The Washington times., 1919-04-02
CHAPTER VII.
ObsPasIOn,

CHAPTER VII.
ObsessIOn.
By the end OF the week Bfandes
had done much to efface any un-
pleasant impression he had made
on Ruhsnnah Carew.
The girl had never before had to
do with any mature man. She was
therefore at a disadvantage in ev-
cry way, and her total lack Of ex-
perience emphasized the odds.
Nobody had ever before pointed
~ preferred her. paid her undi-
vided attention; no man had ever
sought her, conversed with her, de-
ferFed to her, interested himself in
her. 1t was entirely new to her,
this attention which Brandes paid
her. Nor could she make any COM
PARSONS between this man and
other men, because she knew no
other men. He was an entirely
novel experience to her; he had
made himself interesting, had
proved amusing. considerate. kind.
generous. and apparently interest
ed in what interested her. And IL
his unfeigned preference for her
society disturbed and perpleXed her,
father and mother were gradually
winning from her far more than
anything he had done for her.
His white-faced. odd little friend
had gone; he himself had taken
quarters at the Gayfield House,
where a car like the wrecked one
was stabbed for his use.
He had already taken her father
.,
within motoring distance; he had
escorted her to the movies; he
evenings after supper, rowed her
about on the pond, fished from the
bridge, told her strange stories in
the moonlight on the veranda, her
father and mother interested and
attentive.
For the career or Mr.. Eddie
Brandes was capable OF furnishing
material for interesting stories IL
carefully edited and related with
discretion and circumspection. He
had been many things to many men
and to several women-he had
been a tinhorn gambler in the
Southwest, a miner in Alaska, a
saloonkeeper in Wyoming, a fight
promoter in Arizona. He had traV-
eled prOfitably on popular ocean
liners until requested to desist; An
teuil, Neuilly, Vincennes, and Long
champs knew him as tout, bookie,
and, when fitfully prosperous, as q
plunger. EPSON knew him once as
a welcher; and knew him no more.
He had taken a comic opera COM
pany through the wheat belt-ons
way; he had led a burlesque troupe
into Arizona and had traded il
there for a hotel.
when Eddie wants to talk"
Stull used to say, that smoke, 9th
clio, hasn't got nothing on him."
However. Brandes seldom chose
to talk. This was one Of his rare
garrulous occasions; and. with care
full self-censOrship, he was making
an endless series OF wonder tales
out OF the episodes and fats divers
common to the experience OF such
as he.
So. OF moving accidents by Hood
and field this man had a store, and
he contrived to make them artisti-
cally innocuous and perfectly 1T for
family consumption.
Further, two OF his friends
motored over from Saratoga to
see him. were brought to sup
per at the Carews'. and they gave
him a clean bill OF moral
health. They were, respectively,
doc" Curfoot-suave haunter Of
Peacock Alley and gentleman cap
per''-whom Brandes introduced as
the celebrated specialist, DR.. FL
bert Curfoot-and Capt. Harman
Quint. partner in "Quint's cele-
brated temple of Chance-introduced
as the distinguished navigating Of
ficer which he appeared to be. The
steering for their common craft,
however. was the duty Of the emf
nent Doc.
They spent the evening on the
Verandah with the family: and il
was quite wonderful what a fine
fellow each turned out to be-in-
formation confidentially impaired
to the Rev. Mr.. Carew by each OF
the three distinguished gentlemen
in turn.
Doc CurfoOt. whose business in
cluded the ability to talk convinc-
ingIy on any topic. took the Rev.
Mr Carew's measure and chose lit
erature: and his suave critique
presently became an interesting
listened To in silence by
those around him.
Brandes had said. Put me in
right. Doc" and Doc was accom-
plishing it. partly to oblige
BrandeS. partly for practice. His
agreeable voice so nicely pitched.
so delightfully."- persuasive, recapit-
all the commonplaces and
can't phrases concerning tho litera-
ture OF the day. penetrated CRATE
fully the intellectual isolation ot
these humble Eentlepeople, and