San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-09-27
Butterflies IL tie Rain BzArdrewSoutor

IiS LebNhNA
Stuart Carteret, came across t.
join in the revelry, for, like the
rest of the pack, he scented
'blood" and money was money.
He took the attitude that Hum.
phrey could never be sufficiently
grateful for the introduction to the
"best people" of the day. He add
ed to Tina's magnanimity by put
ting Humphrey on to one or two
good things" in the city; in doing
this he limited that Humphrey
would be doing him a good turn
by taking them on, and glibly ran
over the titled names /; ssociated
with the concerns. Humphrey lost
good many thousands in these
enterprises md to Carteret, at
least, there was delicious. simplicity
in his request that Tina should not
be told of the losses, as it might
upset her.
Four months after the travesty
of a honeymoon Humphrey re-
ceived letter from his New York
agent:
7'1n view of all the circumstances
l feel that you ought to come out
at once. Things may not be so
bad as / fear, but your presence
couldn't fail to have moral eff
feet. Litigation is threatened in
connection with three of the oil
holdings in Indianapolis"
He said nothing of this to Tina.
Why should he worry her with his
business affairs? She believed him
to be very wealthy; it would hurt
his pride immensely if she learned
the truth. All the same, he wrote
to Carteret, her father, and hint
ed that a return of at least half
the amount he had loaned him
would be more than useful. Car
teret replied: "My dear fellow,
don't embarrass me. Why should
you worry.about a few thousands,
anyway"
Then came a letter from his old
friend, Lord Purton: Remember
what | told you about that woman
in town Che meant Lady Pinter,
but was too discreet to pen her
name.) And there are hateful
stories going the round of clnbland
about the set she favors. Am
going abroad Immediately, or I'd
run down to see you. j. H. is
much too good fellow to be VIC
timized by that crowd"
And it was on an evening when
Tina was entertaining, the while
he sought sanctuary in the study
in order to wrestle with his bust
ness affairs, that a servant an
nounced the arrival of a "Mr.
Groves" who wished to see him in
private for only a few minutes.
He received him in the study-a
short, squat man with a knowing
look in his little eyes and an i'm
pressive habit of smoothing the
crown of his bowler hat as he sat
talking.
Could Mr.. Humphrey say off
hand where Mr.. Emsley Charlton
was on a certain day last month?
No? Where was Mr.. Humphrey
himself that night? Or Mrs. Hum
phrey?
What exactly is the nature and
object of your inquiries?" Hum
phrey asked. "I'm not Mr.. Charl-
tons keeper"
NO" said Mr.. Groves; looking
more knowing than ever. mo
more does his wife. She never
knows when she's got him..
"Why come here-here said
Humphrey.
A long-drawn-out "W e-ellp
from Mr.. Groves. Owe got my
inquiries to make, sir, and | like
to make 'em in my own quiet way.
Gentleman to gentleman, as you
might say. We. happened to know
that Mr.. Charlton favors these
parts, and I'd like a word with
him"
"You know his address," said
Humphrey.
81 know where the King lives"
said Mr.. Groves, "5ut / can't say
he's always at home-can II"
Humphrey rose abruptly and
rang for a servant.
"Show this gentleman out" he
said. 81 fancy he has made a mis-
take and got into the wrong
house"
And Mr.. Groves, who appeared
to have stimulated his natural acu-
men with "just one" at the village
hostelry on the way up, was very
glad to get out, since John Hum
phrey had a sergeant's way with
him when he was handling men.
The last post brought another
stab. He was still in the study
and Tina and her friends were
laughing and amusing themselves
in the drawing room. The letter
was from that old mother Of his
in the north, who, being privileged,
had no need of subterfuge in writ
ing to her son.
"What a joy before l should be
called" she wrote, eff | could |
learn that l was a grandmother.