San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-09-20

but l rang you up from town
didn't 1? You see, my brothers
rather got. on my toes about Lord
Purton; they didn't want him to
meet anybody down here that he
might not"
Feel disposed to meet?"
"That's it. Dennis is so awfully
keen on a Colonial job which Lord
Purton might be able TOTO wan
GLE"
Horrible word" with a smile.
"But that's what it amounts to-"
said Tina. "You see"
81 see that you decided to pull
the leg of Dennis and the best way
in which to do that was to engage
me as a foil" He was studying
her scarlet face with twinkling
eyes; of course, he had overheard
the remarks of the indignant broth
ers. "Then you repented and got
rid of me in the nick of time"
Eyes" she interposed, "but l
didn't come here tonight TOTO say
what | have said because you turn
out to be a friend of Lord .Purton.
Believe that-will you?" She
rested hand on his arm and there
was earnest appeal in her eyes
81 realized that | had been a cad
and | just wanted you to under
stand that-that | don't care, two
pence whether Dennis gets sthe
governorship or not; | hold that a
man had no right to rely on inft-
ence to pull him through. l want
to impress on you that I'm not so
small that | can't confess a mis-
take when I've deliberately made
one"
"Shall l tell you of the impress
sion you made on me the first time
/ met you?" he asked.
Startled, she glanced at the
door.
NO." she said, 81 think you had
better go back to Lord Purton.
Good night, Mr.. Humphrey"
81 shall see you again." he said,
with a quiet irmness so charac-
teristic of him. 81 will bring Lord
Purton back to Hawksbridge and
it will be a great disappointment to
me if you are not to be seem"
When he returned to the smok-
ing-room he crossed to the window
and drew aside the curtain so that
he might catch another glimpse of
her.
can Independent young lady,
Humphrey - WHAT" said Lord
PurtOn.
"Very," said Humphrey.
Full of the vigor of youth"
Full" with a half sigh.
"Modern-very modern?"
"And yet as old fashioned as an
Early Victorian ir~ some respects"
said Humphrey, dropping the cur
tain and crossing to his chair.
81 had forgotten that Carteret
had daughter" said Purton; 1--WE
known the boys for some time"
Rather fine young fellows
aren't they?" said Humphrey.
Then, casually: Tsn't Dennis keen
on some Colonial job or other?"
Lord Purton nodded indiffer-
emily.
81 believe he bankers after a
governorship in the Near East.
There's one going, but he's rather
young. My dear Humphrey,
how good it is to see you again"
That's kind of you, Purton, but
you were always so generous in
your thoughts of me-"
Generous Nothing that |
might do can possibly repay all
that l owe to Honest John Hum
phrey."s
"There is one thing you might
do for me that would make me
your debtor"
Lord Purton threw up his head.
"My dear fellow, give it a name
and it's done already"
Get young Dennis Careret that
governorship," said Humphrey
quietly, eff you can do it without
turning down a better youngster."
Lord Purton's lips remained
wide apart for moment.
"Why, of course wfl," he said,
at last. 81 didn't know you were
so interested in him."
81 am interested in HMM a
way" Humphrey said, "but I'd be
the first to kick against his ap-
pointment if he wasn't fitted for
the job. Give him a chance to
prove himself"
"He shall have every possible
chance" said Lord Purton.
Good Now let's chat about
the old days. Can you stretch
your legs as far as the mantel-
shelf? It's a little further than
the stove in the old shack we
shared.|
Lord Purton, minus all the dig
nifty of an hour before, stretched
his long legs until his heels rested
on the mantel-shelf. Humphrey
filled two glasses and took up a
similar position.
1.-THE same old Humphrey" said
Lord Purton with a smile. "And
still bachelor"
"1'm thinking Tof remedying
that state of affairs" said
Humphrey, drily; "but let's talk
about yourself"
They talked Of their travels
East and West. They exchanged
"reminiscences; they smoked like
two brick kilns; they called each
other by their Christian name.