The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1924-08-05

driving into the kernochan estate at
Greenwich. I, who had gone a year
without being able to afford ride in
a taxicab, now sat behind the wheel
Of my roadster. On the trunk-1ack
behind was a box in which were eve
ming clothes, lounge suits, shirts of
finest linen, silken socks, and all
those other concomitants of wealth.
Wedged in the seat beside me were
my golfsticks. l looked, with all my
furnishings, what l was: gentle
man. also looked what l was not:
millionaire.
| had taken the precaution of tcle
phoning from the nearby town of
Stamford; and so, when l arrived at
the vulgarly ostentat ious residence
of Kcrnochan, Fantine was there. 1t
was Saturday, and | had felt fairly
certain that the detective would
spend weekend at the home of
his fiancce. My logic was justified
by the event. For Miss Kernochan
had answered my telephone call, had
invited me to luncheon, and had as
sured me Dat Vantine would doubt
less be willing to offer the revenge.
Vantne was willing; indeed he
was anxious. We. arranged that we
should play on the course of a near
by club, Immediately after luncheon.
1t irkcd me to accept the kcrno-
chan hospitality; but all professions
have their disagreeablc sides. And
so | ate their foods with relish. l
will say for Kernochan that his cook
was good. That is about all can
say for him. For not merely was he
boastful as to his wealth, but he
showed an objectionable curiosity to-
ward myself. l INDUCED myself in a
certain gift for fiction. l named
city in the West as my home. skill
fully created the impression that
was immensely rich, that wound
received in the war had incapacitatcd
me for actiye work, and that l dlvid-
ed my time between America and
Europe, wandering wherever I
thought I might find amusement.
told them that l had acquired my
car at Pinehurst and had motored
north. golfing on the way. Also |
warned Vantine that my game had
improved, and suggested that we
make the stakes a thousand dollars
this time. He accepted with clation.
Three hours later, on the fifteenth
green, l handed him a thousand dol
lars.
81 can't understand it," / said pet
tishly. II just can't get going to-
day"
He grinned. Had he chosen, he
could have won earlier, and my ex-
cuse was ridiculous. Eve might play
again tomorrow" he suggested. !
"For two thousand dollars"
cried.
He turned away to hide smirk.
"Just as you say" he replied.
had yielded to Kernochan's solic-
itous invitation that dine with them
and play some bridge later. In addi
ton to his other disqualifications,
Kernochan was snob. And l fear
that my careless mention of certain
names highly placed in international
society had given the Kernochans a
false idea of my own social position.
They were not going to let depart,
too easily, one who might graciously
open doors forever barred to a GER
tain class of broker. and to detec-
tives.
At dinner Miss Kernochan wore
her ruby ring. l had not invested in
Il motor, car, nor in golf-match
with Vantine, in vain. Before din
ner was half over, Kcrnochan, learn
ing of tomorrow's match, insisted
that l must spend the night in his
house. l could offer no valid excuse;
and so upon my acceptance, the mat
ter was settled. .
Not. until, Miss Kernochan and my
self having lost rubber, we were
cutting again for partners, did | APP
pear to notice the ruby ring.
II see that you've had the setting
fixed" then remarked.
Kcrnochan nodded "DaragOn's Of
fered me three hundred and twenty
five thousand for that ring" he de-
clared. '"But it amt for sale.
guess my girl is good enough to have
a ring like that for herself"
She simpered, not prettily. l could
not but contrast this insolent and
communicating woman with the
sweetly ,dignified lady from whom, by
the. ring had been taken.
i whistled. Three hundred and
five thousand .dollars!" ex-
claimed. ut. doesn't seem possible.
Still, it is beautiful" leaned over,
Ioeking at the stone. Miss. Kerno-
chan did the obvious thing. She
slipped. the ring from her finger and
it to me. Now. had not
intended to, put into effect certain
plans, which had brought me to this
house. SO soon. But a storm had
been brewing, during dinner; it burst
now with clap of thunder and a
flash of lightning. And a moment
later, the lights in the, library went
cut. Miss. Kernochan screamed in
alarm. Her father laughed. They'll
be on again in minute, Alice" he
tnld her. "This often happens dur
Ing a storm, Mr.. Ainsley," he said to
me.
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