, 1915-12-30

oay, wait a minute" he whispered
hoarsely.
What is lt?' asked Rodney.
why don't we stall the countess
on" suggested Peale.
What for?' asked Rodney.
why, borrow the money from her
and keep the whole $4,000 for a couple
of days. Get me?"
What followed this speech gave Am
brose Peale one of the biggest sur
prises OF his life. The countess had
been watching the conversation eager
ly, k a bird, turning her head quick
ly from Peale to Rodney as they spoke
and looking very innocent and chic.
Upon the finale of Peale's scheme to
borrow her money she broke out into
perfectly good American.
"Why, you cheap grafter!" she cried
Indignantly, with a real Bowery &C.
cent.
"She spoke EnglishT' cried Rodney.
and the countess suddenly covered her
mouth with her hand, realizing for the
first time that she had given herself
away.
Suffering cats! She's a fakew Rod
ney added.
The countess agreed, Struggling her
shoulders.
80 is the draft. Gee, you were
easyi"
"Well, you're frank anyhow" Rod
ney said to her.
"Why not? It's all cold now"
ANVho uoG tha onna ltd Tr paa1o
asked her. taking a professional inter
est.
81 was going to trim you for the S.
600 change from that draft" said the
countess.
But why pick on us?"
~ didn't start u to. You wished 1t
on yourselves" said the countess. ~
came to trim your father. You re-
member I wanted to see him. But 1
looked so soft you thought you'd grab
me off and sell me the French agency
of your 10 Soap. l didn't think your
father could be as big a boob as you
were. so l changed my plans"
Now I'm going to get the cops to
get you!" said Peale sternly.
81 should burst into laughter!" cried
the countess. why, you pikers, I'm
on. You're busted. You haven't got
any money, and you have got a phony
company
Now. see here" expostulated Rod
ney.
"Preserve 1t, preserve It," the count,
ess interrupted. Don't forget I've IN
derstood everything you two guys were
talking about" To Rodney she said:
kiss her hand; it's French stuff"
To Peale:
"Ah, there, you little life saver"
To Rodney:
'The money with you-l'argent avec
vous? Gee. your French is rotten"
To Peale, who moved away from her:
"Shall | kiss herr"
Then she added after a pause:
Send for the cops and I'll blow the
whole thing to the papers"
She rested her gloved fingers coolly
on her umbrella handle and surveyed
the two boys.
well, | guess we're quits. IL you
had any money I'd ask for a piece of
change to keep me quiet. But as 1t Is
l can't waste my time"
You're not French at alp Rodney
queried.
81 was educated over there. I'm
mense, wasn't l? You tumbled
at ALL"
But why the foreign stuffF" Peale
inquired.
.'well. | can talk good French. but
my English is punk" explained the
countess.
You won't say anything now?" Rod
ney pleaded.
mo, | don't hit a fellow when he's
down. Anyhow. we're all in the same
not help noticing the change hat had
come over the countenance Of Ellery.
You seem very beastly pleased. FL
lery," he said. lis everything all right
about fatherf"
..Oh, yes, so to speak, In a way" said
Ellery. still grinning.
what do you to speak IN
a way?' Peale demanded, suddenly
suspicious.
oh, money, money!
And Ellery explained. The u
was that Ellery couldn't get father on
the telephone, and that did make 1t SO
much easier, Ellery thought. lie did
not fancy talking to father about mon
ey. That was the truth. and he couldn't
get father because father was OF on
Long Island sound somewhere with
his yacht and wouldn't be back TIL
Monday. Apparently Ellery was re-
lieved by this unavoidable postpone
ment, and SO he grinned and thought
Three fakes. III keep mum II you do
class. Three fakes. III keep mum If
you do"
oh. money. money!
So much for the $4,000. The S2,oOo
was no nearer. as was presently 10