The Red Cloud chief., 1920-06-17
CHAPTER viII.-Continued.

1T like to hear a man talk that way.
I desplse modesty In business. OF
course you are coming In with us?
As I said, we shall require five add
tional millions, perhaps more, to work
the thing properly. There Is no need
now TO 60 into further details. You
understand the situation even better
than I do" He paused.
"Slnce this Is Saturday" said Fitz-
hugh, "and since nothing can be
gained by your knowing my decision
before Monday. I shall meet you Mon
day morning at ten o'clock and will
then give you my answer"
A slight frown appeared or Otis
thin face. He began gathering up his
data. every well. At what place"
AT my brokers'--Shirley & Co., In
the Merrimac block.
AT ten7 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.
Fitzhugh's heart seemed to stop for
the infinitesimal part Of a second, and
then. as Kathleen came down the hall,
II leapt. bounded, raced IN with mad
dering 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, q
lgauzy scarf Owe 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,
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 n rather singular thing
she came very close to him and looked
searchingly into his face. The bright
color heightened In her cheeks. Hei
fingers closed convulsively or the muf
she carried. Her eyes travelled swift
ny over him to his feet, and came t.
rest again or his face. She seemed II
a state of bewilderment.
Then, recovering her composure a
quickly Is she had lost 1t, she muir
INJURED something conventional ant
was gone.
He never quite knew, when h,
found himself walking rapidly dow
the drive, with the snow swirlinl
round him, how he got there. HI
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 know
mei-knows me OF them oil she
n Only one. =.
His appointment was with Hunt a
a Michigan emu club. It al her
he renewed the third acquaintance
ship of that memorable day. A "qule
little game" was brewing In On uppe
room, and he arrived In time to joi
at the beginning. The first deal fel
TO him. and us he shufiied the card
An high feather, exchanging quips wit
the men around the table anent hi
obvious good spirits, the door benin
him opened and some new player
entered.
The next moment Fitzhugh was b.
ing introduced to the new arrivals.
"Mr. Fitzhugh, this is Artie Sparkle
A foppisb young man, smiling vacl
ously, came forward with mincin
step and held out a flabby, bejewele
hand.
The "Quiet little game" lasted a
saturday night and until late Sunda
Afternoon. ~Fitzhugh's Golden Go,
ldess, Luck, frowned upon him at fir!
land he lost steadily but later his 81
Iperior playing began to tell, and &
lIcI luNicihSASy 6Abtuuiiy III
smiles he won much faster than l
had lost. He was decidedly the ma
tier Of the others.
Artie Sparkle lost continually. Ais
me continually drank. 1t was n
luuite clear whether his adversely W,
responsible for his intemperance,
vice versa, but certainly as his lib
Iions increased he played the mo
l~recklessly. He distributed his pap
freely. but as he became more into
Heated there was a decided reluctan
TO the advances. At length he W,
Ifatly refused and advised to 60
bed.
At this point Titzhugh, who SO (
had loaned him nothing, removed Il
requested number Of chips from b
generous heap and showed them aero
kha table In the tipsy one. who wi