Evening star., 1922-10-29

Il
\ ed In his amble and looked down
uuizzically at his limbs. Il ought
to be- he drawled. Had 'ern around
horses barrel ever since l was two.
Yes. I guess 1 am"
Old Bull McAndrus was conscious
that he was trying to think of some
thing to say. This annoyed him. A
twinkle in Anne's eye annoyed him
| even further. Lots better things
to do in life than riding horse" he
mumbled sententiously. Haven't you
ever tried anything else?"
Heavens, yes. my dear chap
I'm not your dear chap" Ephraim
snorted. I'm old enough to be your
father"
Il must say you remind me Of him."
the young man announced placidly.
"The very same directness of man
rer Old school-what?"
This was intolerable.
Tell me one thing" said Ephraim
severely. piercing the young man with
his eye. Did you ever do a days
work in your life?'
Absolutely. my dear-pardon me-
my dear sir. absolutely. The gov
crnor prevailed upon me. prevailed
upon me with oratory. 1 may say.
shortly after my hurried exodus from
! Yale. For two monstrous months
/ sat behind desk In his counting
house and drew pictures of brides.
! In fact. invented bridle--a modi-
/ fed Pelham-splendid thing, IL 1 do
say So myself. Eventually, however,
prevailed upon the governor. No
oratory that time-merely pathos.
honest pathos. I pointed out to him
that as far as l could see, the only
1 point in working was to earn ones
! living. and that as I did not have to
earn my living. what--if l may bor-
row the language OF vaudeville-what
was the particular use in running for
car after one had caught 1t? II I
may say so, he was bit Grabbed
about 1t: but from that time on I
have been supremely happy. Such is
my sad story. Do answer you?'
You do stated Ephraim Mean
drus.
Come on. Harold" said Anne.
touching the young mans elbow.
Doesn't the practice start at 1O:30?
Remember, you were going to show
me that bending trick first
"By Jove. you're right. So I was.
Jump into your togs. old dear, and
meet me down at the stables. Did
you want to try Peachboy today?
Fine Splendid. Ta-ta. See you all
later.
Anne" called her father as the
girl turned away.
YES, dad" She sidled back and
smiled up at him.
How can you stand that nincom-
poop" Old Bull McAndrus demanded.
You don't really Ike him, do you,
Anne"
We'll. daddums. she considered
gravely. Il certainly don't feel about
him as you do. He's awfully easy to
get along with-the most Considerate
man 1 ever knew in my life-and l
think there's really a whole lot to
him.
You do. do you? Like him, hey?
Well, I'll he damned" His eyes sud-
denly flashed. Doesn't 'hlnk he's go
Ing to marry you. does he? Because.
you take it from me right here, he
amt"
Anne twrled away from him.
; Maybe he'll fool you yet" she called
over her shoulder and disappeared
into the hotel.
EPHRAIM McANDRUS walked
l. heavily back to the chair he had
recently deserted. Maybe I'll fool
him. he growled as he seated him
self. "Maybe III fool him" He blink
ed steadily across the sandy ranges
of pine-dotted hills. After long
time he began to smile. Worth it."
he announced to himself loudly and
slapped his knee. Worth it, by
jingo.'
And new light glinted in his eye
as he pred himself out of his chair
and walked decisively to the tele-
phone booth in the corner Of the hotel
office. Long distance" he told the
operator. and presently asked for n
New York number. Then he hung up
the receiver and waited, and while
Re waited he exulted.
Two birds with one stone. I'll fool
the doc by giving myself something
to do and I'll fool that young jacka-
napes till he's groggy." He paused.
We can use that old trick Swinborn
corporation If We need to. I'll have
Jim deposit whatever may be neces-
sary to its credit, and he can shoot
man down here hot-foot from Fisk.
Orr & Martin, the horse people. I
think that's the name, but Jim'll
know. For the rest" he chuckled.
/, well prepare to let nature take her
own good course-nature and the Old
Bull Hello. Yes, I'm the
party that wants New York ="
He left the booth. still smiling, and,
with his hands showed deep into the
pockets of his ample white flannel
trousers. sauntered down to the sta
bles to look things over.
Presently Ephraim turned and look
ed back at the hotel, a three-storied
clapboarded structure, painted light
gray and white, stretching it's length
impressively on the crest of what
was called Pinden ridge. On the far
side of the ridge lay the golf course;
on this side were the stables and the
polo field. with the tennis courts off
there to the right. Ephraim nodded
meditatively and proceeded on his
way. Not within 400 miles was there
another such playground.
Ephraim did not enter the stables.
Instead he walked over to the edge
of the polo field and leaned his arms
| upon a whitewashed rail from which
dangled three or four halters. Out
on the green turf half dozen mount