The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1916-09-28


Seems to be the open season for
runaways," Hamilton was saying. Its
only few days since Thurlow Ladis-
las daughter-what's her name?-
Mary-tOok the bit between her teeth
and bolted with the old mans chauf-
feur."
Somebody asked: "How far. did
they get before old Ladislas caught
up?"
HE didn't give chase. He's not that
kind. If he was put to it, old Thur
low could play the unforgiving parent
in melodrama without any makeup
whatever"
Hes just like that" said HamiI-
ton. Remember his other daughter.
Grace, eloping with young Petit a few
years ago? Old Ladlslas had down
On Pettit-who's n decent enough kid,
aotwithstanding-so Grace was
promptly dlsOwned, and they've no
hope of ever touching a penny of the
Ladislas COIN"
But what became of them-Mary
and the stoker-person?"
Nobody knows, except possibly
themselves"
whats she like, this Mary-quite-
contrary?" inquired George Brenton's
voice.
"oh, nothing but a ksd," said little
Flske.
mot over eighteen"
The elevator was waiting by this
time, but Whitaker paused an instant
before taking it, chiefly because the
sound of his own name, uttered by
Hamilton, had reused him out of the
abstraction in which he had overheard
the preceding conversation.
Anyhow, I'm sorry for Hugh Whit
aker. He's going to take this hard,
mighty hard"
George Brenton asked, as If sur
prised: "What? / didn't know he
was interested in that quarter"
"You must be blind. Alice Carstairs
has had him going for a year. Every
body thought she was only waiting for
him to make some big money-he as
much as anybody, fancy"
Brenton added the last straw.
That's tough" he said soberly. whit
aker's n white man, and Alice Car
stairs didn't deserve him. But 1
wouldn't blame any man for feeling
cut-up to be thrown over for an out
and-Out rotter like Percy Grim
shaw. ="
Whitaker heard no more. At the
first mention of the name of Alice Car
stairs he had snatched her letter from
his pocket and was reading. Nobody
VIII ever know just what Alice Car
stairs saw At to write to Hugh Whit
aker. The blood ebbed from his face
and left It CHASTITY. and when ne had
torn the paper TO shreds and let them
fiutter about his feet. he swayed per-
ceptlbly-so much so that one of the
pages took alarm and jumped to his
side.
beg pardon, Mr.. Whitaker-did you
call me?"
Whitaker steadied himself and
stared until he recognized the boy.
NO" ne said thickly but L want you
Give me a bar order"
The boy produced the printed form
and Whitaker hastily scribbled his or
der on It. Bring that up to the Ii
brary," ne said, "and be quick about
&C."
He stumbled into the elevator. and
presently found himself I'm the library.
There was no one else about. and
Whitaker was as glad of that as it was
I'm him to be glad Of anything just
then. lie dropped heavily into big
armchair and waited. his brain whirl-
ing and seething. his nerves ON edge
and screeching. I'm this state Peter
Stark found him.
Peter snuntered into the room with
manner elaborotely careless. Be
meath that mask he was anything but
Indifferent, just as his appearance was
anything but fOrtuitous. Moreover.
Peter had already heard about Alice
Carstairs and Percy Grlmshaw.
Hello" ne soid. cODtrivlng by mere
accident to catch sight of Whitaker.
who was almost invisible I'm the big
chair with its back 10 the body Of the
room. "What you doing up here Hugh9
What's upY
tits all up," said Whitaker. trying
20 pull himself together "Everything's
upW
"Don't believe &C." said Stark, coolly
MY feet are on the ground but you
look as if you'd seen a ghost"
II haye-my own" said Whitaker