The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1920-05-27

light and the screech OF a peacock.
It's excruciatingy" he cried, when
he found his breath. It'll be fright
full fun" He sobered suddenly. saw
l say One teeny-weeny peep at the
slips. what?"
! Fitzhugh showed him the | o Us
and he nodded his head brightly.
Then his mirth overcame him a second
time and he went off into another peal
of delight.
While E1tZhugh sat watching him in
critical silence a servant entered and
announced several callers.
ASK 'em TO todde right In" Then
turning on Fitzhugh: "I'l try you on
my friends-what?" He smiled pret-
tily.
IL suppose | can stand It,"
The four or five young men who en-
tered were, for the most part, of Ar
ties class. They were fiaccid, listless,
seemingly consumed with ennui and
a-weary Of the world. They talked
languidly of tailors and different
makes Of motorcars. They expressed
lukewarm preferences for certain
brand of cigarette or a particular kind
Of mixed drink. None had any indi-
viduality but all were cut from the
same pattern.
Some time later. in the street be-
low, Fitzhugh paused a moment in
the falling snow and spoke feelingly
to himself.
IT'S enough" said he, "to make
man stop posing"
Then he went home, addressed an
envelope to Kathleen Otis, slipped
therein a one-dollar bill and after it
q card, upon which he wrote:
MAY you have a Merry Christmas
is the wish Of him who bought the
soap and water"
Fitzhugh planned well In making
Artie his social valet" After that
Monday conference in his brokers'
office he had surmised the relations
between himself and Otis would
thenceforth be unamicable His sur
misal proved correct when not long
one Sunday on the drive. He doffed
his silk hat with a Chesterfieldian
gesture-and was rewarded for his
courtliness by being ignored more
pointedly than II he had been an ut
ter stranger.
Clearly after this there was but one
way for him to see Kathleen, and that
was by the aid of Artie Sparkle.
Fitzhugh never required a second at
tempt to scale the citadel of any
home, no matter how Exclusive" that
home might be. He Immediately be-
came "the sensation" wherever he
went. What with his distinguished
appearance, his flashing wit, his skill
at repartee, and, above all else, his
gift Of adapting himself readily to any
role and playing 1t with avidity, his
popularity was Of a wondrous growth.
He never lacked an audience, nor did
he ever fail to keep one hanging on
his every word.
But FitZhugh had little time to be
a society pivot. Though he was be-
come a lion he seldom went out to
roar. Only when he believed he
should see Her would he accept any
Of the invitations.
These were busy days for Fitzhugh,
days filled with suspense and excite
ment and acute money fever. BY the
end Of the year his entire capital was
tied up In spring wheat, which was
lurchng and plunging like sinking
ship; and every downward swoop
drove his fortune upward. Though
Fitzhugh's money was all on paper he
was growing rich with galloping leaps,
and already he was planning deal to
follow that might send his fortune
soaring toward the million mark.
1t was in the beginning of March,
while the Metropolitan Opera COM
pany was playing two weeks en-
gagement at the Auditorium, that he
received (through Artie) at his club
an invitation to q box party given by
Mrs. Otis.
"Well, well, tell us how you man
aged it."
II told her." sputtered Artie, chok-
ing with mirth, 81 told her I had
frightfully aristocratic fellow putting
up at my place who was all the talk
Of Lunnon. Mondays and Wednesdays
are her opera nights, dontcher know,
and she'd Just been telling me that a
chap who was to have rounded out her
party tonight had failed her at the
In Of moment and then I mentionpd
this frightfuUy aristocratic fellow.
and I saw her prick up her ears, and
before left she told me to bring him
along. She doesn't know, don'tcher
know, it's you. and she'll be dread
fully"
"Her daughter will be there"
"Oh, yes, indeed. She was In the
room at the time. She'll be dreadfully
surprised, too"