The Starkville news., 1920-04-02
The City
Of Purple
Dreams
s. By
EDWIN
B Al r D
CHAPTER VIll.-Continued.

Copyright by F. c. Browne G. Co.

" like to hear man talk that way
dcSpiSe mOdeSty in business. OF
course YOU are coming in with us
A. ! said we shall require five addf'
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 | do" He paused.
Since this is Saturday" said Fitz-
hugh "and since nothing can he
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. Every well. At what placer"
AT my brokers'-Shirley & Co. In
the Merrmnc block.
AT ten? Very well. 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 ore night"
While they were exchanging part,
ing words the hall door opened and
Mrs. Otis and Kathleen entered.
FitZhugh'S heart seemed to stop for
the inflhiteSimal part of second, anh
then. as Kathleen came do, n 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. n
gauZy scarf over her bare shoulders
he had thought her exquisite. ethe,
real Now, with her sahles her tur'
ban of white fur the tang OF the
frosty night in her glowing ski. he
thought her raviShng distractinsly
beautiful.
Momentarily Otis seemed to hesitate
as though reluctant to do something
that might afterward earn him Il 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 ackl3wledg.
ment Of FitZhugh's salu'aton 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 muff
Fhe carried. Her eyes travelled swift
ly over him to his feet, and came to
rest again on his face. She seemed In
n state of bewilderment.
Then. recovering her composure rs
qui i>ly as she had lost it. she mur-
mured 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: "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
Michigan avenue club. 1t 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.
"NIr. Fitzhugh. this Is Artie Sparkle" !"
A foppiSh young man. smiling vacu-
ously. came forward with mincing
step ald held out flabby. bejeweled
hand
'T.t- quiet little game" lasted all
SaFu c'ay night and until late Sunday
aftrrn. IN. Fitzhugh's Golden God.
deSs. Luck. frowned upon him at first
and he lost steadily; but later his SUI
pcrior playing began to tell and as
her inclemency gradually turned to
smiles he won much faster than lac
had lost. He was decidedly the mas
Ter Of the others
Arte Sparkle lost continually. Also.
70 continually drank. II was not
,lliIG dear whether his adversely was