The evening world., 1915-01-11

I'm not q clever chap-realiy,~ he
went on. I'm AFRAID cannot dc.
scribe her to you. Spirited-charm-
ing He looked toward tho younE.
est Of the trio. you. at least. .undsr-
stand" he finished.
Mr.. Minot leaned back in his chair
and smiled most engaging snile.
Perfectly" he said.
Thank you" went on Lord Har-
rowby In all seriousness. 1T was
only incidental-Quite irrelevant,
be very wealthy. fell desperately in
love. am stiil In that-er-pleaslng
state. The young ladys name, gen.
tlemen. In Cynthia Meyrick. She u
tho daughter Of Spencer Meyrick.
whose fortune has. I believe. been
accumulated In OIL"
Mr.. Thacksr's seyebrows rose re-
"A week from next Tuesday" said
Lord Harrowby solemnly. "at San
Marco. on the east coast OF Florida.
married"
And what" asked Owen Jephson.
"is your proposition?"
Lord Harrowby shifted nervously
T say we are TO 30 married" he
continued. But are We? That Is
the nightmare that haunts me. A
slip. My--er-creditors coming down
on me. And far more important the
dreadful agony Of losing the dearest
woman In the world"
'what could happen," Mr.. Jsphson
wanted to know.
"Did I say the young woman was
vivacious?" inquired Lord Harrowby.
"She IL. A thousand girls In one.
Some untoward happening. and she
might change her mind-in q fiash."
Silence within the room; outside tn
roar Of New York and the clatter OF
the inevitable YivettinG machine max
tng its points relentiessly.
'That," said Lord Harrowby. siow-
ly, "is what wish you to insure me
against. Mr.. Jephson."
'"You mean
Nina m,.s cynthl. A''r''h'' changing nor
Again silence, save for the rivetting
machine outside. And three men
looking unbelievingiy at one another.
"Of course" his lordship went on
hastily, "it Is understood that ! per-
sonally am very eager for this we'd
ding to take place. 1t u understood
that In the interval before the core
mony I shall do all In my power 70
keep Miss Meyrick to her present IN
tention. should the marriage Do aban,
doned because OF any act OF mine. ]
would be ready to forfeit all claim on
Lloyds." 49,.
M. Thacksr recovered his breath
and his voice ct one and the same
.Prep eposterous," he snorted. beg
ging your lordship's pardon, you can
not expect hard headed business men
to listen seriously to any such propo.
sition a. that. Tushery, sir, tusnery
Speaking a. the American representa-
zone moment" interrupted Mr.
Jephson. In his eyes shone q quees
lrht-a hght such a. one might OK
pect 70 flnd In tho eyes OF Peter Pan
the boy who never grew UP. Ont
moment, pledse. what sum had yot
IN mind, Lord Harrowbyr
well. say a1oo.ooo." suggeseed M
iordship. II realize that my proposi,
ton u fantastic. Il really aomittee
cone hundred Thousand pounds
Mr.. Jephson admitted It thought.
fully. II should have 70 charge you,
lordship q rather high rate. As mgr
a 10 per cent"
Lord Harrowby seemed TO DO In tn'
throes OF mental arithmetic. =.
, II am afraid" he said finally. =
could not AFFORD one hundred thou.
sand at that rate. But could anort
seventy five thousand. Would ina
be satisfactory. Mr.. Jsphson!"
"Jephson." cried Mr. Thacker wiio'
iy. "Are you naadf DO you re-
." realize everything. Thacksr.'
said Jephsou calmly. II have your
iordship's word that tho young lady
is At present determined on this al
Nance? And that you Will DO all In
your power TO keep her to her inten'
tionf" . ... ,,-d
Harrowby. "k you should care &c
.Your word is sufficient" saAd Jsph,
sou. "Mr. Minot. will you be kint
enough to bring me policy blank!
"See here. Jephson." foamed Thack
ar. what II this thing should ge
into the newspapers? Wed be th'
laughing stock of tho business
world"
} "It might" roarSd Thacker.
Mr.. Minot arrived with q blank pol
icy, and Mr.. Jephson sat down at th'
= young mans desk.
"One minute" Sasd IhacAer. IN
= faith of you two gentlemen in eacl
: other In touching. but ! take II IN.
= millennium IN stili a few years on.
He drew toward him q blank sheet o
paper. and wrote. II want this thinI
done in q businesslike way. II its y
BE- done In my Once" He handed tn
! sheet OF paper to Lord Harrowby
= ''Wiil you read that. pieassT he said
sCertainiy." His iordship read:
> hereby agree that in the interva
}. until my wedding with miss Cyntni
. Meyrick next Tuesday week I Will d
= all in my power to put through tn
n match. and that should the weddin,
. be called off through any gubseQuen
9 direct act of mine Will forfeit a
{ claims on Ijoyds."
: "Will you sign that, please?" re
: auested Mr.. rtacksr. -.
{ with pleasure" His iordshfl
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