Evening star., 1922-10-29

Mr.. Harold r. Smith came bound
ing out toward Ephraim as the pair
strolled back toward the stable.
sell her?" the young man demand
ed excitedly.
Maybe l did" said Ephraim. "and
may be | didn't You and Anne g.
ing to stay down here or play tennis?
Oh, Anne dear" as the girl approach
ed. want me to take tea with you
again today?"
you bet, dad"
"All right. I'll be on the hotel We
randa waiting for you at o'clock"
Ephraim was, there waiting at s.
He peered long and speculatively at
the tall, lanky young gentleman who
came smiling up the path beside
Anne. you've sung your swan song.
young fellow" Ephraim muttered ju-
dicially to himself.
A pair of girls fiuttered around the
corner and precipitated themselves
upon Anne and her escort.
"Oh. Harold" they walled in unison.
Anne. what do you think! The Vine
Cellars closed. absolutely closed up
tight. Isn't that just too awful? If
it wasn't the only place There's
a big sign on it that says: Closed for
alterations. Will reopen under new
management" Anne turned with a
gesture of helpless disappointment.
"Oh. isn't that stupid" she walled.
Stupid" said the tall Mr.. Smith.
ITS ridiculous. Absurd, you know.
Preposterous and all that. The place
will have to open again right of.
Why, it's the only place there is to
go at this time OF day."
"It'n save your digestitons, any
way" Ephraim commented.
Anne stared at her father with mar
rowed eyes. Il believe you're glad"
she finally said.
We'll, I won't lose any sleep over
it," he replied.
"Oh," said Anne. II think you're just
the meanest thing!"e
NV old boy to the life" explained
| Harold T. Smith.
"who is this father Of yours. any
way?" snapped Ephraim impatiently.
"Grove p" said the young man
laconfcally. Same line as you're in
lightning calculator and fraction Jug
gler."
"Grove Partridge Smith of the
Bankers' Universal? Well" and
Ephraim smiled as at some pleasant
recollection, hes fast worker. but
not fast enough. Never met him, but
, always knew he must be bearing
! some sort Of cross. Now I UNDER
stand"
| If Ephraim lost any sleep that
night it was probably not on account
; of the closing of the Vine Cellar.
Rather, perhaps, it was because he
, found a certain pleasure in stealing
from his room shortly before mid
night and proceeding with an air of
! satisfaction to the neighborhood OF
| the stables. where he and middle
aged man called Jim viewed the load
! ing of some sixty.six horses upon two
| long railway cars. Occasionally they
, would slap each other roundly upon
| the shoulders, and once, indeed,
Ephraim shared in the fitting of q
small pocket flask which the gentle
man named Jim produced with cere-
mony from a mysterious hiding place
| in his clothing.
Gosh" exulted Old Bull McAndrus.
"And I'd thought it might take a
week to put through"
+ X X
AT2 o'clock they made their way
~ back to the hotel, where the per-
son called Jim told strange red
| haired young man behind the desk
that he'd better get some sleep be-
| cause he had hard day ahead OF him.
Then, from a drawer in the man.
ayers private office, to which. oddly.
he had the key. the red-haired young
man produced certain neatly typed
signs or notices, which he displayed
for Ephraim's inspection.
MY gosh, Fred" burst out Ephrairh,
now clapping the strange young man
upon the shoulder, Its q knockout!''
The next morning a. he trod down
the carpeted staircase into the broad,
sunlit lobby groups and knots of
guests were bussing noisfly In every
angle Of the roam. But the main buzz