Cheyenne record., 1919-12-18
CHAPTER XIV.


He went to his room. threw off his
coat. waistcoat, collar and tie, letting
them lie where they chanced to fall,
and then. having violently enveloped
l,imself In black velvet dressing
gown. continued this action by lying
down with a vehemence that brought
a wheeze Of protest from his bed. His
repose was only momentary SEM
biance. however. for 1t lasted no long
or than the time 1t took him to grOan
"Itifrraff!" between his teeth. Then he
sat up. swung his feet to the floor, rose
and began to pace up and down the
large rL Din.
9e had just been consciously rude
TO his mother for the first time in his
life; for. with all his riding down Of
I.pulace and riffraff. he had never be-
forc been either deliberately or i'm
pulsively dlsregardful Of her. But
now he had done rough thing to her ;
and he did not repent; the rather he
was the more irritated with her. And
when he heard her presently 60 by his
door with light step. singing cheer
fully to herself as she went to her
room. he perceived that she had mis-
taken his intention altogether. or. in.
deed. had failed to perceive that he
had any intention Mt all.
There came a delicate, eager tap
plug Mt his door, not done with q
knuckle but with the tip Of finger.
nail. which was instantly clarified to
Georges minds eye rs plainly as II he
saw 1t: the long and polished white.
mooneG pink shield on the end Of his
Aunt Fanny's right fOreflnger. But
George was in no mood for human
communications, and even when things
went well he had little pleasure in
Fanny's society. Therefore 1t Is not
surprising that at the sound Of her
tapping. instead of bidding her enter.
he INN nedately crossed the room with
the intention OF locking the door to
keep her out.
Fanny was too eager and. opening
the door before he reached 1t, came
quickly in. and closed 1t behind her.
Her look was that Of a person who
had Just seen something extraordinary
or heard thrilling news.
snow. what on earth do you want?"
her chilling nephew demanded.
George" she said hurrIedly. II saw
what you did when you couldn't speak
70 them. was sitting with Mrs. John
~on at her front window, across the
street. and l saw 1t all"
"Well. what of it7"
"You did right" Fanny said with a
,t.tko lNo
cause she suppressed her voice almost
10 whisper. "YOu did exactly
right You're behaving splendldly
about the whole thing. and I want to
tell you I know your father would
thank you II he could see what you're
doing"
MY Lord r. George broke out at her.
You mike me dizzy! For heavens
sake quit the mysterious detective
6usiness-st least do quit 1t around
me! Go and try 1t on somebody else
II you like: but I don't want to hear
IT."
She began to tremble, regarding him
with fixed gaze. You don't care to
hear. then" she said huskily. that
approve Of what you're doing"
Certainly not Since I haven't the
taintest idea what you think I'm do
ing naturally don't care whether
you approve Of 1t or not. All I'd like.
f you please. is to be alone. I'm not
giving a tea here. this afternoon. II
you'll permit me to mention iti'
Fanny's gnze wavered; she began
to blink: then suddenly she sank into
chair and wept silently. but with q
terrible desolation.
"Oh. for the Lords sakel" he
moaned. "What in the world Is wrong
with your
you're always picking on me-" she
quavered wretchedly. her voice indts-
tlnct with the wetness that bubbled in
to 1t from her tears. "You do-you
always pick on mel You've always
done it-always-ever since you were
a little boy! Whenever anything goes
wrong with you. you take 1t out on
mel You dol You always"
George flung to heaven q gesture Of
despair; It seemed to him the last
straw that Fanny should have chosen
this particular Tine to come and sob