Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1915-09-09

the Master Key" mine.
There We're not man. at the hotel
and the most prominent figure among
the guests was Il tall. carefully dress
ed E%nglishman, so typically the tourist
that the old cook insisted on Identify
ing him on the register.
Il amt seen many of the new kinds
of people," he explained. I've been
out in the mine so many years that the
styles in real gents has kind of escaped
me. l admire to know just what kind
of birds I'm roosting with"
"Who is he" laughed Ruth. as they
gazed out at the rising hills.
Hes marked down as Sir Donald
F~aversham, and he's from the Brit
ish isles" Tom Kane rejoined. HE
is here for his health, they say. 1 sup
pose that's whyshe has to wear them
white ankle warmers on his legs"
"Those are called spats, Tom" said
John. smiling. THAT eyeglass is a
monOcle."
Does he see through it," inquired
Kane, with apparent anxiety. II reck-
oned he was near sighted. for I spoke
to him a while ago and he didn't even
see me-"
Oddly enough, Ruth blushed at this.
Sir Donald had seen her, and she had
been made aware of it instantly; not
that Sir Donald had been in the slight.
est offensive. He had merely silently
testified by respectful glances his ap.
probation Of the arrival Of a very pref.
ty woman.
John Dorr saw the blush and inter,
preted it rightly. He. too. had OBJ.
served the Englishman's sudden inter.
est in the lovely girl. For the first
time he felt a sharp twinge of jeal.
ousy. He had so long been alone in
Ruth's regard that he had not ana.
lyzed his own feelings toward her
He determined that Sir Donald Faver.
sham should not impose his company
on them.
The very next morning, when Ruth
and John came out from the hotel
ready for a stroll, Faversham lay il
wait for the old cook and asked hin
for a match for his cigarette. Ton
reached into his waistcoat pocket anG
pulled u 4 bunch Of block matches
which he handed out with an air OF
doing a service to some one he could
not see. Sir Donald looked at the
queer matches, not knowing the pecul
iarities of the western sulphur article
and in spite of himself Kane had tc
instruct him to pull off one Of the
matches and strike it. When Sir Don
aid choked and sputtered over an in
halation Of birthstone Tom looked pro
foundry concerned.
They're a leetle strong for some
people," he remarked pityingly.
"Strong!" answered Faversham, wip
ing his eyes. II should jolly well say
they were!!"
Their conversation had attracted
Ruth's attention. and she and Johr
both looked back. John smiled faint
ly, but Ruth was indignant.
tom did that on purpose" she said
I'm ashamed Of him"
How it happened only Sir DonalC
could have told, but within three min
utes he was exchanging remarks about
the scenery with them all. land
there's an awfully jolly bit just owe
the other way" he said to Ruth.
The ice was broken, and Ruth
promptly accepted the implied invita-
ton to see this specially lovely scene
and Sir Donald led the way, talking
with her. After an i%nstant's hesita-
ton John and Kane followed.
The acquaintance thus made was
destined to have Il great bearing OH
the lives Of both Ruth and John. 1t
had ripened into a genuine liking on
Ruth's part before the dance that night
was over.
The next morning John and Tom met
Ruth walking with Sir Donald about
the hotel grounds, and the young man
could not help showing in both voice
and manner that he was little pleased
that Ruth should have so suddenly
taken up with a stranger.
Remember. she's only a girl Tom
warned him, feeling his mood. "She's
been brought up in the mountains, and
she's as friendly as a pup. 1 don't like
the way the man puts petticoats on his
feet and I'm used to being looked at
with two eyes, but Ruth is all right.
You must remember that young as she
is and inexperienced, she has a good
lot Of common sense"
II suppose it's foolish of me-" John
answered, But Pm used to activity.
and this dawdling about doesn't suit
me and that makes me generally cross
and unreasonable. If l only knew
what Wilkerson was doing! If Everett
would only comet!
The wish was fulfilled that afternoon
when George Everett turned up and
was warmly greeted by both Kane
and Dorr. After n few words he asked
for Ruth.
"You can see that she's all right"
John answered quietly, pointing to her
as she came up the steps with Sir
Donald. Both were in tennis garb, and
Ruth was delightfully."- flushed.