The evening world. Newspaper, October 6, 1914, Page 17

A TAL RED (Courright, 1914, by Bobbe-Merrill Co.) BYNOPSIS OF PRECEDING CHAPTERS, Mails, Marien, daughter of a street, raliroad One ja Best, Glider, oer thon tender. CHAPTER VIII. (Contioued.) The Life of the Party. ry m_HE symptoms were un- mistakable. Molly, bav- ing rounded the end of the table, slipped out through the pantry Joor and handed her remaining envelopes to the intellectual-looking butler to At ten thirty, coincident witb the finishing of the ice cream, and while the hectic revulsion in Siedge’s favor wrought by the season passes was at its height, the approaching tinkle of mandolins and gultars brought the happy company to its feet, and before it had gained the front porch four softly intoning “Annie Laurie. ‘Thero was « rush and a clatter, and then hush, and instinctively the young people grouped themselves as ay possible to their best liked frend while, from the moonlit sward, there rolled up the sweet Nquid harmony. A short programmo of this sort of music and then the voices stopped, and the seductive instrumental strains of “The Blue Danube" waits set the balmy air aquiver. In two seconds the wide Marley porch was 4 tangle of laughing, whirling figures, and the dancers immediately sent in @ unanimous verbal request for all the dance music in the world, speci- fying it by name. Molly danced with Bert und forgot her annoyance, Ho was the best dancer in the city; ber natural partner! At cieven thirty Mr. Marley, with the worry of eight absent mothers on his own shouiders, was fretting over some invention to send them home, when the earth split open in the wide ch of vacant land across the cted into the sky, with a loud unearthly noise, a tremendous assortment of fiery meteors, mostly red. Roman candies, in_ reckless ounches, shot up from behind every bush; skyrockets dragged their spir- — censure Pearse iat aling tails through @!! the available clycumamblence, while fancy bombs carried their acrial floaters and other pyrotechnical surprises into all the “4 pslenies territory hitherto unoccue ted, Through it all, Sledge stood as im- movable and as impassive as if he had been glued to the spot and frozen. kiven when the display flowed out into the middle of the highway and piled up the street cars for two blocks in both directions, he remained a calm and disinterested spectstor. The President of the traction company was thrown Into extreme agitation by this excess of zeal, for he had some consideration for the feelings of the public, and he rushed right out to restore the scattered schedule. “Here, what's this?" he demanded of a demon with a smoke-blackened face. “Why are you holding up tite cars?” “Bledge's orders, _ meer replied the demon, Ughting the fuse of a red rose set py ‘He said everything went, and it's goin, Mr, Marley came back. Sk was no longer on the porch. Molly had slipped in to wrap up some cake for Baby Peters, and Sledxe, who seemingly saw nothing, had followed her. * “Welk is your party a hit?” anxiously inquired. “It's a scream!" she to control her laught he said, unable “Really, Mr. ledge, I have you to thank for the most extravagantly joyo occasion at which I have ever had the good fortune to preside.” “We'll open her another notch next time, ” he confidently Promised her. “Molly, marry me." mean it to go this far. I don’t mean that—that is—well—I don’t know what I mean. You've been so good, and I do Bppreciats, it so, but it is impos- Tne Af Ta! .y couldn't. Don't you see?" “Yor vome around to it. “I Lex I don’t!" she blazed. are you bet—Smash against eAnything you like!" she angrily cgeee: furious enough to poison “You're on,” | LT jad. CHAPTER IX. Molly Has Her Own Little Plan. THOUGHT you were gone,” observed Frank Marley, a Sledge opened the door of his den after the dispersal of something?” the party. “Forget ‘Loaned my car, Molly engaged? I'll see,” offered Marley, setting forward a decanter. “I think she, ie @till In the library.” rm “I mean to be married,” corrected Sledgo. “Not to my knowledge,” replica her father, with a slight frown. “Humph!" grunted Sledge in satis- faction. “I figure on marrying her myself.” ‘ “You!” returned Marley, and tho tone was not complimentary, Foe a it he looked trouble: en, » he poured a drink, ay vif have the final say about * Sledge explained. S cd A Romance of Love, Bluff, Cash and Ls GEORGE RANDOLPH CHESTER (Author of ‘“‘Get-Rich-Quick Wallingford,” &e.) rich, mellow Ethiopian voices were ¢; palate a sl E OF ROSES “Punch!” laughed Marley. “Bert's a likable young chap. “He won't do,” decided Sledge. “Lean a ‘ii equash. He's his matter any fur. Marley announced. 9 L could do in the matter, anyhow. ‘Koep him away,” ordered Sledge. 1 can’t interfere,” protested Mariey, wishing that he dared show his re- sentiment more pluinly, “Molly picks her own friends.” “Good night,” grunted Sledge, and stalked out of the den. He stopped in the door of the library, where Mully and Fern and Bert sat chatting over the unusual party. “Want to ride home, Glider?” he invited. “Thank you,” accepted Bert, with of amusement at the girls, ‘one. girls came to the door with them, and when they whirled away, Molly and Fern went upstairs and hur- ried Into regulation chatting costumes. Fern, clad in a billowy marvel -of dainty blue, ytted into the boudoir of white and pink, and c dd com= fortably up in the corner of the divan, where she Tune bens with eleven pillows until she had a nest which precisely suited her ideas of luxur, then, and not until then, she the party bad been a 3. she added, with re- hing directness, “1 want to bet you @ pink parasol that an important epl- sode in your fair young life huppened to-nigh ‘How do you know?" inquired Molly, turning, startled, from the operation of brushing her shining hair. “I could tell from the wey Bert acted,” replied Fern, with a giggle don't think be liked it that Sledge was here," went on Fern know his eople ar Why, Molly, the Maryland Glider whom he is a direct connection, ‘are the most aristocratic in the East. The family can trace its ancestry tor hun. dreds and bundreds of You don't know how lucky you are, Molly! Just to think of having propos. proposal from a fellow lke that ‘m going to make bim stop al threatened Molly dryly. CHAPTER X. An Engagement Without a Kiss. ERT, annoyed by the events of the evening, but relieved, to some ortent, by Molly's inexplicable and. delightful change of manner toward bim In this pleasant half hour since the party had dispersed, took his thougbtful place in Sledge's machine, and pre- pared for the usual welcome silence, which those who knew him hud a right to expect from the reticent boss. To bis surprise, however, Sledge talked. “Great party Molly had," observed the donor of the fireworks and the music and the passes and the red roses. “A feverish success," agreed Bert. “Molly 1s inclined to give you all the credit for it.” “She can have stated Sledge. ything she wants, * tm going to marry Mid she say so?" inquired Bert, artied and humiliated. acknowledged Sledge. “She's thinking it ove " returned Bert, much relieved, in the darkness. He com- placently twirled his mustache. He had @ good one on Molly. “What time am I to see you in the morning about that Porson property? he uired, determined ugyt further uss the lady. leven o'clock.” Bert went into the bouse, halt amused and wholly vexed. It might be very funny to see this blundering big boor making a fool of himself, but the Joke was enurely ruined by the fact that at the same time he was making a fool of everybody else. Bert knew, to the share, how much street railway and Gas and Electric stock Marley held. The growing city needed vastly increased transportation facilities, and with the increase of 7 1" these would come an increase of Mar- OReatiy ee ee eee tg elurted: fey wealth and. influence, Tt might ee Xe my own fault, but I didn't be @ very handy thin, roa young veal estate dealer to have the Presi- dent of a rapidly expanding street railway company for @ father-in-law, He went to sleep, dreaming pleasantly of extensions and subdivisions and vance information on factory aites- and of Molly, of course! He awoke, determined to concrete these dreams or to dismiss them and find others. Molly, had either to ac- cept him or definitely to turn him loose after what other fish there might be in the sea. The absurdity of hav- ing Sledge for a rival was too much to endure, He went to his office, dividing this train of thought with his plans for the marketing of the Porson tract, hurried to the First National to secure a loan of ten thousand on the new property, and arranged at the German Hank for an extension vf certain other loans which would have to be deferred if he used his ten thousand available funds to com- plete the cash purchase which Ben- dix demanded, These more urgent matters disposed of, he called up Molly. “May I come out?” he demanded, “When?” drawled a languid voice, ane away.” No," she drawled again. “Bu » Molly, I must see you,” ho seriously insisted. important.” “Tt Iways is," she laughed. “What's it about this time? “Oh, the same old thi: ger mly more a “You're crowding them closer to- be ac- gether,” chided Molly. “Moreover, this is the first time by telephone, I think.” “I didn't mean It to be #0,” he apologized. ‘You've trapped me into it, and taken away any chance I might have of persuasiveness. Now, 1 uppose, it will be the same ‘od | answer.’ snae Tips ad OF ing reply, os “gay thet ie : ‘neat? her as- same sleepy “Not necessarily,” she repeated, and he caught the sound of a repressed siege. “You're teasing me,” he prot “You don't mean that I'm to have the right answer this time. ‘It depends on what you mean by the right answer.” “The one ['ve alwa “What one is that “Vos,” he blurted es what?” Will you? ¥ wanted." what?" de- “I will. Say, Bert, I don’t lke the all-platinum settings. [like the gold tinum prongs. Size six he confusedly manded. supplemented Bon- I'm cheated,” he earnestly com- plained. “There are certain formall- tos which Tam koenly missing. I'm coming out.” CHAPTER Xt1. A Clever Business Trick. ARLEY, with a certain phy- sical jauntiness on him which would have been an indication to Molly of men- tal unrest, walked into Sledge’s little back room and found, with the Big Boy und Bendix, a tall, suave strang- er in a gray suit who was introduced to him by the name of Bozzam. “Just talking about you, Marley,” hailed Bendix, “Mr. Bozzam, who claims to be able to promote three companies at once with his eyes shut, thinks that we needsa new amuse- nent park and has heard a rumor of the Ridgewood avenue extension, Do you think that would be better for the car company than a subdivision “I doubt it," pronounced Marley, with his usual ever-ready judgment. “A subdivision, by attracting people trom the centre of the city, makes n business, The amusement park we now have probably attracts all tho inoney the people have to spend, nd the traffic would merely be split mong two lines in place of one, as at present, This would, of course, be a trifling advantage.” It was a curious thing tbat Mr. Boz- zam, baving listened carefully to the president of a street railway cum. pany, and watched bim while he talked, turned, with entirely un- ruffled countenance, to Bendix. “The Porson tract is quite large enough,” he remarked. “Unfortu. nately it has no trees, but it has a ready-made depression for a natural lake. if we need mountains there's a lumber yard handy. There's a bet- ter site out beyond the brewory dts- trict, however.” “Lincoln Road, dix. "Too fai “Real brook out there,” urged Boz- zam. “That brook in New York would be worth @ million dollars,” “Swell plac rumbled the unex- pected voice of Sledge, who look- ing absorbedly out of the window. A ry huge gray rat was investigating the near @ntents of the garbage pail the gate. “That might be said Bendix. “It's pri the street railway to mak’ an exten- sive spurt. Just now, I think, though, the Porson tract is the thing,” and he glanced inquiringly at Sledge, who re. mained intent on the rat. “The Porson tract it 1s, then,” agreed Bozzam, “I'll see the ownor of it whenever you gay.” Bendix looked at Sledge. “This afternoon,” consented the boss. “ll telephone you,” offered Bendix, “Delighted to ha met you, Mr, Marley,” declared Bozzam, gripping the Presiden ‘I trust that we shall ha’ satis! eas tds ‘attended by Bendix, be Mote the run, May ingd conceived a vague feel. that he was being slighted. Laima SAA we are, oom ventured to romonstra’ “1 muat in. sist, Mr, Sledge, that, as president of the sireet railway company, I should at least be posted before outsiders are discussing it.” “I'm taking cal advised him. “ “We incorpo! cluded Sleds “I thought it was to be three-quar- ters of a million,” and Marley, in gur- prise, awaited an explanation, Sledge looked impassively out at the garbage pail, “Million,” he said. Somehow, Marley gathered that the interview was over, and went back to his office to f elt into the be- lief that, owing to his superior man- agement, it had been necessary to double the capitalization of his com- pany. It took him nearly two hours to do this, but he succeeded, In the mean time Bert Glider, his face and step and whole bearing alive with the elation of a man who had just been accepted by the most popular girl in his set, marched jauntily In to keep bis 11 o'clock ap- pointment. “Where's Bendix?" he asked. “Out,” grunted Sledge. “Be back soon?” Sledge favored him with another grunt. “Tih wait,” decided ert, to whom ‘dinary affairs were mere trifies. m all ready to take over that Por- son tract. Sledge swung ponderously, facitg him, “I want to tell you something,” he warned. “I'm going to marry Molly Marley,” “so you told me last night,” re- turned Bert, suppressing a snicker. “But really, Mr. Sledge, what hus that to do with the Porson tract?” “rl rub it in,” kindly offered Sledge. “If you get in my road with I'l) wipe you out. I understand,” and Bert again stroked bis mustache, this time com- lacently. He was a clever man and fe knew it. “Do you suppose Bendix will be In in half an bour?" —humh,” grunted Sledge. ‘il return in that time,” promized Bert, and hurried out, complimenting himself ax he went on bis own shrewdness. He hurried down to the next corner and into the Hotel Abbot, where he hastily called up Molly. That young lady, It seemed, was then in the hands of her hairdresser, and could not reached, Highly contented, he called up Boszam and was lucky enough to find that gentleman tn bis st room, working furtously with ‘Mm- bers over a prospectus of the pro Posed new amusement company. “Well, it's all settled,” declared Bert. “I'll have that Porson property in my possession this afternoon. “Bendix told us we'd have to deal replied Bozzam, 1 with you for tt," “We're ready to dicker right now. hope you've changed your mind abou holding the tract for a subdivisio This was his way of suggesting that he pretended to believe Bert had a cholce tn the matter. “It depends on how much you offer me,” returned Bert, keeping up the fiction. “Twenty-five thousand,” stated Bozzam. rt laughed scornfully. can sell it for forty by subdivid- promptly Ing It,"" he declared, “Possibly,” admitted Bozzam. “But advertising and selling will cost you @ good stiff percentage, and will take up six months of your time, We're offering you a quick turn of five thou- sand profit.” “Nothing doing,” insisted Bert, but made a return step toward his chair, ‘I tell you what 1 will do, thougn: se the dea) to-day, and I'll make it twonty- six.” “I wouldn't close to-day at any price,” responded Bozzam, “I want a thirty-day option,” Bert frowned, genuinely concerned, “There's a chance that you won't com) I your purchase,” be objected, ‘3 no chance at Bossam, with i, praonab ie tt start: my ive “Then why not close for this prop- erty at once?” urged Bert. “Against the rules,” Boszam truth- fully informed him, “Our capitalist won't stand for it. You don’t o @ diagram of that Bert was silent, and for the second time that morning stroked idea from the surface of his mustach “What will you give me for a thirty-day option?” he inquired. ‘ive hundred dollars. and above the purchase yes,” consented Bozzam, after a moment of reflection. “Twe ty-five thousand five Luncred tn all, “All right,” agreed Bert, and went out smilin; Was @ brilliant chap, full of ideas! Downstairs, he went to the t phone again, and called up the Marley residence. ‘Miss Molly still busy?” he asked. es, Mr. Glider,” the maid in- formed him. “She won't be, golng out for an hour or so, will sh ©, sir.” “All right,” turned Bert, thor- oughly satisfied, and he hurried back to Sledge’s office, where he found Ben- dix, and, going over to the Court House, they spent the next hour and @ balf seali binding and deeding the Porson estate to the shrewd young real estate speculator, who, after a visit to the bank with Bendix, gave up twenty thousand silver dollars for the privilege. This ceremony concluded, Bert hur- ried down to the telephone, but did not walt to nave Molly called, He only directed the maid to tell her he was coming straight out, and then he jumped on a street car, chuckling over his clever plot. Frank Marley, as he walked into his own residence, was by no means chuckling over his coming interview with Molly, but he managed to save his face to himself by persuading him- self that his serious trepidation was grave fatherly concern. He called Molly into his den at the end of the hall and plunged numbly on to his undoing. “Molly, I wish to speak to you seriously,” he observed, sitting down and motioning her to @ seat in front of him. “What is the matter?” she inquired, instantly concerned. “Sledge,” he replied. She sat down and her cheeks flushed. “He has been speaking of me,” ‘mised. “Both last night and this morning,” her father admitted, pleased with hor quiet tone. “He is extremely anxious to marry you, Molly.” “What did you tell him?” sho asked curiously, “That 1 had nothing to say in the matter, of course,” he promptly as- sured her. “Naturally 1 know what 4 shock such a proposal would be to you, Molly, But 1 have too much of @ father’s care for you not to con~ sider very gravely anything which might concern your welfare. “And are you in favor of such @ marriage?" she asked, so dispass.ci- ately that he mentally complimented ber on ber spd sense, she seem cruel in me to interfere with any of your business p! but it is ivo late to dispose of m She sailed out of the room and was confronted by the flushed and @x- cited Bert Glider, who was too full of important plans to remember t he had certain engagement form: ties to observe. “f say, Molly,” he blurted, “have you told any one of our wnyaxe- ment?!" “Why?” she returned, wondering at his anxiety; it was scarcely eayer- neas. “Well, I'll tell you,” he chuckled. “A great stunt has turned up. You know, [ had a dicker on with Sledge. I went to him to close it, after I telephoned you my heart and hand, and he had the nerve to tell me be better stay out of the deal if I @ida'y keep away from you Molly, ‘ » T beat him at his own game. I closed the deal with him, and immediately gave @ thirty-day option on the prop- erty. All we have to do,/for me to make a@ five-thousand-dollar profit, is to keep our engagement a secret for thirty days.” Molly opened her eyes in amaze- ment. “Why didn’t you tell me our Bagement was a business deal!” @) suddenly flared. “i'm sorry to be ti bearer of sad news. You're broke “Broke!” he exclaimed. “You and father may console each other,” she cheerfully told him. “I've lost money for both of you.” “What have you done?” he de- manded, beginning to fear that some- thing had gone wron; “Only told Will carelessly stated. the ‘scoop’ since forever. Blade you bave in your pocket?” She took it, still unfolded, from where he had thrust it, unopened, Just before he stepped on the car. She opened it, and displayed to Bert shocked eyes Willie's gleeful, three- column, —half-tone-tllustrated = an nouncement of the engagement. “Good lord!" groaned Bert. ‘Tho telephone bell rang. ‘Mr, Siedge, Miss Molly,” said the maid. “Not here,” laughed. “L'il answer,” offered Bert, and she followed him in wonder to the tele- hone. B “Who js this?” rasped the voice of Sledge. returned Molly, and sort Glider.” ‘Oh, it's you, is it?) What's this I see in the Blade about you and Molly “I's a mistake,” id Bert. “You're not engaged?" jephone,” an- in- When he returned from the tele- phone Molly dropped six diamond rings into bis band, and started up stairs. Jon't any of them fit?” he asked regretfully. bie home,” she haughtily advised him “But you don't understand!” he called, running up the stairs after ber. “Let me explain,” The tatephong’ rang again, and the maid came to Molly. “Mr. Walters on th nounced Mina, “How apropos!” rejoiced Molly, and burried eagerly to answer. “You're a quick worker, Molly,” complimented Willie Walters. “I bear you've broken your engagement witb Bert. Is that right?” "Ye Molly enthusiastically formed him. “Is Sledge authorized to deny it?" “Yes; anybody is!" she exulted, and carried her exultation back to Bert. He tried for a solid hour to slip the largest of the diamonds on her finger, but was giving up in despal when Fern came running up the at: with the regular home edition of t Blade. icture of Molly was in the nate frame which It had e bellished in the noon issue of the Blade, but, from the panei formerly oceupled by Bert, gloomed the funere- al features of Sledge, and the three- column announcement had spread until it now covered the front page, at the top of which ran an intensely black line declaring that Sledge de- nied Molly's engagement to Bert. Molly grabbed all six rings, put them on her fingers, “I'm part of the d CHAPTER XII. Blondy Snitches, f LEDGE aid not attend the |} reorganization meeting of the street railway company, re to urge his personality upon @ corporation in which he held no great amount of stock, eo he gave Tom Bendis @ proxy for hip liste exclaimed He was too modest a man ®PDOODODDODOOHOSDSS: fifty shares and allowed the balance of his hundred thousand dollars’ worth to be voted by his attorney, John Tucker, in that astute gentle- man's own name. Instead, Sledge, with an acourate foreknowledge of what would go on in his absence, took a little outing, pausing, more or less incidentally, at the home of ik Marley. “Got time to take a ride?” he gested to Molly, ‘i want you to look at a house, Senator Allerton’s place. Eighteen rooms, six ba twelve acres of grounds.” “('m sorry I can't go with you, Molly replied to that, suppressing the flash in her eye: “You know my friend Fern is still visiting me.” i} bunt another one, the swellest house us town, Molly. she Informed him in his own vernacular, unable to avoid the issue a longer. “I told you In the first piace, Mr. Sled, that I'd never marry you; and meant | 1 heard you,” he returned easily. “Do you like £ at in @ house?” “Indeed I do,’ laughed, “I want a marble swimming pool, and a sunk- and outdoor “That's the talk,” approved Sledge, delighted to hear her express a pref- erence. “I guess we'll have to butld, Say, Molly, do you like that electric light out in front?” “Tt hideous thing,” she admitted, ing at the gaunt pole and the swinging arc, which had always o! fended her, “It's glaringly bright on the front porch, where we don't want it, and dark ae a pocket back by the garage.” He turned immediately to the tele- phone and called up the electric light company. “Sry, this is “Sledge,” he stated. “Send up some men to Frank Ma: i Mo’ he light from their front gate to the alley, Right away. “He hung up the receiver and turned to Molly. “They'll be here in thirty mintes,” he promised. “I had the city buy that vacant property across tho road last night. It’s to be a park. I'm goana plant it full of red roses.” “You mustn't do those things!" she cried, now in acute distress. The humor of it was gone. “Who says I must’ t?’ he wanted rlanc don’t wish to be embarrassed.” Bledgo chuckled, “You'll get over that,” he proph- esied, “ti who serene that engage- ment on the Blade last thing you ought to she fared. “1 won't Bl ys? ‘anythl ic that was ever pri “All right,” he indulgentiy chuckled. “Just so there's nothing in it.” He left the house apparently satie- fled while Molly stood at the window with a half-chagrined smile, looking at the ugly vacant property across the street, and trying to imagine it flaming with red roses. No doubt there would be treilised bowers and winding paths, and all that sort of thing. She ached to suggest some freakish land- scape features, but dared not, because she knew they would be carried out promptnesa. Sledge walked into rhe Oceldent, and found Bert Glider waiting for him. Bert had sad eyes this morning, and @ loose droop to the corners of his conacientious barber, “You've given up the idea of hav- ing the new hospital built on that View Hill, haven't you?” id Bh “It's too far Bert smiled. He knew why the Riv. er View property was too far out. It could not be sold to the city for enough while the four blocks of wor ements which the pane had letly buying up could. “How much do you want for tt?’ asked Hert. “Wifteen thousand,” grunted Again Bert smiled. When the site had been talked of for hospital pur- poses the Blade had stated that it could be bought for seventy-five. Also, he remembered that Pelican, who was strongly mentioned for Gov: ernor on the reform ticket, had been almost hydrophobically in favor of the River View Hill location. “How long will you hold It for me at that price?” he asked. “What do you want it for?" “An investment.” cknowledged Bert, ris- . ed your mind about the Ridgewood extension?" “Naw!” returned Sledge, “You're protected; so is Marley.” Quite satisfied, and even e ated, B Bert walked out. He had evolv beau- tiful plan for taking advantage of Sledge’s coming downfall. He would form an operating company to buy up all the sites which, like the River View Hill location, would be of on- hanced value when the Sledge gang was turned into a political nonenuty by the revival of the public funds scandal. Clever? He patted his mus- tache with marked spprobation. Mol- ly would appreciate this stro ‘ae yellow-halred bartender, who ad just come on for the noon rush, carried Sledge’s stein of beer in to him, and laughed as he set it down, ert had @ fine dill on last night,” he_ observed. “Hunh!" commented Sledge, reach- ing out for the stein and turning to his favorite landscape J Blondy went on, “Think V'll have to snitch on him @ thief. He's passing you a dou- Next Week's Com, in THE EVENIN The me mesa 7 Novel WORLD put a fresh rose in Went to the telephone. Molly Marley tried to evade coi to the telephone, but Sledge imp: M uch with the importance @ that Molly consented | she sald rather crisply the telephon he was sur; the rumbling harshness of the voice. “Well, I'm wise,” ine buntly tae i formed her. Bert i gd babbled.” « f hat do you mean,” she ii : surprised out of ber intention of ing the conversation into b od Sledge. Bert plowed thes whole works. icked out the Occidental te de u're still ge id "i “Suppose we ret ae we about it?” stated Sledge. “T angrily. what ar are re going ‘Smash him, torus wih ogety aig hues Saad he world, Bert and Sledge in him I would. ichled delighted with the defiance ry voice. “You goana get back at hunn?!™ “Bert will!” ehe promised. put you it Sledge. k fund deal of yours ! rumbled. rat vine Good-| Lopes consents obey’ ve. “already thelr about that. I'll just tan ‘em the amusement park will be on Road. The Ri tension’s off, and eo te “And so are if Bert he knows prom . padlio veatment!” 2a toe him. ‘you'll ge, “T'm goana out,” ‘= CHAPTER Xill. The Society of Politics. to shine with authorisation, 3 who was anybody made it e point to be there and compare artillery. They made it a special point this year, | since Gov. Waver’s term was expiring, — and @ share, at least, of the Geve ernor’s social gidty would filcker out — with his office. ‘ Molly Marley, in the frat weet 4 moment after the grand circle of troductions, led Fern about the modern mansion with an air of prietorsbip, for this was her visit, and she displayed with glee conservatory fountains, the swimming pool, the pipe organ, outdoor sleeping roams and the en gardens, all of ‘which eke mentioned to Sledge the previous She had not known until that she bad bad this very place mind, “Bert lost everythiag ey, business, prospects,” Molly presently. “Sledge broke him.” “Poor Bert!" svene ed warm-hearted Fern. ty-faced old sehatt our accoun! How ce ares dia ner vont Aes cluding 4 fp Beaty Soa the rg phd invest property,” to o they know that Sledge is ‘Ila that you, Molly” iPr aa he turned up to 'y, “It ny fair daughter, “Thi are misal clared, with on the successful showman. and his wi ator Atiertemy 8 Mayor and a osonn inquiring about Ze sak ee are ut} fare a dat pro i by. the Oe Seana ently wished to followed him into the mase of drawing rooms, where the of Riag County and the State ts card was filled with ‘the names higher notables there. Welk you hering © sued, i ® good umer ask ise, sitting comfortably the seat « partner had just rie ‘The Mayor has been * Hh got his orders," Sledge complacently. reat your dance programme, it from her lap. “I ‘Kought commented. Wy dark turned up, and you didn’t get him,” horse?" she taltered, be ex; Bunnchas Andrew pton, coffee monopolist, sneaked under an alias, and on."" He puzsied over the card @ "Naw!" protested Sledge. “All right, maybe you know,” In- ed, feeling a vagu sisted Blondy. “Just the same, he the intricacies of the game. claims the girl's wearing the ring. It's a@ secret engagement, until he can throw the hooks into you on that Por- ‘operty—-and some others, Some but souses, Sait F Bioasy ont ay ne os Mas x Setroesce “Everything's politics, bled. be You like this Bouse, you “I think it’s the most lace in the world,” she doped that out to- “It'e got all the ke it