The midland journal., 1915-11-12

Belly eyes were dreamy ana neT
hands were unresisting as Tom took
them in his own, but just as she be
gan to lift her eyes to meet Toms de-
vouring gaze the nall door opened and
the tall. slender figure Of Mowbray
emerged. With catlike swiftness he
saw the couple at the end of the
porch, and with cat-like silence he ap-
preached until quite near them. Then
in his purring voice he reminded Bet
ty that she had promised to play his
accompaniment while he sang BE.
side the Shalamar."
Betty and her mother remained al
Hillcrest after the other guests de.
parted, and Monday evening after din
ner, when the ladies had finished their
coffee in the library, George Wilson
lighted fresh cigar and joined them
there
well, we've seen the last of our
oriental guest. hope he began, and
Betty shot him surprised look from
where she sat toasting her toes before
the wood fire. You see, Mowbray
came into my Office last week with
tale about being here to get local
color for a novel in preparation, and
while / saw at once that he was not
without weaknesses, / didn't suspect
that he was the degenerate I've since
learned he is. His faultless manners
were so like his fathers that as
sumed he had some of the deeper good
traits of his father, and so invited him
out here His evident uneasiness
when mentioned Judge Morton's hav-
ing recently come here from his home
city convinced me that he wouldn't
care to have Morton tell what he
might know about his home life. |
made 1t my business to make inquiries
today about Mowbray of Judge Nor.
ton, who is a professional associate
of mine" George Wilson flicked the
ashes from his cigar into the ash tray
on the arm of his chair
"And were your suspicious well
founded?" asked Mrs Underwood.
"Yes, and mention it only because
it will forewarn you and Betty not to
be at home should he call. After
spending his widowed mothers money
Mowbray married girl who had
a snug little fortune. Their bridal
trip to the Orient, which was to equip
him with the material his genius was
later to weave into immortal poetry,
used up most of the fortune and Sc
riously impaired the health of the
wife, who died shortly after their re-
turn. Soon after he married widow
of means, who kicked him out after
supporting him in idleness for while.
Then he went back and lay around
his mothers home until she died, and.
with the money secured from the sale
of her home he equipped himself for
social conquest, doubtless with the
expectation of inducing some other
girl to devote her fortune to the de
velopment of his genius"
The telephone rang just then. and
George Wilson answered it himself.
Betty and her mother sat silently be.
fore the fire and heard Wilson's part
of the conversation.
Hello. Good evening, Mr. Now
bray. Yes, quite comfortable. Yes,
Miss Underwood and her mother are
both here, and I've just been telling
them tale told me today by Judge
Morton, of whose ability to tell inter
esting tales you doubtless know. No,
you're not interrupting; the story had
been finished and our conclusions
drawn, and there will be no sequel to
it," The receiver clicked into its
holder and George Wilson returned
to mis- armchair by the fire. A few mo-
ments later he addressed Betty.
Betty, I've been interested for
years in Indian folklore, and my
clients, the Brown and Martin Real
Estate company, have finally got a
clear title to that large tract Of land
known as the Iroduois Triangle, and
supposed to have been the scene of
many a wild Indian escapade. They
purpose to divide it into small tracts
for residence and to enhance its value
by weaving some of my Indian folk
lore into their advertising. Wouldn't
you and your mother like to motor
through that country with us tomor
row and help fit the folklore into the
landscape, as it were?"
"Oh, we'd love it, wouldn't we,
mother?" To which the mother re
Piled in the affirmative, and asked how
many others the party would include.
"Just Mr.. Martin of the real estate
company and Tom Whiteford. who
mailed the contract today for the ad
vertising."
And it was on that motor trip that
Toms long lane that had seemed to-
have no turning turned abruptly into
lane that led to success and happi,
ness and Betty.