Gilpin observer., 1915-12-16

nice crowd. Besides you ana our
selves, there'll be Arly and Dick Rod
ley and GAIL" Gail. of course. He had
known that. We'll start from Uncle
Jim's at eight o'clock"
Allison called old Ephraim.
Il want to begin dressing at seven
fifteen," he directed. "At three o'clock
set some sandwiches inside the door.
Have some fruit in my dressing room"
He went back to his map. remember
ing Lucille with Retrospective smile.
The last time he had seen that viva
cious young person she had been emp
tying box of almonds, at the side of
the camp fire at the toboggan party.
He jotted down a memorandum to send
her some, and drew high stool in
front Of the map.
Strange this new ambition which
had come over him. Why, he had ac-
tually been about to consider his big
work finished; and now, all at once,
everything he had done seemed trivial.
The eager desire of youth to achieve
had come to him again, and the blood
sang in his veins as he felt Of his
lusty strength. He was starting to
build, with youths enthusiasm but
with mans experience, and with the
momentum of success and the power
of capital. Something had crystallized
him in the past few days.
Across the fertile fields and the
mighty mountains and the arid deserts
of the United States. there angled four
black threads, from coast to coast, and
everywhere else were shorter main
lines and shorter branches, and, last
Of all, mere fragments of railroads. He
began with the long. angling threads,
but he ended with the fragments. and
these, in turns, he gave minute and
careful study. At three o'clock he
took sandwich and ordered his car.
He was gone less than an hour, and
came back with an armload of books;
government reports, volumes of statis-
tics, and file of more intimate infor-
nation from the office of his broker.
He threw off his coat when he came
in this time, and spread, on the big,
lion-clawed table at which Napoleon
had once planned a campaign. a vari-
colored mass Of railroad maps. At
SEVENTEEN old Ephraim found him at
the end of the table in the midst of
some neat and intricate tabulations.
Time to dress. SIR" suggested
Ephraim.
"Oh. it's you," remarked the alb
sorbed Allison, glancing up.
Yes. sir" returned Ephraim You
told me to come for you at SEVENTH
teen"
Allison arose and rubbed the tips of
his fingers over his eyes.
Keep this room locked" he ordered,
and stalked obediently upstairs. For
the next thirty minutes he belonged to
Ephraim.
He was as carefree as a boy when
he reached Jim Sargent's house, and
his eyes snapped when he saw Gail
come down the stairs. in a pearl.tinted
gown, with triple string of pearls in
her waving hair and rose-colored
cloak depending from her gracefully
sloping shoulders.
Her own eyes frightened at the sight
of him. He had been much in her mind
today; not singly but as one of a
group. She was quite conscious that
she liked him. but she was more con-
scious that she was curious about him.
He stepped forward to shake hands
with her and. for a moment. she found
in her an inclination to cling to the
warm thrill Of his clasp. She had never
before been so aware Of anything like
that. Nevertheless, when she had
withdrawn her hand. she felt a sense
of relief.
Hello. Allison" called the hearty
voice of Jim Sargent. You're looking
like youngster tonight"
II feel like one." replied Allison
smiling. I'm on a vacation" He was
either vain enough or curious enough
to glance at himself in the big mirror
as he passed it. He did look younger;
astonishingly SO; and he had about him
a quality of lightness which made him
restless. He had been noted among
his business associates for a certain
dry wit. scathing, satirical. relentless;
now he used that quality agreeably.
and when Lucille and Ted. and Arly
and Dick Rodley Joined them. he was
quite easily sharer in the gayety. At
the theater he was the same. He par
ticipated in all the repartee during the
intermissions. and the fact that he
found Gail studying him, now and then.
only gave him an added impulse. He
was frank with himself about Gail. He
wanted her. and he had made up his
mind to have her. He was himself a
little surprised at his own capacity of
entertainment, and when he parted
from Gail at the Sargent house. he
left her smiling, and with softer look
in her eyes than he had yet seen there.
Immediately on his return TO his
library. Allison threw Off his coat and
waistcoat, collar and tie. and sat at
the table.