Evening star., 1925-06-21

ped off for far less in the past. But
even MIR. Furber would think twice
before attempting to snap off the
| head of parsonage important
enough to scorn such a dazzling offer
as Ralph was about to scorn.
THE next Saturday afternoon every
thing was the same as on the
irst Saturday. Ralph was working
i'm his garden shop" Dinah was in
her kitchen. but this time her hair
was not in irons. Mary was afield
in the land of tender sentiment.
Maidie was in her bedroom mendinr
not gloves but stockings. MIR. F'urber
was lying on his bed he had come
| home an hour later than usual and
| had eaten no dinner.
The moment approached for the arrl
val of the swell. Dinah. to pass the
time. had left her kitchen to see
whether Mr.. Furber was all right. II
! was s though the hou.e itself awaited
a crisis.
During the week not one word had
been said by Ralph or Mr.. F'urber tC
any of the girls about the mighty f20.
900 offer. Nevertheless the girls knew
that Mr. Furber had ordained it's re
fusal and that Ralph would obey and
that nothing could possibly change his
resolution, and that still he hated &c
give refusal. and desDised himself
The girls We're profoundly disappoint
ed Maidie and Ralph had had a
frighttul quarrel because in quite an
other matter she had accused him OF
being miserable coward--and he well
| knew To what she in her mercileSs
feminine subtlety was referring. Those
two had not spoken to each other fol
three days
! Ralph was all the more annoyed
therefore. when from his vibra ting re
treat in The garden he saw that Maidie
and not Dinah was showing the swell
through the back door: the girl must
have taken Dinahs place simply from
a mischievous desire TO quiz the swell
4 few seconds later-and before the
| stranger had reached the engine
| shed-Ralph saw the back door open
! again and Maidie reappear.
"Rafe."
What is it"
Il want you" cried Maidie in an
imperious tone.
He strode up the long garden. nod
ding brusquely to the astonished visi
tor and passing him without word
What is it, you vixen?
Your fathers just died in his
sleep"
Wait minute" said Ralph, and
turning, shouted to the swell:
"Hii'
And then in lower tone as they
met:
'Summats happened in tn house
cant stop to talk to We now. But
I'll take your offer. m ready to take
1t on-that is, If we can come to a
proper arrangement.
Dinah and Maidie and Ralph stood
in the bedroom together. Maidie was
! about to run for a useless doctor.
They were all deeply shaken with
emotion, and Ralph not least
But in his agitated heart Ralph
could distinctly hear himself mutter
ing to himself:
"A near thing. that. A near thing
that. A very near thing.
MIR. RALPH FURBER sal in his
/ A'A study on a Saturday afternoon
reading a very short letter. The study
! was 4 vast apartment. larger than
the whole Of No. Al where his father
had died. and it was furnished in ma
hoeany and gilt and damask. En-
perors had been cast from their
thrones yet Ralph looked little older
He looked fiercer and jollier.
The letter ran:
Dear Ralph: We were all extremely
disappointed that you did not come
down for Mary's wedding after all
right ashamed OF yourself Yours
Maidie.''
Mr.. F'urber frowned and glanced out
at the gardens which surrounded his
mansion and the park which sur
rounded the gardens. She had q
nerve, that young woman had! He
| was not accustomed to being WRITER
to in such manner. He was accus
toned to f1attery and to his own way
He was an exceedingly wealthy per
son. He had made himself rich and
he had made others rich, too. He hao
| not fought in the war, because the
war cabinet would not let him fight
The war cabinet had other work fol
him to do and the work was of such
a nature that he could not help max
| ing money out of ii, and lot OF
money. As an inventor and as ar
orga nizer he had had no superiors
and he had developed a talent for most
profitabIy investing the money which
the government compelled him to ac
uuire. He was popularly Classed as 4
! "profiteer," but he laughed at the cpl
thet. knowing it to be unjust. More
! over. so far as he was concerned
people might call him what they liked
He did not care. He knew the reality
! OF power ana the Vdlue or MS Dfaln
He cared for nobody and for nothins
except dominion and the wonders o1
his brain.
Not quite true. He cared for the
letter: the letter had pierced him like
a dagger between two ribs. He ripped
the letter to pieces.
A Sirl was standing near him with
a notebook in her hand--one of his
secretaries-but he behaved as though
she did not exist.
Anybody come yet?'
Lady Eleanor Raysse and SiI
Thomas Wrghtson. sir
These were the advance guard oi
his week end party: he had parties
every week end. His invitations were
seldom refused. and his curious de
pertinent was cheerfully accepted by
all because he was he.