Evening star., 1923-01-28

he dropped fifty cents into it. and
felt as II he had been cured Of some
unclean disease.
Are you especially interested in
the blind, Mr.. Chiiton?"
YES" he said.
May I ask why?'
'Of course" he said. "If had been
blind 1 could never have seen YOU
Miss Gardner had come to Charles.
ton forewarned against pretty speech
es. "All the men," Mrs. Peabody had
written, will make pretty speeches
to you. at once. without preamble
and you mustn't mind"
But IL Miss Gardner was forewarn-
ed. she was not forearmed against
Chiffon; neither against the man
himsef-nor against his voice-tha,
drawled q little, and was like music
in her ears.
nR. MULHOLLAND. seeing the ex-
IL preston on young Chilton's face
Miss Gardner was dancing with Jack
Ravenel), drew him aside, his own
face serious, as a judge about tc
pass sentence.
"rve something important to lay
before you. Bob" he said. They
passed out of the ballroom and found
quiet corner where. they could be
private.
TT isn't one Of your jokes, doctor?''
The doctor slLbok his head savage
ly, but his voice was measured and
peaceful.
II was your uncle's closest friend
he said. He instructed me to watch
over you like father; and. If ever
crisis should arise in your life,
to be on hand with help"
I'm not aware Of any crisis. doc
tor"
Very we'll. Let us return to the
ballroom. In my day the young men
were franker with their well
wishers."
The doctor rose and puffed indig-
nantly. But Chiffon laughed shyly
and drew him back to his seat
It'll be good" he said. But there's
no crisis, doctor-just little private
tragedy OF my own"
MY dear boy" said the doctor,
don't tell me that you haven't fall
en- in love with q certain very beau
tiful young lady"
IF I had fallen in love, and had
something to offer besides myself"
said Chiffon, sit would be crisis.
Having nothing to offer, it is a trag-
edy. For I cannot declare myself
and keep upon me rag of honor"
you are utterly broke, Robert?"
Utterly
'Tf you had a pot of money"
Il should carry 1t directly to the
Rainbow's foot"
Then listen. Your late uncle left
behind him, in his garden to be pre-
else, not a pot of money, but a whole
chest of it. And he directed me to
make known to you the precise
whereabouts OF this chest, directly
there should rise in your life a genu-
inc need of its contents"
us this one of your Jokes. doctor?'
mo, suh."
Then my uncle was not as crazy
as we thought?"
Touched In the intellect. touched
in his power Of ratiocination merely,
but not crazy, Robert. In your late
uncle's garden there Is q small pool.
Between the pool and the river is a
hollow oak. Reaching into the hollow
your hand will discover faucet; open
this, and the contents Of the pool will
be drained of into the river. As the
| water in the pool descends, q passage
way will be disclosed. This terminates
| in q short flight of steps. At the tor
Of these, in . small chamber of brick
you will find the chest"
Does it contain enough to marry
| on, dootor?"
have never known the precise face
value OF your uncle's treasure. sub
But It would take not less than six
| figures to hint at It."
"Yet he died almost in want"
'.He was very eccentric, Robert, In
his last years. You mean to run. on,
tonight ana posses yourself Of this
legacyT
TITS too far to walk"
take my car"
THANK you, sir"
"Are you armed?"
mo, sir"
take these"
The doctor produced a pair Of old.
fashioned, forty.one caliber derring.
ers and placed them in the palms oi
Chi1ton's hands.
Shall you 60 alone"
mo, sir. Not II fate is kind. She II
fond OF adventures"
| II y T.
ssN Hrss GARDNER" said Chiffon,
lHl they were dancing and hi
looked down .radiantly into her up.
| turned FACET have about me the
| maktngs OF An adventure"
II was sure OF It." ..,z.