The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1920-06-17
CHAPTER vIII.-continued.

AS L Eaid, we shall require five addi-
| tiona1 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 I do" He paused.
Since this is Saturday" said Fitz-
hugh, "and since nothing can be
gained by your knowing my decision
before Monday. 1 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 Every well. At what placer"
"At my brokers' Shirley & Co, in
the Merrimac block.
AT ten? Very well. I know al
ready what your answer will bean
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.
FftZhugh's heart seemed to stop for
the intinitesimal part of a second, and
then, as Kathleen came down the hall.
it 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,
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, distractingiy
beautiful.
Momentarily Otis seemed to hesitate,
as though reluctant to do something
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
color heightened in her cheeks. Her
fingers closed cOnvuIsiveIy on the muff
she carried. Her eyes travelled swift
II over him to his feet, and came to
rest again on his face. She seemed in
q state of bewilderment.
Then, recovering her composure as
Oh hod ff chc
INJURED 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 ne repeated to him
self: 'She's wOnderful-more wonder
full than ever And she knows
meHknows 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 shuff1ed 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.
''AIr Fitzhugh, this is Artie Sparkle"
A foppish young man, smiling vacu-
OusIy. came forward with mincing
step and held out a habby, bejeweled
hand.
The "quiet little game" lasted all
Saturday night and until late Sunday
afternoon. Fitzhugh's Golden God
dess, Luck, frowned 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. 1t was not
quite clear whether his adversely was
responsible for his intemperance, or
vice versa, but certainly as his liba-
lions increased he played the more
recklessly. He distributed his paper
freely, but as he became more intOx-
fcated there was a decided reluctance
to the advances. At length he was
fatty 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
the table to the tipsy one, who with
much difficulty counted them and gave
in exchange his 1 D u for five hun
dred dollars. They soon went the
way OF the rest, and he sat slumped
down in his chair, his arms dangling
imply at either side, his head sunken,
his mouth open, Ieering stupidity from
under dropping lids.
F1tzhugh caught his wandering eye.
Better try another stack. Sparkle"
he invited IN q friendly way, and be
gan cutting OF q small section OF his
chip pile. 'fHoW many may help
you to. SparkIeT@
Artie struggled vaIIantIy to speak
distinctly. "a thOu-a thOu-a hic!
thoUsan', Oh shap.1