Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-02-13

What kind Of matters?' said |.
women. You know all about them"
You don't know anything about
them, or you wouldn't say anything so
silly said firmly
"Oh, yes; you do" he said obstinate
ly. Look at all the messes you've
been in"
"Messes? What a way to speak Of
grand passions. But never mind.
What is it you want to know"
We'll, I'm very much interested in
lady = very pretty girl" he said, in
a hesitating way. 81 met her at the
house of one of your tenants at Scru-
toms, the millionaire at Number "a
very able man"
Every able" I said, as thought of
how the old sweep had tricked my
uncle out of quarters rent by his
ghost and very nearly tricked me.
Then my heart gave little jump; and
I felt annoyed Herbert had been max
ing love to the ghost girl herself. I
had no reason to feel annoyed, Of
course. 1t had nothing to do with me.
Whatever girl who had lent herself
to such a shady trick as that might do,
it could not possibly matter to ME.
Still, Herbert Her.
bert is such rotter.
But I'm rather uneasy about the cir
cumstances the =. environment"
went on he. 1.-TWO or three times
week Scruton has party after the
theater = mans party. They play
baccarat, and they play very high.
met her there And I have been
no nj
is always very high. IL have found
the atmosphere of the house suspi.
cious.'
Here it was as large as life. had
been expecting some little game from
Scruton: and here it was.
Look here, do you mean to>tell me
that the Internal New Zealander is run
ming gambling hell in Garthoyle
Gardens?" said.
mo, no. don't say that. I've no
right to. My suspicious are quite
vague = hardly suspicious. Besides, a
millionaire wouldn't run gambling
hell. would he?" he said quickly.
'You know very we'll millionaire
would. It's just the profitable amuse-
ment a millionaire would love. You
know the sweeps ! said How much
have you lost?"
about three hundred But of course
don't mind that
"Of course you don't. You go to see
the girl and that is the price you pay
for it. | should never have accused
you of being young, but you're deal
Younger than ever dreamt."
you've no right to jump to con-
illusions in such hurry, tell you. 1t
NAV be all my fancy"
Fancy or not ! can give you the adj
vice you want at once" said. 'Yon
keep away from Number 9, or you'll
get into most unholy mess. and Eng
land will lose choice prime minister"
NO no. That isn't it at sIl IT.
isn't your advice | want. | want the
benefit of your experience. ! want you
to come to one Of Scruton's PARTIES 81
that you may see for yourself and tell
me if there is anything wrong. There's
no need for any invitation. can take
you without"
mo. thank you I said. Outside is
good enough for me"
| did not want to see any more of the
ghost girl ] had feeling that that
way lay the mess of a life time. Be-
sides, it would be rather awkward:
she knew me under the name of Garth
and she might be annoyed to find that
! had not told her my right name when !
we talked about the Ponderbury hero
glyphics.
But Herbert would not take the re-
fusal He went on Fostering and pes
tering me to give him the benefit of
my experience and declaring and de- |
claring and declaring that ! could not
do it properly till had looked into the
matter for myself Also. felt that !
ought to prevent him getting into a |
hole if | could-after all, though it is
not my fault, he Is my cousin and in |
the end | gave way. But would not
dine with him on Thursday. 1t was bad
enough to be let in for a business
did not fancy without being bored to
death by Herbert. He arranged to call
for me at eleven the next Thursday |
night.
After he had gone, grew even more
about the business; and yet II
really did not matter to me whether
the ghost girl married Herbert or not.
When he called for me ] was ready |
for him. with two hundred in flyers III
my pocket. I did not mean to plunge.
w S1fOlleu TOuUu 10 NuulDeI . anu
we're taken up to room on the hrst
floor. A long table covered with
green cloth was set under two OF the I
in the cool, and a dozen men
were playing at it. Scruton, as black
laced and hard bitten as ever, stood
On the hearth rug talking to man
lid not know. Three or four men were
clustered round two girls who were
sitting on a couch on the left hand side
If the room: and all Of them were talk
ng cheerfnlly. One of the girls was
Alice Devine: and at the sight Of me
,er eyes opened wide and she flushed.
Scruton did not show the slightest
embarrassment at the sight of me. He
greeted me easily, and said he was
,ery glad had come round for game.
{ was clear that to him his little at
empt to trick me out Of his rent was
neither here nor there - just sort of
diversion.
The painting Herbert drew me across
he room TO the couch on which the
wo girls were sitting. shook hands
With Alice quickly, before he could in
reduce me as Garthoyle. Then ! greet