Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-10-31


got to watch how you do II Arst. I've
eaten apples all my life."
Meyer eaten a lobsterf Well. you
Suddenly and strangely there came to
Bancroft the peculiar sensation OF be-
iing. started at, not casually but. Dor
ingly, with the steadiness and implaca:
bility Of q drill. HI. glance royed
Ss 'nso sousSs snc 'GHa w,,n0si tSrnsS eo Ss @
no stare came from that direction. Then
he swung his glance to the right--and
met, two tables away, the merry blue
eyes Of the seller Of adventures, whom,
during these new excitements, Ban.
croft had forgotten completely.
Bancroft waited for minute be.
fore he acted. The queer pounding Of
his heart warned him not to be pre-.
clpitate. The seller Of adventures was
not here accidentally, but for q pur.
pose, or he would not have sent that
message Of the eye. 1t was strange.
He had not the least authority for the
suspicion that behind this man Stew.
really be such concern as the Great
Adventure Company nevertheless, this
suspicion refused to be disl0dged It was
stronger tonight than ever. An In.
stinct; rightly. or wrongly, he would
have to obey this instinct.
"Will you excuse me for moment?'
he said. There's a man ut my right
I want word with"
| Certainly" said Nancy. but she
thought his voice sounded odd.
! She saw him stop at q small table
! Mt which sat singularly handsome cid .
erly man. alone, who rose, said some.
thing, and pointed to chair. Despite
her Interest she was struck by the ut.
two; but against this lack there was
nothing in the department Of either to
suggest hostility in the slightest de-
gree: -.
what q handsome mani" she ex'
claimed. ''Do you know who he Is,
"Never saw th' bird before. Say,
maybe he's u hick from our Jeremiah 5
village. Gee, what home town that
dump must be! II they re all as good
lookin' I'm sure goin' down there on
tour. What's tn name Of tn dumpY'
,,. IT J.. don't I remember, e. My one thought
Yea, bo But that bird has New
miah come t. know swell like that?"
"We'l soon know. But, Jenny, re.
member; go light. Most Of you girls
think 1t great sport to make man
spend his last dollar on you. Mr..
Collingswood has his way to make.
Don't abuse his good nature
Hereafter it'll be sandwiches an
milk. But t'night he's got t go through
tn mill. I won't sting him for more'n
ten. If he let's out holler along tn
route, g'-by! You got t know, Nancy ;
it's no world for tightwads.
THAT'S the truth. It's just n world
Of .spendthrifts; and any man who has
to work for his living has no business
in these places. I have no business
here. either. I don't think it's fair.
knowing laugh. "When tn bin comes
in, you suggest It. If he let's it g.
Dutch. then don't know man. He'd
pawn his watch first. Why, he'd blow
all he's rot. if we'd let him. Say, ii
would be fine one on me, wouldn't It,
T. pay for my own lobster! ZOwie
I'd never hear tn last of 1t. but you
watch. Jeremiah'll come through with.
out battin' nn eye. He won't mind
beans for tn rest o tn week.
"I'm sorry I came" .r....-.
They saw Craig coming down the
narrow aisle between the tables, and
Jenny bcckoned to him enthusiastically
"Well!" said the seller Of adven.
lures. as he resumed his seat.
"You wished to see me:" cOuntered
Bancroft, smiling. This encounter
would naturally be something Of a fenc.
"what makes you believe I wanted to
see you!"
Your eyes fairly dragged me over.
Still. I've been doing good deal Of
thinking about yOu.'
'Ah. From what angle!'
Hanged If ] know!"
Lets zee. 1t was seven nights ago,
wasn't It? And find you in fash :
ionablc restaurant, the host of two very
handsome young women. Now should
say that that was getting along. Yes,
sir should say that was getting along.
May l ask who they are!"
Miss Bowman and Miss Malloy, OF
The Purple Moth I should be happy
to introduce you," said Bancroft with
a flow Of malice.
Stewart laughed. and to Bancroft's s
ear it was that queer hidden laughter,
coming from behind hall or out Of a
cavern.
T'm too old for that, Mr.. Ceilings.
wood far too old
"Collingswood?"
eyes, sir. We haven't lost sight
Of you. We never lose sight Of pros
pect so long as there has been no def. q.
mite refusal. You are living in house
which you inherited, but under the name
Of Collingswood. Not bad idea. 1t
gives you freedom Of action. If you
make any friends they will be disinter-
ested, You are remarkable young
man in many ways. In seven days you
have found out all about the Bolivian
Emerald Company and George Bell.
man, and believe you are satisfied
with both. I had given you a month to
make New York; two months In which
TO decide for or against the Great Ad'
venture Company, and here you are, al.
ready a part Of tho night life OF the
mo, not Il part Of it. just IN in.
terested onlooker.'
MAY l ask what the young ladies
have orderedT' ~
"Is that proper question ''---as'
with any other man it would not
be OF course, do not expect you
to answer. merely put the ques'
II see no reason why I should not
satisfy your curiosity. Miss Malloy
has ordered lobster and Miss Bowman
an apple"
Stewart stared at the two younl
women, speculatively. The one witt
the reddish brown hair Is the apple
girl. Am right:'
Yes" restlvely.
"Weil, my advice 10 for you to st!cl
to the girl who orders apples In thi'