The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1914-08-01
CHAPTER v.

Wallace was a mid morning visitor.
He came in br!skly. inquiring OF the
very much puzzled butler for the very
elegant apartments master.
He's not yet up. sir"
This apparently had not the least de
terrent effect on the young caller. He
urged his firm athletic frame through
the short hall into the dim illumina
tion of the flats reception room. 1t
was evident enough that he had no In
tention of departing. simply because
the master OF the house had not yet
risen. Rankin understood that and did
not gainsay him. Wallace had his
| privileges as the best friend of the ten
ant of the fiat.
| Shall tell him you are here?''
Yes" said Wallace firmly. and tell
him that want to see him right away.
It's very important. Do you under
stand9"
| Rankin had already read the morn
| ing's papers which were lying IN a
neat pile on the table, He longed for
fuller news than theirs.
Yes. sir" But he hesitated slight
| ly. Broadway was an indulgent mas
ter-still. strange things were happen
| ing; he was doubtful, He said he
| didn't wish to be disturbed TIL Satur-
| day. sir"
Wallace was not impressed. That
doesn't make any difference. You tell
him want to see him
| Yes, sir" But the perfect servant
still hestated. filled with curiosity
about the previous night. Wallace
might enlighten him. He didn't ge,
home until FIVE O'Clock this morning
He attended some big dinner.party, l
believe
Yes: l was there was there, Go
on and call him, Tell him am wait
ing, I'm going to have heart to heart
talk with that young man"
Yes. sir" said the butler wi,hou,
| Fastening. for he saw that Wallace
had picked up a paper from the neat
pile he had made of all OF them upon
the table
Great Scott" Wallace cried, dis
mayed. Here It Is on the front page7"
Il beg pardon. Mr. Wallace. but is it
all true, SIR"
"What?"
The story In the morning papers.
| sir. about-er-hls engagement"
| Il don't know. Someone rang me up
and told me of it, It's what brought
me here. | want to find out II it's
true. left the dinner at 1880 The
engagement, | am told, was announced
shortly after had left. Were you up
when he got home this morning."
| Yes, sir"
| Did he talk of It at all?"
| "He-couldn't talk so very much.
sir"
"Tipsy?"
| Rankin nodded very solemnIy
'Stewed, sir"
| Did he come home alone7"
He came In here alone. but a crowd
was serenading him upon the sidewalk
| for ten minutes after he arrived 1t
was the wedding march they tried to
sing. couldn't understand why they
| chose that until read the mornings $
papers, sir"
| We'll, what do you think of it, Ran
kin?"
Rankin shrugged his shoulders, but
did not reply. His instructive loyalty
to his employer. his perfect knowledge
| of his own proprieties prevented that.
'Oh, come on Wallace urged You
can tell me. Just between us now"
She's old enough to be his mother,
| sir Rankin said with lowered voice.
She's old enough to be his mothers
| mother" Wallace cried explosively.
| Then, with determinations: Go on
| and tell him that l want to see him.
Hurry up."
Rankin yielded.
These were theheadlines OF the item
Wallace had perused with such dis
may upon the first page OF the news
paper. There were columns Of It.
MRS. JAMES GERARD'S ENGAGE
MENT.
The Three Times Widow to Share
Her Millions With Broadways
Own Jackson Jones.
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 It as 1t lay upon the floor
with discomfort apparent in his coun-
tenance. That's the biggest laugh
New York has had in years." he
groaned. I'D like to-"
Upon . nearby table the telephoos
buszed busily. He went to It.
'Hallo," said he. "Yes. No;