Mrs. Grundy. (Tracy City, Tenn.) 1903-1930, 1920-06-24
By
EDWIN
BAIR D
Copyright BY y. O. Browne q Co
CHAPTER Viii.--continued.

course you are coming In with us2
As said. we shall require five addi-
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.n 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
Sat my brokers'--Shirley & Co., In
the Merrimac block.
"At tenn Very well. know al
ready what your answer will bean
emphatic YES" Suddenly he stood
M. with a sweeping gesture. rs
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 openea ana
Mrs. Otis and Kathleen entered.
Fitzhugh's heart seemed to stop Tor
the infinitesimal part Of second. ana
then. as Kathleen came down the hail,
It leapt. bounded. raced on with mad
dening speed. He tingled to his finger
tips. II 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
gauxy scarf over her bare shoulders,
he had thought her exquisite, ethe-
real. Now. with her sables, her t'ir-
han Of white fur. the tang Of the
frosty night in her glowing skill. he
thought her ravishing. distractinyly
beautiful.
Momentarily Otis seemed to hesitate,
as though reluctant to do something
that might afterward earn him 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 CIR! spoke an acklowledg-
ment of Fitzhugh's salvation 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
she carried Her eyes travelled swift
" over him to his feet, and came to
rest again on his face. She seemed In
state of bewilderment.
Then. recovering her composure as
quickly as she had lost 1t, she muir
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 he repeated to him
self: "She's wonderful--more wonder
full than ever And she knows
me knows me- OF them all she Ia
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 "qulet
little game" was brewing In an upper
room. and he arrived In time to Join
st the beginning. The first deal fell
TO him. and as he shuffied the cards
In high feather, exchanging Qnips 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 vacu-
ously. came forward with mincing
step sad held out fiabby, bejeweled
hand
The ''quiet little game" lasted ali
Saturday night and until late Sunday
aftera~sn. 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 lac
had lost. He was decidedly the mas
ter aS the others.
Artie Sparkle lost continually. Also,
he continually drank. II was not
,a,ta riear whether his adversely was