Middletown transcript., 1916-02-12
CHAPTER XVI.

Gerald FosIand Makes Speech.
Gerald Fosland. known to be so for
Eaal that he had once dressed to an
swer an emergency call from friend
at the hospital, because the message
came in at six o'clock, surprised his
guests by appearing before them, in
the salon just before dinner, in his
driving coat and with his motor cap
in his hand.
Sorry" he informed them, with a
stiff bow, "but an errand of such i'm
portance that it cannot be delayed,
causes Mrs. Fosland and myself to
return to the city Immediately for an
hour or so. | am sincerely apologetic.
and l trust that you will have jolly
dinner"
rs Gail going with you?" inquired
the alert Mrs. Helen Davies, observ-
ing Gail in the gangway adjusting her
furs.
She has to chaperon me, while Ger
aid is busy" Arly glibly explained.
You're it, Aunt Grace. You and
Uncle Jim have to be hosts. Good-by!"
and she sailed out to the deck, fol-
lowed by the still troubled Gail, who
managed to accomplish the laughing
adieus for which Arly had set the
precedent.
A swift ride in the launch, in the
cool night air, to the landing; a brisk
walk to the street; then Gerald, hav-
ing seen the ladies safe under shelter,
even if it were but the roof of night
hawk taxi, stopped at the first saloon.
There he phoned half dozen mes
sages. There were four eager young
men waiting in the reception room of
the Fosland house, when Gerald's
party arrived, and three more followed
them up the steps.
Gerald aided in divesting the ladies
of their wraps, and slipped his own
big top coat into the hands of William,
and saw to his tie and the set of his
waistcoat and the smoothness of his
hair, before he stalked into the recep-
ton parlor and bowed stif1y.
Gentlemen" he observed. giving
his mustache one last smoothing, first
of all, have you brought with you the
written guarantees which 1 required
from your respective chiefs, that, in
whatsoever comes from the informa-
tion I am about to give you, the names
of your informants shall, under no cir
cumstances, appear in print?"
One luckless young man, a fat
checked one, with pucker in the cor
ner of his lips where his cigar should
have been, was unable to produce the
necessary document, and he was un-
der a scrutiny too close to give him
chance to write it.
Sorry" announced Gerald, with po-
lite contrition. "As this is a very
strict condition, ! must ask you to
leave the room while address the re-
naming gentlemen"
The remaining gentlemen, OF whom
there were now eleven, grinned appre-
ciatively. Hickey would have been
the best newspaper man in New York
if he were not such a careless slob.
He was so good that he was the only
man from the Planet The others had
sent two and three, for Gerald's mes
sage. while very simple, had been
most effective. He had merely an
nounced that he was prepared to pro-
vide them with an international sensa-
ton, involving some hundreds of bill
lions of dollars-and he had given his
right name!
Hold the stuff till l telephone"
begged Hickey. Say, if l get that
written guaranty up here in fifteen min
utes, will it do?"
Gerald looked him speculatively in
the eye.
IF you telephone, and can then as
sure me, on your word of honor, that
the document l require shall be in
the house before you leave, shall
permit you to remain" he decreed;
and Hickey looked him quite soberly
in the eye for half minute.
"I'll have it here all right" he de-
cided, and sprang for the telephone,
and came back in three minutes with
his word of honor. They could hear
him, from the library, yelling, from
the time he gave the number until he
hung up the receiver, and if there was
ever urgency in a mans voice, it was
in the voice Of Hickey.
Gerald Fosland took a commanding
position in the corner of the room,
where he could see the countenances
Of each of the eager young gentlemen
present. He stood behind a chair,
with his hands on the back of it, in
his favorlte position for responding to
a toast.