Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1914-05-06

s@5Ess after the dance she was
- Whisked away, leaving him
nothing but the memory of an adOring,
blissful glance as she passed. With
Runnels and Cortlandt and the rest he
was driven to the Hotel Central, where
they found very attractive table set
in a private dining room. 1t was a
lively party, and Kinks secret elatiOn
enabled him to play the part Of host
with enforced geniality. The others
joined him in a hearty effort to show
their guest the high regard in which
they held him, and if COrtlandt did
not enjoy himself it was entirely his
own fault.
Toward Kirk, however, he preserved
a peculiar attitude, which only the
young mans self absorption prevented
him from noticing. If he had been
less jubilant he must have felt the I'M
natural alOOfness of the other mans
bearing. But even had he done so he
would doubtless have attributed it to
COrtlandt's we'll recognized frigidity.
At the prOpitious moment Runnels,
who had reluctantly agreed to share
the social responsibility, made a little
speech, explaining that he and his
boys had been sensible from the first
of their guests interest in them and
were deeply grateful for it. They now
rendered him a token OF their regard
in form which he could preserve.
He handed a handsome loving cup
to COrtlandt, who thanked him apprO-
priately, then waited courteously for
the party to break up. But Anthony
rose, saying:
I simply have to say a word on my
own account, fellows, for I owe Mr..
Cortlandt more than any of you"
The object of these remarks shot a
swift, questioning glance from his
stony eyes and raised a hand as if to
check him. But Kirk ran on unheed-
ing:
Il want to thank him before all of
you for what he has done for me per-
sOnally. When l landed in Panama l
got into trouble of the worst sort, and
Mr.. Cortlandt got me out. He was my
bail bond, he put me up at his hotel,
gave me clothes and paid my way until
1 got started. 1 was a stranger, mind
you, but he's been just like one of my
own people, and if / ever succeed in
doing anything really worth while it
will be due to the start he gave me-"
Though the words were common
place enough, they carried a sincere
message, and COrtlandt saw by the
faces about him that the others were
pleased. His own gaunt features
turned more sallow than ever. The
memory of what ne had heard on the
porch Of his own house a few after
moons ago, Of what he had seen at
other times, Of his wife's telltale be-
havior on this very evening, swept
over him, tanning anew the sullen
emotions he had cherished all these
months. How far would this fellow
dare to go, he wondered? He dropped
his eyes to hide the fury in them
81 want to give you a little remem-
brance of my own" Anthony was
speaking directly to him. ''It isn't
much, but it means good deal to me,
and / hope it will have some sort of
personal association for you, Mr..
COrtlandt." He drew from his pocket
a plush case and took from it a very
handsome thin Swiss watch with the
letters rs. c." artfully enameled upon
the back.
COrtlandt accepted the gift mechan-
ically; then. as it touched his flesh,
sudden color mounted to his cheeks,
only to recede, leaving them bloodless
again.
Il really didn't expect this" he be-
gan slowly as he rose. Anthony ex-
aggerates; he is too kind. But since
he has chosen to publicly call attention
to our relations, l will confess that
what he tells you is all true Through
my asSistance-partly, at any rate-he
has made a man of himself. He has
been welcome at my house, at my
table; he has come and gone as he
pleased, like one of the family, you
might say. But those are little things;
they count for nothing" His tone
gripped his hearers, and Anthony
stirred uneasily, thinking this an odd
way of accepting a gift.
Unclasping his long, white fingers.
Cortlandt held up the watch to public
view.
''In payment for my poor friendship
he has given me this magnificent thing
of gold and jewels, the finest l ever
saw. I never counted upon such graft
tude. It is too much. and yet a man
cannot refuse the gift of his friend
and not seem ungracious, can he?
Somewhere in the orient they have a
custom of exchanging gifts. No man
may accept a thing Of value without
making adequatAretu and it has al
ways struck me as a wise practice"