The Ordway new era., 1919-11-28
CHAPTER XIV.
10

He went to his room. threw off his
coat. waistcoat. collar and tie. letting
them lie where they CHANGED to fall,
and then. having violently enveloped
himself In a black velvet dressing
gown. continued this action by lying
down with vehemence TINT brought
a wheeze of protest from his bed. His
repose was only momentary SEM
biance, however. for 1t lasted no long
er than the time II took him to groan
.'Riffraff I" between his teeth. Then he
sat up. swung his feet to the floor, rose
and began to pace up and down the
large rG 1m.
He had just been consciously rude
10 his mother for the first time in his
tIfe. for. with all his riding down OF
populace and riffrnfr. he had never be-
fore been either deliberately or i'm
pulsively disregardful of her. But
now he had done rough thing to her ;
aud he did not repent: the rather he
was the more irritated with her. And
when he heard her presently so by his
door with light step. singing cheer
fully to herself as she went to her
ruoua. he perceived that she had mis-
taken his intention altogether. or. In
deed, had failed to perceive that he
had any Intention at all.
There came delicate, eager tap
ping at his door, not done with q
kndckie but with the tip of a finger
nall. which was Instantly clarified to
Georges minds eye as plainly as If he
cav It: the long and polished white
~ mir oh hn nf 10
Auat Fanny's right forefnger. But
George was in no mood for human
eommunications. and even when things
went well he had little pleasure In
Fsnny's society. Therefore 1t is not
surprising that ut the sound of her
tapping. instead of bidding her enter.
he Immediately crossed the room with
the Intention OF locking the door to
t<eep 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 person who
had Just seen something extraordinary
or heard thrilling news.
-Now. what on earth do you want?"
her chilling nephew demanded.
George" she said hurriedly. 81 saw
what you did when you couldn't speak
to them. was sitting with Mrs. John
son at her front window. across the
street. and I saw 1t ALL"
.'Weii. what of it"
You did right" Fanny said with n
vehemence not the less spirited be-
cause she suppressed her voice almost
to whisper. you did exactly
right! You're behaving splendidly
nbout the whole thing. and want to
cell you 1 know your father would
thank you II he could see what you're
doing"
MY Lord" George broke out at her.
~YOu make me dizzy! For heavens
sake quit the mysterious detective
business-at least do quit 1t around
mel Go and try 1t on somebody else,
II you like; but don't want to hear
~"
She began to tremble, regarding him
with a fixed gaze. "You don't care to
hear. them" she said huskily. that
approve Of what you're doingT'
Certainly notl Since haven't the
fralutest idea what you think I'm do
Ing naturally don't care whether
sou approve of it or not. All I'd like,
IL you please. is to be alone. I'm not
giving q tea here, this afternoon. II
you'll permit me to mention It'll"
.Fsnny's gnze wavered; she began
TO bIlEk; then suddenly she sank into
q chair and wept silently. but with a
terrible desolntion.
~Oh, for the Lords sake" he
xsoaned. "What in the world is wrong
with your"
you're always picking on me-" she
4uavered wretchedly. her voice indis'
einct with the wetness that bubbled In
to 1t from her tears. "You do-you
always pick on mel You've always
done it-always-evers since you were
q little boyl Whenever anything goes
wrong with you. you tnke 1t out on
ue! You do! You always"
George flung to heaven a gesture OF
despair: 1t seemed to him the last
straw that Fanny should have chosen
shis particular time to come and sob