Grand Forks herald., 1917-02-23
%. ALICE DEVINE
BY EDGAR JEPSOM
Copyright 1915 by the Bobbs

say WISH you WOulO Keep away
from these gambling parties. I know
make an amusing break. But all the
same. they're not quite the thing for
you. don't you know?"
She frowned a little and said slow
ly: ooh, I don't come to them g.
cause they break the dullness. but be-
cause my uncle makes point of It,"
II shouldn't take any notice of
that. II were you," said I.
"Oh. but I must" she said. "Here
am living in his house. practically
dependent on him; and I must 10
what he asks me. And what forces
ne to do it more than anything elss Is
that it's the only thing he does ask
me"
well. il that's SO, must kesp en-
being sociable with Walsh" said I. .
she laughed softly
II do 1t for his good" said I.
! kept on being good to Walsh. and
at last worked him up to q state of
frst-class fury. Whenever he saw me
his eyes began to sparkle, and Ills
usual amiable scowl grew blacker and
blacker.
Then one night I had been particu-
larly bland with him, and though we
came out of Number . in nice
bright morning light, and he should
been in bed this four hours, It seemed
that he was boiling still.
I went down the steps first and
walked toward my house, expecting
him to keep his distance behind me.
for outside Scruton's always cut
him.
But he caught me up at once and
said: Look here. Garthoyle: we've
got to come to some arrangement
about that girl Of scruton's.'
That's pretty way Of speaking of
Miss Devine." I said
I'm not in punctilious temper to-
night" he said savagely. I'm in
earnest. I'm going to have tho mat
ter settled up here and now"
I looked at his working face and
saw that he was indeed serious.
Don't be an ass" exclaimed.
How can you settle It? The woman
always settles this kind Of thing"
Its no good your shuffling. You
You won't let her. You keep divert
ing her attention from it,"
From you, you mean," said I.
"Yes, from me. You're always try
ing to set her against me. And 1t
isn't as though you meant anything
yourself You don't. You're Just
playing the dog in the manger. You'd
never marry her." he said.
Would you?" said I.
eyes. ] would WILL" he cried.
Poor girl" said I.
He stormed and cursed at me- in a
growing roar.
wake up my tenants" I said.
He made more noise.
waited till he had run out Of
breath. 1t gave me more time to
think. Then said. mo; you shant
marry her-not II can stop it.
You're not fit to come near a decent
girl. much less marry her. I'll stop il
You think you can. do you? You
internal prig!" he cried. well, I'll
show you all about that, and inside of
a month. too"
With that he went off down caris-
brooke Street and turned off to my
house. He had given me plenty to
think about and 1 was uneasy. I did
not see what he could do; but I did
know that he would stick at nothing
where woman was concerned. At
the same time was q good deal sur
prised to learn that he was carrying
le bon motif concealed about his per-
son.
On consideration, did not believe
In 1t; certainly he would not marry
Alice. he had no intention Of marry
ing her. Well. must look after her
more carefully than ever when he
was about.
But that was where he put a spoke
in my wheel. Three mornings later,
hadn't seen him for some time; not
since I had congratulated him on
having been saved from marrying
Kitty Maynard by Freddy Gage. He
came looking his most portentous-
more like a funeral than a human
being-and I braced myself.
He sat down. crossed his legs and
looked at me in what he believes to
be an impressive way. 1t makes him
cleared his throat and said:
I've come to see you about seri-
Gus matter, Rupert-a very serious
matter indeed"
"You generally do" said. without
any show Of gratitude at all. What
is 1t? Fire away and try to put it
plainly
Herbert frowned. TITS about Miss
Devine," he said. II have been as
an alliance with that young woman,
the niece of that more than suspect
New Zealander, Scruton.''
Well. you've been assured wrong.
I said. But suppose I did? Miss
Devine is a very nice girl--quite
charming"
"1 wish I had been misinformed," {"
said Herbert gloomily. shaking his
large head. But my informant"
quickly.
Herbert hesitated. then he said:
"Sir Theobald Walsh"
1.-The biggest blackguard in London,
You liberals do keep nice company"
said.
II met him quite by accident" Her
bert half apologized.
I've all know all about those acci-
DENTS" I said. "And now I come
took me to gamble at Scruton's. You
liberals do lead lives!" said.
''As matter of fact, met him at
one Of your clubs-the Palladium -
said Herbert, his round face beginning
to grow purplish. "And in case like
this. would as soon take the opinion
OF Sir Theobald Walsh as anybody's.
His intrigues have made him an ex-
pert. and he is convinced that you
fatuated. But it won't do. Rupert.
With your name and money, you can't
marry girl who is merely a decoy in
a gambling he'll. That's what Scru-
tons house isl
II like this. from you." said. 'It's
exactly what you wanted to do your
self. You wanted to marry Kitty
Gage. and she was just as much and
tust as little decoy as Miss Devine
is. In fact. I think that Kitty Gage
was a great deal more aware OF the
part she was playing than ever Miss
Devine was"
Eyes; did want to marry Kitty