The diamond drill., 1919-08-23


"See here = said the stricken George.
III you're going 10 decline 10 dance
that cotilllon with me simply because
you've promised a--a-a miserable
red.headed outsider like Fred Kinney.
why we might as well qultl'
"Quit what?"
'You know perfectly well what ]
mean," he said huskily.
II don't"
swell. you ought toi"
"f3ut / don't az all r.
George thoroughly hurt. and not a
little embittered. expressed himself
In short outburst OF laughter: well,
1 ought to have seen IL
"Seen whatf"
"That you might turn out to be q
girl who'd like a fellow OF the red
headed Kinney sort. ought TO have
seen IL from the first !"
Lucy bore her disgrace lightly. "Oh.
dancing cotillion with a person
doesn't mean that you like hlm--but
don't see anything in particular the
matter with Mr. Kinney What isfv
II prefer not 10 discuss H." said
George curtly. Hes an enemy Of
mine"
"whyr'
II prefer not to discuss IT,"
"Well, but"
II prefer not 10 discuss itw
Every well.' She began TO hum the
air OF the song which Mr.. George Am
berson was now discoursing, 20 moon
OF my delight that knows no wane"-
and there was no further conversation
on the back seat.
The contrivance stopped with a
heart-shaking jerk before IsabeIs
house. The gentlemen jumped down.
helping Isabel and Fanny 10 descend !;
there were friendly leavetakings--and
one that was not precisely friendly.
ITS 'au revoir' till tonight, isn't it?"
Lucy asked. laughing.
"Good afternoon !" said George. and
he did not wait, as his relatives did to
see the old sewing machine start brisk
ly down the street, toward the Shar-
ons'; its lighter load consisting now
VI ohiy WI -hoik koh ahu hiS NhubhN'i.
George went into the house at once.
He found his father reading the
evening paper in the library. "Where
are your mother and your Aunt Fan
N.Y." Mr.. Minafer inquired, not look
ing up.
They're coming" said his son: and.
casting himself heavily into chair.
stared at the fire.
His prediction was verified few
moments later; the two ladies came
in cheerfully, unfastening their fur
cloaks. ITS all right. George" said
Isabel. "Your Uncle George called to
us that Pendennls got home safely.
Put your shoes close TO the fire. dear.
or else go and change them"
'Took here" said George abruptly.
"How about this nan Morgan and his
old sewing machine? Doesn't he want
TO get grandfather to put money into
IL? Isn't he trying to work Uncle
George for that2 Isn't that what he's
up TOT"
II was Miss Fanny who responded.
"You little sllly" she cried. with sur
prising sharpness. "Whnt on earth
are you talking about? Eugene Nor
gans perfectly able to finance his own
inventions these days"
'He strikes me as that sort Of
man." George answered doggedly.
isn't he. fatherf"
Minafer set down his paper for the
moment. "He was fairly wild young
fellow twenty years ago." he said.
glancIng at his wife absently. "He
was like you in one thing. Georgie: he
spent too much money--only he didn't
have any mother to get money out of
a grandfather for him. so he was usu-
ally I'm debt. But believe I've heard
he's done fairly well OF late years.
No. i can't say ] think he's a swim
dIer, and | doubt II he needs anybody
else's money to back his horseless car
riage."
"Well, what's he brought the old
thing here for. then7 People that own
elephants don't take their elephants
around with 'em when they go visit
ing. What's he got n here for?"
'Pm sure j don't know" said Mr..
Minafer resuming his paper. "You
might ask him"
Isabel laughed and patted her hus-
bands shoulder agaIn. aren't you
going TO dress7 Aren't we all going
20 the dancer
He groaned family. "Aren't your
brother and Georgie escorts enough
for you and Fnnny7"
Wouldn't you enjoy IL at ail7"
"You know / don't"
Isabel LET her hand remain upon
his shoulder a moment longer; she
stood behind him, looking into the fire.
George. watching her broOdingiy.
thought there was more color In her
face than the reflection OF the flames
accounted for. "well. then" she said
indulgently. "stay at home and be