Middletown transcript., 1918-07-20
CHAPTER XIV.
The Dollar Chasees,

CHAPTER XIV.
The Dollar chasers.
Granville took them to its bosom
with haste and earnestness that
made Hazel catch her breath. Tact
fully none so much as mentioned An
drew Bush, nor the flve-thousand-dollar
legacy-the disposition Of which sum
still perplexed that defunct gentle
mans executors. And once more in
a genial atmosphere Hazel concluded
to let sleeping dogs lie. She learned
from various sources that Bill's for
tune doomed big, had grown by some
mysterious process Of Granville tattle,
until it had reached the charmed six
figures Of convention.
There had been changes. Jack Bar
row had cons0led himself with a bride.
Moreover, he was making good, in the
popular phrase, at the real-estate
game. The Marshes, as she had pre-
viously known them, had been totter-
ing on the edge Of shabby gentility.
But they had come into money. And
as Bill slangily put 1t, they were using
their pile to cut lot of social ice.
Kitty Brooks husband was now the
head Of the biggest advertising agency
in Granville. Hazel was glad Of that
mild success.
She was inordinately proud of Bill,
when she compared him with the aver
age Granville male-yet she found her.
self wishing he would adopt a little
more readily the Granville viewpoint.
He fell short of 1t, or went beyond it,
she could not be sure which; she had
an uneasy feeling sometimes that he
looked upon Granville dOings and
Granville folk with amused tolerance,
not unmixed with contempt. But he
attracted attention. Whenever he was
minded to talk he found ready lis
teners.
Once or twice she conjured up a
vision of his getting into some bust
ness there, and utterly foregoing the
North-which for her was already be-
ginning to take on the aspect of
bleak and cherries region where there
was none Of the things which daily
whetted her appetite for luxury, moth
ing but hardships innumerable-a
gold. The gold had been their re-
ward-a reward well earned, she
thought. Still-they had been wonder
fully happy there at the Pine river
cabin. she remembered.
They came home from a theater
party late one night. Hazel kicked of
her slippers, and gratefully toasted her
silk-stockinged feet at the small coal
crate. Fall had come, and there was
a sharp nip to the air.
"Well, what do you think of Il as
far as you've gomez" he asked alb
ruptly.
II think it's fne." she candidly ad-
mitted. I'm enjoying myself. I like
it. Don't you?"
"As diversion" he observed
thoughtfully, Il don't mind it. These
people are all very affable and pleas
ant, and they've rather gone out Of
their way to entertain us. But, after
all, what the dickens does it amount
to? They spend their whole life run
ming In useless circles. I should think
they'd get sick Of 1t. You will"
Hardly, Blum" she smiled. "We're
merely making up for two years Of iso-
lation. I think we must be remarkable
people that we didn't fight like cats
and dogs. For eighteen months, you
know, there wasn't soul to talk to,
and not much to think about except |
what you could do If you were some
place else."
you're acquiring the atmosphere"
he remarked - sardonically, she |
thought.
"No; just enjoying myself" she re-
piled lightly.
swell, If you really are" he an
swered slowly, 1--WE may as well settle !
here for the winter-and get settled |
right away. I'm rather weary Of being |
a guest In another mans house, to tell |
you the truth"
why, I'd love to stay here all win
ter" she said. But I thought you in |
tended to knock around more or less"
"But don't you see, you don't partic-
ularly care to-" he pointed out; "and
it would spoil the fun Of going any
place for me If you were not interest
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