The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1914-02-25

w. SS"S VIZ No~
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 determination: go on
and tell him that I want to see him.
Hurry up!"
Rankin yielded.
These were the headlines Of the item
Wallace had perused with such dis
may upon the first page of the news
paper. There were columns Of 1t.
MRS. JAMES GERARD's ENGAGE.
MENT.
1.-THE Three Times Widow to Share
Her Millions With Broadway's
Own Jackson Jones.
This Announcement, Which Surprised
New York, Was Made Last Might at
a Dinner-Party Given by the Young
Spendthrift in Honor of. the Wealthy
Widow"
Wallace dropped the paper and
looked at it as it 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 a nearby table the telephone
buzzed busily. He went to it.
Hello" said he. Eyes. . . f. No;
this is MI. Wallace speaking. . .
No; not Mr.. Jones. I am a friend OF
his. No; he can't come to the
phone. He's dressing. y. . I =.
can't make an appointment for you.
|. . What's the name? Yes;
I have It.: Peter Pembroke. :.
You must see him today?
Very well, I'll tell him. Say
you'll call? All right. I'll tell
Elm. Good-by."
He returned from the phone as Ran.
h reappeared. wake him, did you?
Yes, sir. He'll be dressed In about
ten minutes" He hustled about the
room, gathering up the newspapers. Il
told him I had just read Of his engage
ment and I congratulated him."
What did he say"
Nothing, sir; just asked for the pa.
pers and a whisky sour He says be
sure and wait"
"Oh, I'll wait, all right"
There was something stronger than
mere a~cquiescence in the young mans
voice. There was determination in it;
the determination of a man who has q
plan in mind. Thus might a fond, but
angry father speak, who held a rod In
pickle for the erring son for whom he
waited.
Fercely he paced the room until his
steps, half way to the outer hall, were
arrested by the buzzing of the door
bell. Rankin, who had started with
the whisky sour and newspapers for
his masters door, turned back and put
them on a table.
Another early caller!" he com.
planned. The situation had begun to
get on his nerves.
IF it's a newspaper reporter tell him
Mr.. Jones is out Of town"
Eyes, sir"
Wallace felt his nerves rasp as he
heard the voice which greeted Rankin
in the hall. 1t was not that of q jour.
nalist, but that Of the fair and ancient
widow to whom Jackson was alleged
to be afianced. For a moment he con-
sidered fight, but he was made of
sterner stuff and held himself in check.
The lady swept into the OOH
1t was evident that she was just a
bit nonplussed at seeing him, but she
recovered quickly; she had had much
experience with the emergencies OF
life.
Good morning, Mr.. Wallace" she
said sweetly.
Her age, he noted, showed more
plainly in the daytime, despite the arts
which she invoked to hide it. He had
not seen her previously, save by arti.
fetal light.
He was shocked. She made him
think of the unpleasant mother of an
unpleasant boyhood schoolmate. He
had hated all Of them. Exactly as this
old woman now was smiling that old
woman Of his early youth had smiled
when she with diabolical ingenuity had
been devising comprehensive plans for
spelling a days fishing.
His greeting of Mrs. Gerard was
very formal, but she did not seem to
mind.
Where is Mr.. Jones?" she asked
Rankin.
He's dressing, ma'am."
well, tell him I am here and wait
ing to take him for a spin through the
park. Say to him that it's a glorious
morning"
There "a an JUNCTION in her tones,
a hint of triumph and pr~oprietorship
which maddened Wallace. Could it be
possible that his good friend was to be
linked in wedlock with this-er-this-