Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-08-06

were craned so that not a syllable of
Johns answer might be missed. lie
was not In the least degree nervous.
ITO tell the truth. Mrs. Howell" he
said II know very little about either
my title my relatives. Somehow
or other, became a marquis. just be-
cause happened to be my fathers son
| suppose. The strange thing is that
| have always considered myself sure
enough American. and ! am free 10
confess that hitherto | have looked on
my pccraSc rather joke than
otherwise"
Mrs Howell simpered Evidently a
British marquisatc was no joke TO her.
She introduced John to her daughter
a really pretty girl who reminded him
| somewhat OF Mary Temple. though hap
| PLY. there was hint of candid and
honest disposition In this girls bright
blue eyes. open forehead and we'll.
shaped trcmulous Inns.
Marjorie Howell had been we'll
! trained. She knew exactly how to talk
to an earnest -mindc. young man who
| obviously possessed none of the airs
and Eraces of the carpet knight type.
But John was moro obserrant than
She gave him credit for While doing
4 his best to counter her lively COM
ments. and repay with interest each
arch smile and laughing pout. he saw
! quito plainly that there was at least
/ one young man present who could
chcerfully have murdered him.
! Iic saw. too, that he was the sub
| ject Of earnest conversation between
! Mrs Howell and her husband lie was
not blind To the skill with which Mar
! jorie stopped their dance when close
/ to her father and swept the two into
IL chat. out OF the corner of his eye
he noticed that the scowlng young
man promptly appropriated the girl and
whirlcd her off in waltz. These
trivial plots and counterplots amused
him greatly. His mind was intent on
them even TO the exclusion of the az
fable comments of that multimilIionairc
and dominating power of finance, Mr.
Alexander Howell. Still. he did wake
UP sufficiently To give heed to one sig
nificant sentence.
Come down to my Office some time.
Mr.. Burton" the host was saying IT
may have something that will interest
YOU. In any event. you'l meet the
right crowd"
There was degree OF genuine tact
in the dropping Of Johns title in
Difference to his expressed wish Mr.
Howell. at any rate. was a better judge
than his wife of a man like Burton.
marquis or no marquis
John soon found himself dancing with
Marjorie again. The girl was
natural-born coquette. to whom every
good looking boy" was fair game.
She nirted with John on the approved
lines. and led him into a palm-filic
conservatory at just the right moment
They were laughing and talking hero
as though they had been friends since
childhood when the disgrunted young
ster whom John had already noticed
came up.
MY dance. Marjorie" he growled
angrily.
rs It rcally?" cried the girl. subtly
conveying to John the knowledge that
her forgetfulness was wholly due to
him Let me introduce you two-thc
Marquis OF Casticton. Mr.. Ralph
MorGan"'
II was abundantly clear that MIR. Nor
Gans SAVIOR faire did not compare
favorably with his rivals. His bow
was very stiff, and he led off Marjorie
as If she were prisoner.
John heard the girl laughing.
Don't he silly she was gigglinE
IT'S mono Of my doing. Is 'um's little
feelings hurt, them"
Evidently her co,nnan;,r b.d coma
shred Of wit left. lie puIIcd her no
hiud "A particularly dense cIup,n re
palms, and presumably kissed her
John Erinned deliehtcdiy II was
all harmless comedy, he thought
such things formed a mighty pleasant
change from many of his earlier cx-
perienccs.
CHAPTER NJ
''Thc Cross Ways"
ON" morning. about a week later n
group OF %harp-cycd business men
gathered in the private Office of the
president of the C., O. & +. Railway,
when clerk entered and handed :.
card TO Mr.. Howell The fnancicr
rubbed his glasses. focused the card
and read: mir. John Burton"
All" he said. smiling around on his
associates. this il just one of the right
sort of young fellows to have in our
crowd. Though he passes as plain
John Burton,' he is really n British