The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1917-09-06
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complete system to which she had re-
duced hospitality. Her weekend par
| ties were select little affairs, where you
| might be sure of never meeting anyone
outside your own charmed circle.
There was never anything to jar ones
sense Of the fitness of things. One
week she would have celebrities, the
next week society crowd, and the
next she would pay back little social
| obligations of her own with careful
| selection of persons whom she did not
| honor with her personal friendship. 1t
was on this last list that she had
placed Shane O'Moore's name. After
receiving cards to his private view of
| pictures, she had deemed 1t a graceful
| thing to write him little note, invit-
| ing him, if he had the time to spare
from his arduous artistic labors, out
for a weekend Mt Oakesmere.
Imagine her utter amazement, then,
when he arrived absolutely without
warning in the midst of u house party
composed only of the ultra select. He
bounded up the steps and made for the
spot where Mrs. Latimer stood spell
| bound at his temerty.
Il knew you wouldn't mind my com
ing out today instead of next week."
Shane said in his buOyant, artless way,
ITS SO perfectly splendid of you to
think of me. l love your place out
here"
Bareheaded, he turned to survey the
landscape, and the nearest object his
glance fell upon was Geraldine Rogers.
Shane stood perfectly rigid, the light
of appreciation dawning in his blue
eyes, and Geraldine smiled at him. 1t
was very seldom she met any man who
looked interesting at Oakesmerc. Later
on that evening Mrs. Latimer found
time to stop in at Geraldine's room.
you don't know, my dear, what
relief it is to me to have you take that
impossible boy off my hands. l always
have a horror Of people that you never
can tell what they're going to say next
One has to think so to keep up with
them, and If you only say really or
doubtless you don't know what you've
committed yourself to. It's sweet of
you TO be bothered with him"
"Oh. but I'm not bothered ut ALL"
Geraldine replied promptly. Hes the
only interesting man I've met here. /
have an idea he is a man first of all,
and | like him."
OMoore was the hit of that particu
lar house party. He was prodigal with
his talent In entertaining.
1t was toward the end of his stay
Geraldine and he had just finished
swift bout on the tennis court and
were coming up the hedgc-bordered
walks that led to the terraces. The
hedge was too thick to see anyone on
the other side, but voices penetrated,
and suddenly they heard Ralph Merkle
saying in his easy drawl to Mrs. Lati-
mer:
ITS a good thing that Gerry won't
know anything about it until she gets
back to town. 1t would cut her up
fearfully. Although she'll hardly for
, give us for not telling her"
ooh, l wouldn't breathe a word of
it for the world" Mrs. Latimer said,
though, frankly, I've been expecting
it for a long while. They've both had
too much money ever since their father
died. Jack ran through his the first
year, and I'm perfectly positive she's
been holding him up ever since to keep
back Il scandal"
On the other side of the hedge there
rose suddenly roliCking Irish tenor
voice. They could not see Gerry's face
covered by her hands. They only heard
Shane OMOore's voice.
"'Tis trouble I'd be sharing with
you, if l dared" he said softly.
"Oh, it's nothing" the girls tone was
filed with Il weary bitterness. I've
been expecting it for n long while.
Jack issny younger brother. | expect
he's got into some sort of n mess, as
usual. must go straight up to town"
Let me go for YOU" urged Shane.
""Tis no place for woman when
there's trouble afoot. Let me 90 find
the boy and keep things hushed up.
What's he been doingW
Just sinking every dollar we both
owned into wildcat stocks. For all |
know, l may be penniless this minute"
Pray God you are" responded
Shane happily. IF it We're only true,
I'd be at your feet this minute telling
you how loved you"
81 WONDER" she said dreamily, 81
wonder if"
Shane laughed recklessly, his head
appraised to the blue sky. ''If were
king, all! love, If | were king" he
laughed. "Will you meet me two days
hence in New York-wherever you
say? I'll promise to have the boy in
hand for you"
Thursday morning Jack Rogers
stood in OMOores studio down on the
square. lie was clear-headed and So
Der for the first time in week. Shane
turned from the telephone with u slip
of paper and some figures.
IF you pay everybody" he said,
you'll have nothin. left but honor, me
boy. I've just been talking to your
sister. She'll be here In five minutes,
so you'd better make up your mind
which way you're going to jump"
Jack grinned bit unsteadily.
"Bettcr pay it" he said. "Im going
to work. / don't know what Gerry can
do. She can't keep up that big house,
but I'll take care of her"
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