The Washington times., 1920-07-07

sauntering nonchaisntly over from
another group.
Make II up with young Cleiand"
said Chiltern Grismer. teTsely. "Mr.
Cleland and i are friends of many
years. Let there be no dissension
between our sons"
"Offer your hand, Jim." added
Cleland Senior. "A punch In the
nose settles a multitude OF sins.
doesn' II. Grismer?"
The ceremony was effected re-
luctantly, and in anything but q
cordial manner. Stephanie, look
ing on, perplexed. caught young
Grismer's amber-colored eyes fixed
on her; saw the tall. sandy-haired
boy turn to look at her as he moved
away to rejoin his particular
group: saw the color rising In his
mischievous face when she sur
prised him peeping at her again
over another boys shoulder.
Several times. before the train
left. the little girl became conscious
that this overgrown. sandy-hairod
with frankly hattering admiration.
sometimes furtively. as though In
sly curiosity.
"Who is that kid?' she distinctly
heard him say to another boy. She
calmly turned her back.
And was presently aware of the
elder Grismer's expressionless gaze
concentrated upon herself.
"Is this the little Rirl?" he said
to Cleland Senior in his hard. dry
voice.
That is my little daughter. Ste
phanie," replied Cleland coldly,
discouraging any possible advances
on Grismer's part. For there would
never be any reason for bringing
Stephanie in contact with the Girls
for keeping her Ignorant of their
existence. Which ought to be a
simple matter, because he never
saw Grismer, except when he
chanced to encounter him quite
casually here and there in town.
"She's older than Iesupposed," re-
marked Grismer, staring STEADILY at
her, where she stood beside Jim,
shyly conversing with a group OF
his particular crohies. Boy-like.
they all were Dragging noisily for
her exclusive benefit, talking
school-talk. and staggering and
showing of quite harmlessly as Is
the nature Of the animal at that
age.
IT don't observe any family re-
semblance," unused Grismer. purs-
ing his slit-like lips.
"No?" inquired Cleland drily.
"No, none whatever. or course,
the connection is remote-m-m'yes
quite remotA 1 trust" he added
magnanimously, "that you will be
able to render her life comfortable
and pleasant; and that the stipend
you purpose to bestow upon her
may. If wisely administered, keep
her from want"
Cleland, who was getting mad
der every moment, turned very red
now.
II think" he said. managing to
control his temper. that 1t will
scarcely be a question of want with
Stephanie Quest. What troubles
me little is that she's more than
likely to be an heiress."
What
"What looks that way"
do you-do you mean, Cleland,
that-that any legal steps to re-
Good Lord, no" exclaimed
Clehnd. contemptuously. "She
wouldn't touch a penny of Grismer
money-not penny! ! wouldn't
lift a finger to stir up that mess
again, even il it meant a million for
her,
Grismer breathed more easily,
though Cleland's frank and uncon-
cealed scorn left slight red on his
parchment-like skin.
"Our conception Of moral and
spiritual responsibility differs. I
fear" he said, AS widely as our
4Ia
friend of many years should ap-
pear to be a trife biased-m-m-
m'yes, trife biased in his opin-
ion"
TITS none Of my affair. Grismer.
We're different, that's all. You
had, perhaps, a legal right to your
unhappy sisters share Of the Girls
mer inheritance. You exercised It;
l should not have done so. It's a
matter of conscience-to put it
pleasantly
"It is matter of creed" said
Grismer grimly. 'It was Gods
will"
Cleland shrugged.
Let it. go at that. Anyway. you
needn't worry over any possible ac-
tion that might be brought against
you or your heirs. There won't
be any. What I meant was that
the child's aunt. Miss Roselinda
Quest, Sc ms determined to leave
little Stephanie a>great deal more
money than Is good for anybody.
1t isn't necessary. don't believe
in fortunes. I'm wary of them,
afraid of them. They change peo-
ple-often change their very ma
lures. I've seen 1t too many times
observed the undesirable change
in people who were quite all right
before they came into fortunes. No;
i am able to provide for her am
ply; have done so. That ought to
be enough"
Grismer's dry, thin lips remained
parted he scarcely breathed: and
his remarkable eyes continued to
bore into Cleland with an intensity
almost savage.
Finally he said, in a voice so dry
that 1t seemed to crackle:
This is-amazing. understand
that the family had cast out and
utterly disowned the family of
Harry Quest-m-m-m-'ye turned
him out completely--him and his.
SO you will pardon my surprise.
Cleland Is-ah-the Quest
fortune-as It were-considerable 7'
Several millions. I believe" re-