Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-01-05
looking but on the .vAnne-

st suppose" she said at len9th, 81
ought to be glad, because I am free;
but he vas not altogether bad. When
he was sober he was really most fas-
c%inating."
The day had turned lazily warm
after h fog and the rain, and at An.
nette's suggestion the trio drove tc
Claremont for luncheon, where they
chose a table on the veranda over.
looking the Hudson.
Brooke revelled In the charm Of It.
To have been privileged to sit and
look at Constance Colby would have
seemed to him . boon. but this inti-
nate association was i~nexpressibly de-
lightful. Again his duty regarding
the money he had found was ignored,
II not forgotten. Later he might re-
pent his dissipation Of the day. but
for the moment he experienced nc
qualms.
When the afternoon was well spent
n they still sat over the luncheon
table, entertaining and Entertained IN
an exchange of anecdotes and rem.
iniscences, he heard with regret the
younger girls suggestion that they
should return to the hotel,
! Papa wired me, you know" she
explained, that he would be there at
ave-thfrty, and I shouldn't like him to
find me away"
father, but he asked to be excused
until another time. His engagement
with Moore. he recalled. vas for six,
and this would allow him scant op-
portunity for presentation to MI. Col
by.
But when he reached the Waldorf
Moore was not there. He had been
in, a clerk explained, and had. gone
out again, hurriedly; but had left q
note.
Brooke. standing at the desk, with
the ever-present crowd, which fills the
hotel office. jostling about him, tore
open the envelope and read:
Dear Old Chap: I found the en-
closed in my box when 1 came in just
now-2:40-and, though I know It is
meant for you. I'm going to respond
myself, seeing that you'll probably
come In too late to keep the engage
ment- But I'll be back by six. You
can depend on that.
Then with growing excitement
Brooke's eyes raj hastily over this ILL.,
written enclosure:.
II gest 1t wasent safe fur to keep
the appointment las mite, but line
willin to do the square be you, If 'yure
Wi1lin to pay. A fren Of mine wot
nose all you wan to no vii hav the
mex sete to this at the mat this afer-
nun. Slip the partie SO dolas, and yu
kin Deepen on wot yure toll. Ticket in
cloas.
IS. n"
Brooke's eyes, lifted to the vail
clock on the opposite side OF the Of
fee. The time still lacked four min
utes Of six. Then. impatiently thrust
ing the two notes into his coat pocket,
he began a nervous circuit Of the
lEround door roonS Of the great hotel.
Cafe. bar, grill room, writing room,
Turkish room, reception room and
corridors he ~traversed one after the
other, stopping Ut the doors OF the
restaurants and palm rooms en- route
to glance In cursory search.
Then he wondered which way
Moore would come. If his friend had
only thought Of giving him the name
OF b theoter he could have formed
some guess: but Moore had ~neRlected
Ito do this. probably because, Of haste.
A second time he made the circuit.
and now the hands Of the clock point
ed to ten minutes after SIX, and still
the mar he looked for had not come.
He sat down in q great leather
cushioned armchair with Eilded back,
which gave him q view Of the eddy1nr
currents OF humanity, which surged
Through the ONCE. and commanded
THE desk where Moore must stop for
his o key. A premonition that
something was wrong passed weight.
lily upon him.
In vain he argued with himself
against such q probability. It was Idle
Tn ina 01Not fhA$f az %rxn<A~ S~ A..