The enterprise. [volume] (Harlem, Mont.) 1899-1926, 1915-07-15
CHAPTER XIV.
The Count Wants the Castle.

In repentant horror upon the half
asleep Rosemary, who, God bless her
little soul, cried bitterly on being torn
away from my embrace.
"Well," said Billy Smith, taking me
by the arm a few minutes later, let's
have bite to eat and cold bottle
before we 60 to bed, old chap. l hope
to heaven she gets through all right.
am strong for her, aren't you?'
II am" said I, with conviction, COM
ing out of daze.
He led me Off to cafe, where he
seemed to be more or less at home, and
where 1t was bright and gay for him,
but gloomier than the grave to me.
drove the car home the next day.
When he got down at the garage. Brit
ton shivered and drew a prodigious
breath. 1t was as If he had not breath
ed for hours. We had gone the dis
lance in little more than half the time
taken on the trip down.
"My word. SIR" was all he said, but
there was a significant tremor in his
voice. It smacked Of pride.
Mrs. Titus placidly inquired how we
had got along and appeared quite re-
lieved when told her we had caught
the train ut X. Jasper junior reveal
ed genuine interest IN the enterprise
but spoiled it all by saying that Aine,
now prematurely safe, was most likely
to leap out Of the frying pan into the
fire by marrying some blithering for
eigner and having the whole beastly
business to do over again.
How soon do they go?" asked Poop
endyke late that afternoon, after lis
tening to Mrs. Titus amiable prophe-
cies concerning Alines future actvi-
ties and getting my harassed ear in IA
moment of least resistance.
IL don't know" said l hopelessly. l
had heard about all could endure con-
corning his lordship's magnificent es-
tates in England, and the sort of a
lord he was besides. "Tlere's nothing
to do but wait, Fred"
"She is a remarkably fine woman,
but He completed the estimate by
shaking his head. trusting to my intel
ligence, suppose.
We waited two days for word from
the fugitives. Late in the afternoon
of the second day Britton returned
from town with Il telegram for me-
1t said:
Cargo safely aboard Pendennis, Captain
Pardee commanding. Clear at 2 today.
Everything satisfactory. c. G. RAFT.
No sooner was this reassuring news
received than Mrs. Titus complacently
set about having her trunks packed.
The entire household was in stew of
activity, for she had suddenly decided
to catch the s O'clock train for Paris.
l telephoned to reserve accommodation
on the Orient express from Vienna and
also to have it stopped at the town
across the river, concession secured
at a no inconsiderable cost.
She was to travel once more as my
mother.
"You will not fail to look us up when
you come to New York, will you, Mr..
Smart? Mr.. Titus will not be happy
until he has expressed to you in person
his endless gratitude. You have been
splendid. We shall never forget your
kindness. your thoughtfulness, your
your forbearance. H.
Upon my word, there Were real tears
in the dear ladys eyes! I forgot and
forgave much in recognition of this in
slant OF genuine feeling on her part.
1t was not necessary for her to COM
plete the sentence so humbly begun.
Their departure was made with some
degree of caution, Mrs. Titus rather
considerably reminding herself that
my interests We're at stake. I saw
them aboard the train. She played her
part admirably will say that for her.
She lifted her veil so that could be-
stow d farewell filial kiss upon her
cheek. Jasper juniors eyes popped
very wide open at this, and as lie
shook my hand warmly at parting he
said:
"You are a wonder, John-a sure
enough wonder. Why, hang it all, she
doesn't even let dad do that"
But Jasper Junior was very young,
and he couldn't understand.
At last we We're to ourselves, my ex-
tensive household and l. Late that
night sat in my study considering the
best means of reducing my staff of
servants and in computing. with dis
may, the cost of being princely host
to people who had not the least notion
what it meant to do sums in economic
subtraction. 1t was soon apparent to
me that retrenchment, stern and re-
lentless, would have to follow upon my
wild though brief season of profligacy.
decided to dismiss the scullery maid.
l was indescribably lonely. Poopen-
dyke was worried about my pallor, my