him, sleeping, but with
one ear open for the riot which fire.
quently attended the Homecoming of
his master.
The car had scarcely come to a
standstill before both eyes were open.
And as the eyes appeared from their
snug hiding places behind fat lids, his
ears achieved astonishment. His mas
ter had returned at early hours on
previous occasions accompanied by
merry friends, but they had never
chosen as their happy, matin song, the
Wedding March from Lohengrin."
What could it mean?
Going to the window he craned out.
trying to see what was going on upon
the sidewalk, but the extending cor
nice underneath the window made this
quite impossible, although the touring
car beyond the curb was visible. This
lacked interest, so he hurried to the
outer hall, where he stood near the
elevator shaft and listened earnestly.
Presently, as the group succeeded in
getting up the three stairs leading
from the sidewalk into the ground floor
hall, he caught a word or two of thick,
congratulatory talk.
"'Sh'ou Joy, OF man." was the most
words.
What could it mean?
AS he heard the elevator door close
and the swift swish of the ascending
car Rankin withdrew to the apart
ment. there to linger, waiting for his
master, consumed with carefully mas
tered curiosity.
Devoured with curiosity he stood
waiting as his master entered through
the outer door which he considerably
had left ajar for him. He had guessed
at certain details of his young employ
er's probable condition and knew that
in the midst Of just those details
Broadway was impatient of latch-keys,
bell-ringing or even knuckle-tapping on
the door.
! The first thing he noted as the I'M
steady Broadway entered was the fact
that his silk hat had been reversed up
on his head; the second was that
someone evidently had been sitting on
his raglan cape while it had been
rolled rather carelessly; the third was
that his face wore an expression of re-
lief and peace with all the world
Not so unsteadily that he failed en-
tirely to reach the goal Jackson tackled
across the room and found the VIZ
dow. His friendly escort was still evi-
IDENTIFY in his mind, for from the nnen
window he now waved a genial hanG-
kerchief, whispering meanwhile
''Night-night," as if the hearty spirit
which induced the words would take
them to the sidewalk ten score feet be-
low.
CTO BE CONTINUED)
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