Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-10-06
The
Substitute
Millionaire
By
HUBERT FOOTNER

"Oh, Katy. that's unjust, Look at
me! katy darling. l love you. VIII
you marry meY'
Somebody Will hear you." she
muEmnred glancing nervouslyaround.
."pitat's no answer"
"Why--l scarcely know you!''
thine will fix that"
you're not in earnest
Il am! Look at me! know you
WE'LL For months ! have thought Of
you out at first; | thought / was
only storing up trouble for myself.
Poor devil OF u stool warmer like me.
What chance did l have? But
couldn't help myself! Every time
saw your face at the window l for
got my ard-headed resolutions. You
see you had me at Il disadvantage.
had an ideal of what lady was,
that L got from my mother--but
knocking round in cheap boarding
houses, well you don't meet that
kind. 1t was just plumb luck my
meeting you. First time l heard your
voice you just knocked me out. That
was what had wanted-all my life.
Look at me! Don't you think I'm
in earnest now?'
Please, not here!' she murmured.
He suddenly realized that girl Is
entitled to certain degree of pri-
yacy in receiving a proposal. "Oh!
clean forgot where we were." he
/ II ~4,,it al a txn
things are SO mixed up in my mind.
l felt 1 couldn't tell you quick
enough"
A silence fell between them. He
studied her face wistfully. but could
read nothing in the closed lips and
dowhcast eyes.
katy, dear, can't you give me one
word to go on?''
She shook her head.
Nothing definite, Katy-but just
a hint. I can't stand the suspense"
She murmured softly: my answer
is no."
"Oh, katy!" he said brokenly.
Sometimes thought you looked at
me as if--my mistake, I suppose.
Don't you like me, Katy?"
zone doesn't marry on liking. |
used to fike you as a poor boy. But
money changes peoples characters.
III have to wait and See"
CHAPTER "
Having left Kate at the office to
which she most unreasonably insist
ed on returning, Jack bethought him.
self of the charge laid upon him to
visit Silas Gvde's rooms alone. Hates
last words had not been too dis
couraging. and there was pleasant
suggestion of mystery in this new
errand. Jacks spirits We're good.
Another taxi-cab whirled him up
town to the Madagascar. Even now,
occasionally the feeling came over
him that he was living in dream.
He fingered the roll of bills in his
pocket for reinsurance.
This is certainly me. Jack Nor
man." he thought. And this is my
money! The rolls not much smaller
either. It must be real money be-
cause 4 have eaten it, drunk it.
smoked it and am wearing it,"
He entered the hotel. one of Man
hattan's greatest, with an odd little
thrill in his breast, This is mine,'
he told himself, "all this marble and
onyx and plate glass; these tapes
tries, these Oriental rugs, these
tropical plants all mine! These
good looking bell-hops work for me !;
the Duke himself FOUNDER at the desk
will have to bend his naughty head
when he finds out who I ami"
Jack was q little SHY of asking to
be shown to the late Mr.. Gyde's
rooms. Having no credentials. he
suspected that his story mlg.'t very
well be laughed at, ant ne himself
be shown the door. Anyway, he felt
an instructive repugnance to telling
his story to all and sundry. If he
Gould only find out where the rooms
We're he needn't apply at the desk,
since he hadthe keys.
An attractive young woman at the
| news counter caught his attention
He bought magazine from her, and
while she made change sought to en-
gage h6r in conversation.
They say Mr.. Silas clyde used to
live here"
Eyes, he owned this hotel"
HE must have been a queer Dick
| If you can believe what you read"
ooh, the half of his queerness
| hasn't been printed"
WAS he customer of yours?'
mo indeed. He never bought any
thing in the hotel. Said he could get
| it cheaper outside. Got his meals
over on Eighth avenue and around
II wonder he lived here at ALL Die
he have a fine suite?"
mo. the cheapest rooms in the
house."
where were they?"
con the second floor at the back
on the Forty-th street SIDE"
HE must have been a funny sight
here in the lobby with his old hand
me- downs
| ''He seldom showed himself here
He went in and out his private en-
trance on Forty--th street."
$50 he had private entrance, eh p
Eyes, it was regular thing to sec
him going in and out carrying his
little oil-can."
"Oil-can!"
We'll, you see, when he rented the
hotel to the management, he saved
out his rooms rent free, but there
wasn't anything said about steam
heat or electric current, and wher
the management sent him a bill fol
/ heat and light, he made them take
out the radiators and the fixtures
and he burned an oil lamp and lit.
| tie oil heater"
Here, in the madagascar! Well
! that beats all,'
TT sure does,"
/ In this little colloquy Jack l1a6
! learned all that he desired. 1t was