Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1920-10-29
CHAPTER ViIl.-ContInued.


As said, we shall require five addi-
tonal millions, perhaps more, to work
the thing properly. There Is no need
cow to go into further details. You
understand the situation even better
than / do" He paused
"Since this Is Saturday" said Fitz-
hugh, 'and since nothing can be
gained by your knowing my decision
before Monday, shall meet you Mon
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 well. At what placer"
AT my brokers' Shirley 4 Co.. in
the Merrimac block.
AT ten? Very well. I know al
ready what your answer will bean
emphatic yes" Suddenly he ssnod
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 We're exchanging part
Ing words the hall door opened and
Mrs. Otis and Kathleen entered
Fitzhugh's heart seemed to stop for
the infinltesimal part of second, and
then, as Kathleen came down the hall,
1t leapt, bounded. raced on with mad
dening speed. He tingled to his finger
tips. 1t was the first time he had
seen her since that moonlight night
two summers ago Then, with the soft
June moon on her glorious hair, a
gauzy scarf over her bare shoulders,
he had thought her 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
that might afterward earn him a 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.
! AS the girl spoke an acknowledge
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
fingers closed convulsively on the muff
she carried. Her eyes travelled swift
ly over him to his feet, and came to
rest again on his face. She seemed in
a state of bewilderment.
Then, recovering her composure as
quickly as she had lost it, she muir
INJURED something conventional and
was gone.
lie 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 whirl his pulse on fire,
and over and over he repeated to him
self: shes wonaercul-more wonder
ful than ever -. And she knows
me l--knoNs me OF them all She is
the only one.
His appointment was with Hunt al
a Michigan avenue club Ii WAS here
he renewed the third acquaintance
ship of that memorable day. 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 shutfled the cards
In high feather, exchanging qups 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 yacu-
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. Fitzhughs Golden God
dess, Luck, frowned upon him at first
and he lost steadily; but later his SUI
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.
Attic Sparkle lost continually. Also,
he continually drank. 1t was not
quite clear whether his adversely was
responsible for his intemperance, or
vice versa. but certainly as his iiba-
lions 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
fatty refused and advised to 60 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
the table to the tipsy one, who with
much difficulty counted them and gave
In exchange his I O U for FIVE hun
dred dollars. They soon went the