Cleveland County herald., 1920-04-08
CHAPTER ViII.-Continued.

'I like to hear a man talk that way. ] despise modesty in business. Of course you are coming in with us? As I said, we shall require five addi- tional millions, perhaps more, to work the thing properly. There is no need now to go into further details. You understand the situation even better than l do." He paused.
 "Since this is Saturday," said FitE- hugh, "and since nothing can be gained by your knowing my decision day morning at ten o'clock and will then give you my answer"
 A slight frown appeared on Otis thin face. He began gathering up his data "Very we'll At what placer"
 "At my brokers'-Shirley & O., in the Merrimac block.
 "At ten? Very well. I know al- emphatic 'yes.'" Suddenly he stood up, with a sweeping gesture, as though to force into the background everything pertaining to business. "Now let's talk no more shop. We've had enough for one night"
 While they were exchanging part ing words the hall door opened and Mrs. Otis and Kathleen entered.
 FitZhughs heart seemed to stop for the infnitesimal part of a second, and then, as Kathleen came down the hall, 1t leapt, bounded, raced on with mad dening speed. He tingled to his finger tips. It was the first time he had seen her since that moonlight night two summers ago. Then with the soft June moon on her glorious hatr gauzy scarf over her bare shoulders, he had thought hef exquisite, ethe- real. Now, with her sables, her tur- ban of white fur, the tang of the frosty night in her glowing skin, he thought her ravishing, distractingly beautiful.
 Momentarily Otis seemed to hesitate, as though reluctant to do somethinng that might afterward earn him q re buke. But as Kathleen and her mother drew near he intercepted them with his guest and presented him. first to his wife then to his daughter. Q
 As the girl spoke an acknowledg- ment of Fitzhugh's salutation she looked up for the first time into his eyes. The next instant she started visibly, and, seemingly unconscious of her act, did a rather singular thing she came very close to him and looked searchingly into his face. The bright color heightened in her cheeks. Her fingers closed convulsively on the huff she carried. Her eyes travelled swift ly over him to his feet, and came to rest again on his face. She seemed in state of bewilderment.
 Then, recovering her composure as quickly as she had lost it, she mur- mured something conventional and was gone.
 He never quite knew when he found himself walking rapidly down the drive, with the snow swirling round him. how he got there His brain was in a whirl, his pulse on fire, and over and over he repeated to him self: She's wonderful-more wonder full than ever And she knows me !-knows me Of them all she is the only one.
 His appointment was with Hunt at a Michigan avenue club. It was here he renewed the third acquaintance ship of that memorable day. A quiet little game" was brewing in an upper room, and he arrived in time to join at the beginning The first deal fell to him, and as he shuffled the cards in high feather, exchanging quips with the men around the table anent his obvious good spirits, the door behind him opened and some new players entered.
 The next moment Fitzhugh was be- ing introduced to the new arrivals.
 "Mr. Fitzhugh, this is Artie Sparkle" ;"
 A foppish young man, smiling vacu- ously came forward with mincing step and held out fiabby, bejeweled hand.
 The "quiet little game" lasted all Saturday night and until late Sunday afternoon. Fitzhugh's Golden God dess, Luck, drowned upon him at first and he lost steadily; but later his su- perior playing began to tell, and as her inclemency gradually turned to smiles he won much faster than he had lost. He was decidedly the mas ter of the others.
 Artie Sparkle lost continually Also, he continually drank. It was not quite clear whether his adversity was responsible for his intemperance, or vice versa, but certainly as his liba- tions increased he played the more recklessly. He distributed his paper freely, but as he became more intox- icated there was a decided reluctance to the advances. At length he was f1atly refused and advised to go to bed.
 At this point FitZhugh, who so far had loaned him nothing, removed the requested number of chips from his generous heap and showed them across 4l,o +ob1a tn tho tiySu ono x,,I,o will,