The Washington times., 1915-11-21
&C
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Rufus wailingford. as he
~ looked at the dilapidatkd
stage which was to carry
them from the forlorn and lonesome
little station at Birchwood to the Pine
Lake Health Resort. "It takes q couple
OF wise lollops like you and me. Blackie.
- set the prong good when We do get
IT, ana he glanced at tho discouraged
issadng Violet and Fannie Warden.
Aunt Patty Warden was smiling cheer
faily.
"Dsu't ring me- In On thAa. J. Rufus, :"
.otestsd Blaokis Daw.- twiTiins his
mack mustachs With oomplaoenoy. Il
o161't want any health, remember. rve
gs< too much now. Mn spite Of all can
d 70 ruin It." Perhaps that isn't our
stASa." said Fanny Warden hopefully.
What faint hopes Fannie had entertain
ID, howsver. were dashed by tho driver
himself. a. no stopped his horses At
the platform. Are you Mr.. wallins-
ford and partyf" he inquired in q voice
which was . startling reproduction Of
the tone Of the rear of wheel. and he
surveyed them with the mournfulness
ef the grave.
wailinsford looked at Blaokie with
Whiis infectious to behold, was not all
mirth Il never had q stronger nunSn non
trains gone and We might as we'll be
game. IL our party can stand this,
though he's piker. I suppose you're
Eyes, I'm from Rugg's place." admit
ted the driver. II reckon you'd better
s9t as near In the middle seat as you
kim" he continued. cycling the huge
Wallingford with more or less of dis
may. and he WINGED quite painfully
whom Wallingford, having seated all the
others, gravely trimmed ship and forced
all the springs down tightly and firmly
served to accentuate the ensuing Jolts.
'Itll seem real nice to have sech
healthy lookin' folks as you around"
volunteered tho triver when they were
don't none o you seem noways peaked
81 ~ feel myself pe.klns rapidly, how
her blue eyes sparkling at Biackie paw.
Blackie burst into a chuckle. in which
physical discomfort of tho trip was such
group which finally alighted in appalling
ntinness at tho Pine Lake Health Re
sort:
er.d slaSEi. noSa IN: Tssrs. tho Sspe l.a:
out tho ono single pine-trss which stood
by tho pond. Go in and SEQ II Charles
M9ernSn Swivel 4. hero; II not 70 hike:
e 60 no hikes For we won't work
II ought to sue Charlie. 70. dam.
ages" declared Waliingford with
profound detection, but when ne saw
the em.eiated Russs he CHANGED his
Oates AJar" floral piece. why
don't you get a fat clerk. to enoour-
age incoming suestsr" he asked
Il can't afford It" wheezed RusgA
siIs re- isI q. Texas. This is no place for
ntrs W. waning s{ord S asked hin him idi idi,. mot not
because he had tho remotest idea of
purchase; but merely from oom-
sTive thousand" returned Russs.
though without hope. Forty rooms,
sixty acres. nne supply Of pure spring
water, splendid air, Want to buy?"
peculiar chuckle in which his big
shoulders always assisted: "I did once
think Of having my own private cem-
etery but rye given Il up: Is Charles
wnsssily. and the party srosnsi' sS
Charles Algernon Swivel was some :,
where in this county Of health re.
sorts. and they had to nnd him.
Brs.., po,n. wa. . regular place;
on tho wide verandas. and keeping a
sharp eye about for possible scandal;
young couples in tennis flannels
sauntering about on well-kept lawns
between prim flower-beds and deliv-
which wouii bore them to tears if
they could hear 1t In a phonograph
ten years later; strikingly dressed
married women taking the first steps
toward divorce while waiting for
their husbands weekend visits; boats
with couples of contentment drifting
lahily on the quiet bay; smart riding
parties on handsome horses. glancing
In cold disdain at mere pedestrians
and automobilists; women changing
dressing at least twice; prices beyond
the reach OF honest folks. and ali the
rest OF 1t that goes to make q really
>xnlrsive fashionable resort for the
In this place tho wallingford party
Tilted like glove. and ]. Rufus was
the life Of the party. Wherever he went
iiGht followed him. He was SO big, 80
impressive. and withal so genial that
the women had all noted him with
were his friends and, admirers before he
had been there a day. Especially
Charles AlRernon Swivel. That youth, :
found on the first evening and prompt
" annexed. trailed wallingford about.
laughed at his stories, drank in his
Eood-natured philosophy, and emulated
him in ever respect Charles AlRernon
was most immature young man OF NOT
overly good breeding. not overly good
looks. nor apparently overly good sense,
though In his rather waterv little eyes
was q trace of inherited shrewdness.
Moreover. he was very wearing upon
the nerves. and bis ethics were crude.
His father had made his money in oil.
Also his father has stolen sc5. 900 from
the Warden orphans. on the death of
their father. and this was why Charles
AlRernon had been hunted and found
and studied
This Is the greatest place I ever
saw" he confessed to Wallingford as
his prematurely wrinkled eyes followed
pair of strikingly dressed women
across the lawn. such women; and
sucr flirtinH!''
"Oh. yes" said wallingford dryly,
do you suppose they all flirt?"
''OutraGeouslvn' declared Charles Al
Rernon with junction and moist lips and
emphatic belief
Il hadn't noticed II myself" returned
wallinRford. 'I had a sort OF idea that
the majority of women were decent,
anywhere. But I suppose I'm growing
old. A handsome and wealthy young
follow like you. now. must have them
flocking around him like flies around
q eyrup-tar"