Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-06-13

, Like a great archway OF trees. And
all moonnecked underfoot, Where
did II lead; TO the house probably.
This was hanwa fsianf-thc home
OF the mad millionaire!
He walked on again. The road
wound tortuously through what APP
pcared to be n glade OF great extent.
II seemed TO beckon. TO lure. to
intrigue him the further he went,
TO promise something around each
moon fecked turning.
He smiled complacently 10 him
self. Things were shaping up very
well--very well indeed. The seed so
carefully planted years ago was to
bear fruit at last. The greatest
coup OF his life was Just within his
grasp; and. IL he were not utterly
astray. that very coup In itself
should prove but the stepping stone
to still greater ones. Polly, Yes,
quite true, The future depended
very materially upon Polly. How
amcnable would she be 10 influence =?
granting always that the said in
nuence he delicately and tactfully
enough applied!
He fell to whistling very softly
/ under his breath. He had plans for
Polly. and IL they matured the
future looked very brighton him
self He wondered what she was
like-particulariy as to character
and disposition. Was she af-
fectionate. committeeman? A great
deal. very great deal. depended on
that. Not in tho present instance
Polly had fully served her purpose
IN 80 far as n certain half million
dollars In cash was concerned. and
beIng Innocent OF any connivance
must remain so-but thereafter
England was an exploited field; it
Ead become dangerous: the net
there was drawing in. oh. YES. he
had had NIL that in mind on the day
no had first sent Polly to America.
but only in general way then,
while today II had become concrete.
Locke would make most admir-
abs open sesame to the New
l.hnd-tt Locke married Polly. Polly.
as Mrs. Locke. would step at once
INTO social sphere than which
there would be no h!gher-or
wealthier-and. ipsofacto, Captain
Francis Newcombe would do like
wise. And given half million ms
stake money. Captain Francis New
combe. II he knew Captain Francis
Newcomhe at all. would not fail in
MS opportunities He had ey-
pectod Polly in due course to make
a place for herself in social Amer
lea. that was what he had paid
money for-hut Howard Locke was
piece OF luck. Locke conserved
Time; Locke opened the safety
vault OF possibilities imediately.
he howned suddenly. Suppose
ioiy did not prove amenable :?
Nonsense Why shouldn't shelf
.he man weren't flung at her head,
Locke was the kind OF chap a girl
ought to like. and all girls were
more or less romantic. and the ele-
ment of romance had just the right
spice to IL here-the guardian she
mad not seen in years who is ac-
tohpanied by young man. who.
FROM any standpoint, whether OF
looks, physique, manner or position.
would measure up to the most ex-
acting OF young ladies' Ideals.
And to say nothing of the magic
spells That seemed TO have their very
nome IN this garden islc--a veritahle
"ooers bower, There would DO
other moonlight nights. Bah,
There was nothing to it-save to
put rev minor obstacles in tie
way OF the turtle doves,
Where the devil did this road lead
tunnel. dreamy black with its walls
OF leaves. dreamy with its sweet
smelling doors. In itself Il was well
worth while, 1t continued to invite
him. And he accepted the invita-
lion. His thoughts roved farther
aheld now. Locke the trip
down on the fifty-foot Talofa !.
not an incident to mar the ,lavs-.
nothing since the night that shot
had been fired on shipboard Though
his cabin window.
He stood suddenly still. and in
sheer amazcment rubbed his ewes
lie had come to the end of the tree
arched road, and it seemed as though
he ga1ed now on the imaginative
painting of master genius, daring.
bold In Its conception, exclusive in
its execution. Either that, or there
was magic in the night. and he had
heen transported bodily through en-
chantment into the very land OF
Arabian Nights
\ few yards away. he faced what
looked in the moonlight like
great marble halustrade. and rising
above this. painted into a hue OF
softest white against the night.
lowered what might well have been
caliph's palace. II stretched
away in lines unusual in their
beauty and design; columns above
the balustrade; little domes like
quaint latticed windows.
And the effect OF the whole was
that Of mirage on a sea OF emerald
green: for. sweeping away from the
baiustrade, wondrous in its color