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About Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 12, 1908)
\ THE REPUBLICAN , OUSTER COUNTY , NEBRASKA. Younger Set By ROBERT W. .CHAMBERS , * ? * Author of "The Fighting Chance , " Etc. Copyright , 1007. by Robert W. Chambers : ' I've n villainous habit of muttering mushy nothlngs"- "You dltl say somethlngl" "No ; only glioullsli gabble , the mere murky mouthing * of n meager tnind " "You did. It's rude not to repent It when I UK I ; yon " " 1 didn't moan to be rude. " "Then repent want you enld to your-1 eelf. " "Do you wish me to ? " he asked , rais ing his eyes so gravely thnt the smile faded from Up and voice when she answered : "I beg your pardon , Cap tain Selwyn. I did not know you were serious. " "Oh. I'm not , " he returned lightly. "I'm never serious. No man who solil oquizes can be taken seriously. Don't you know , Miss Erroll , that the crowning - ing absurdity of all tragedy Is the so liloquy ? " Her smile became delightfully uncer tain. She did not quite understand him , though her Instinct warned her that for a second something had men- , need their understanding. Riding forward with him through the crisp sunshine of mid-December , the word "tragedy" still sounding In her ears , her thoughts reverted natural ly to the only tragedy besides her own which had ever come very near to her his own. Could he have meant that ? Did people ple mention such things nfter they had happened ? Did they not rather con ceal them , hide them deeper and deeper - er with the aid of time and the kindly years for n burial past nil recollec tion ? Troubled , uncomfortably Inteut on evading every thought or trnln of ideas evoked , she put her mount to a gallop But thought kept pace with her. her.She She was , of course , aware of the situation regarding Selwyn's domestic affairs. She could not very well have been kept long In Ignorance of the facts , uo Nina bad told her carefully , leaving In the young girl's mind only a bewildered sympathy for man and wife whom a dreadful and Incompre hensible catastrophe had overtaken , ' only an Impression of something now and fearsome which she bad hitherto been unaware of In the world anil which wan to be added to her small but unhappily growing list of end and Incredible things. Returning from their gallop JIlss E roll had very little to say. Selwyn , too , was silent and absonttnlndcd. Sbo thought of her brother , and the old hm ; at his absence on that night throbbed ayiln. Forgive ? Yes. But how could she forget UV I "What is it ? . " Bho ashed. " 1 wish you knew Gerald well , " she said Impulsively. "He Is such a dear fellow , and 1 think you'd be good for hlm-and , besides , " she hastened to ndd , with Instinctive loyalty lest ho misconstrue : "Gerald would be good for you. We were a great deal togeth er at one time. " He nodded , smilingly attentive "Of course when ho went nwny to school It was different. " she added. "And then ho went to Yale That was .four more years , you see. " "Did he row your brother Gerald ? " "No. " she said. She did not add that he bad broken training. That was her own sorrow , to be concealed even from Gerald. "No ; he played polo some times. He rides beautifully , Captain fielwyn , and he Is so clever when he cares to be nt the traps , for examplo- tind-oh-nnything. He once swam- oh. dear. I forget. Was It five or llf- teen or fifty miles ? Is that too far ? Do people swim those distances ? " "Somo of those distances , " replied Selwyn. "Well , then , Gerald swam some of those distances , and everybody was u mazed. I do wish you knew him well. " "I mean to , " he snlil "I must look him up nt his rooms or hH club or per baps nt Neergard & Co.'s " "Will you do this ? " she asked KO ear nestly that he glanced up surprised "Yed , " he said , and after a moment , -I'll do It today , I thlnk-thls after noon. Are you having u good time ? " he asked condescendingly , but without intention. "Ileavenlyl How can you ask that , with every day filled and a chance to decline something every day ? If you'd only go to one Just one of the dances i and tens and dinners you'd be able to see for yourself what n good time I nin | ' having. 1 don't know why I should bo so delightfully lucky , but everybody asks me to dance , and every man I meet Is particularly nice , and nobody has been very horrid to me perhaps because I like everybody. " Shu rode on beside him. They were walking their horses now , and as her silken coated mount paced forward through the sunshine she sat at case , straight as u slender utnnzon in her hnblt , ruddy hair glistening nt the nope of her neck , the scarlet of her lips al ways a vivid contrast to that wonder ful unblemished skin of snow. Ho thought to himself quite Imper sonally : "She's u real beauty , tllftt youngster. No wonder they ask her to dnncu and nobody la horrid. Men ore likely enough , to go quite mad about her , as Nina predicts. Probably some of 'cm have already that chuckle- headed youth who was there Tuesday gulping up the tea" And , "What was his name ? " he asked aloud. "Whose name ? " she Inquired , roused by his voice from trailing retrospec tion. "That chucklehead the young man , who continued to haunt you so per sistently when you poured tea for Niua on Tuesday. Of course they all haunted you , " he explained politely as she shook her head m sign of noucom- prehension , "but there was one who nu-gulped at bis cup. " "Please you are rather dreadful , aren't you ? " "Yes. So was he. I mean the Infatuated - uated chlnless gentleman whoso facial ensemble remotely resembled the fea tures of a pleased and placid lizard of the reptilian period. " "Oh , George Fanel That Is particu larly disagreeable pf you , Captain Sol wyn , because his wife has been very nice to me Rosamund Fane and Bho spoke most cordially of you" "Which one was she ? " "The Dresden china one. She looks she simply cannot look as though she were married. It's most amusing , for people always take her for comcbody'B youngest sister who will bo out next winter. Don't you remember seeing her ? " "No , I don't But there were dozens coming and going every minute whom I didn't know. Still , I behaved well , fiidn't I ? " Tretty badly to Kathleen Lawn , whom you cornered so that she wouldn't escape until hsr mother made her < ? o without any tea. " "Here conies Mr. Fnnc now with a strikingly pretty girl. How beautifully they are mounted. " smilingly returning Fane's salute , "and she oh , so you do know her , Captain Selwyn ? Who Is Bhe ? " Crop raised mechanically In dazed salute , Selwyn's light touch on the bridle had tightened to a clutch , which brought his horse up sharply. "What Is HV" she asked , drawing bridle In her turn and looking back into his wultP , stupefied face. "rain , " he said , unconscious that he spoke. At the same Instant the stun ned eyes found their focus and id her beside his stirrup , leaning le from her seat in sweet concern , one gloved hand resting on the pommel of his saddle. "Arc you ill ? " she asked. "Shall wo dismount ? If you feel dizzy , please lean nunlnst me. " "I nm all right , " he said coolly , and ns she recovered her sent he set his horse In motion. His face had become very red now Ho looked at her , then beyond her with all the deliberate con centration of aloof Indifference. Confusod. conscious that something had happened which she did not com prehend and sensitively aware of the preoccupation which , If It did not Ig nore her , accepted her presence as of no resequence , she permitted her horse to set his own pace Neither self command nor self con trol was lacking now in Selwyn ; he simply was too self absorbed to care what she thought whether she thought nt all And into his consciousness , throbbing heavily under the rushing reaction from shock , crowded the crude fact that Allxe was no longer an ap parition evoked In sleeplessness , In sun lit brooding. In the solitude of crowded avenues and swarming streets ; she was an actual presence again In his life. Chapter 4 IILWYN had truly enough expected to encounter Allxe again somewhere though what he ba < been preparing to see heaven ulotic knew , but certainly not ! the supple , laughing glr he had known , thnt smooth , slender , dark eyed , dainty visitor who had played at marriage with him through n troubled and unreal divam and was gone when lie awoke so swift the brief two years tnd passed , as swift In sorrow as In happiness. Luncheon had not been served when they returned. Without lingering on the landing , as usual , they exchanged a formal word or two. Then Eileen mounted to her own quarters and Hel- wyn walked nervously through the li brary , where he saw Nina evidently prepared for some midday festivity , for she wore hat and furs and the brougham was outside. "Oh , Phil , " she said , "Eileen probj ably forgot that 1 was going out. It's a directors' luncheon nt the exchange rionse tell Eileen that 1 can't wait for her. Where Is she ? " "lrc"Hlng. 1 suppose. Nina. I" "One moment , denr. I promised the children that you would lunch with them In the nursery. Do you uilnd ? 1 did It to keep them qylet. I was weak enough to compromise between are ro\ hunt or fudge , so I said you'd lunch with them. Will you ? " "CVrtalnly And. Nina , what sort of a man Is this George Fane ? " "Kane ? " "Yes the chlnless gentleman , with gentle brown and protruding eyes and the expression of n tame brontosaurus. " "Why-how do you mean , Phil ? What sort of man ? He's n banker He Isu't very pretty , but he's popular. " "Oh. popular ! " he nodded , ns close to n sneer ns he could ever get "He has n very popular wife too Ilnveu't you met Rosamund ? People like him. He's nbout everywhere ; very useful , very devoted to pretty women. But I'm really In a hurry , Phil. " Her voice dwindled nnd died nwny through the hall ; the front dbor clanged. lie went to his quarters , drove out Austin's man , arranged his own fresh linen , took n sulky plunge and. an mi- lighted cigarette between his teeth , completed his dressing In sullen In trospection. When he had tied his scarf and bit ten his cigarette to pleco.s he paced the room once or twice , squared his shoul'U'rs , breathed deeply and. un bending Ills eyebrows , walked off to the nursery. "Hollo , you kids ! " he snld , with na effort "I've come to luncheon. Very nice of you to want me , Drlna " "I wanted you * too. " said Billy. "I'm to sit beside you. " "So am I , " observed Drlna. pushing Wliithrop out of the chair and ullillng In close to Selwyn. She had the cat. Klt-Ki. In her arms. Klt-KI. divining nourishment , was purring loudly Josephine and Clciuence In pinafores and stick-out skirts sat wriggling , with Winthrop between them ; the five dogs sat In'n row behind. Katie nnd Bridget assumed the functions of Hibernian Hi-bo * , and luncheon began with u clatter of spoons. It being also the children's dinner , supper nnd bed occurring from 5 to 0. ment figured on the card , nnd KIl-KPs purring Increased to an ecstatic and wheezy squeal , and her rigid tall ns she stood up on Drlna's lap was con stantly brushing Sclwyn'u fonturos. "The cat Is shedding , too. " hv re marked as he dodged her caudal ap pendage for the twentieth time. "It will go In with the next spoonf'il ' of cranberry sauce , Drlnn , If you're not careful nbout opening your month" After luncheon Selwyn and Mlsa Erroll mot In the living room , n bis * fiqunro. sunny p'nce. ' In golden greens and browns , where n buy window overlooked the pnrk. Kneeling on the cushions of the deep window sent , she Haltcned her deli cate nose apalnst the glass , peering out through the lace hangings "Everybody nnd his family nro driv ing , " she said over her shoulder. "The rich and great are cornering the fresh nlr supply. " . For awhile she kneeled thorc , silent ly Intent on the pnsr.lng pageant with nil the unconscious curiosity of a child. Presently , without turning : "They speak of the younger sot but what Is its .Jlmlt ? fjo many , so many people ! The hunting crowd the silly crowd the wealthy set the dreadful yellow set then all those others made out of metals copper and coal and Iron and" She shrugged her youth ful shoulders , still Intent on the pass ing show. "Then there nre the Intellectuals the artistic , the Illuminated , the rail- Hlcnl sorts. I I wish 1 knew more of them. They were my father's friends somp of them. " She looked over her shoulder to see where Selwyn was and whether he was listening , .smiled nt him and turned , testing one hand on the window sent. "So mnny kinds of people. " she snld. with n shrug "You asked me , " he said , "whether 1 know Sudbury Gray. I do slightly. Wlmt about him ? " And he waited , remembering Nina's suggestion as to that wealthy young man's eligibility. "He's one of the nicest men I know , " she replied frankly. "Yes , but you don't know Boots Lan sing. " "The gentleman who was bucked out of his footwear ? Is he attrac tive ? " "Rather. Shrieks rent the air when Boots left Manila. " "Feminine shrieks ? " "Exclusively The men were glad enough. He hns three months' leave this winter , so you'll sec him soon. " She thanked him mockingly for the promise , watching him from amused eyes. After a moment she said ; "I ought to arise nnd go forth th tlmbreli and with dunces ; but , do ou know , I nm not Inclined to revels ? There hns been a little Just n very lit tle bit too much festivity so far , not that I don't adore dinners and gossip and dnnco. rot thut I do not love to pen udo bright nnd glittering es , Oh , no ; only I" She looked shyly a moment at Bel - wyn. "I sometimes feel a curious de sire for other things. 1 have been feelIng - Ing It all day. " "What things ? " "I don't know exactly , substan tial things I'd llko to learn about things. ' My fathcr-wus the head of the American School of Archaeology In Crete. My mother was his Intellectual equal , 1 bollovo. Do yon know about uiy parents ? " she n kod. "They wore lost lu the Argolls. off Cyprus. You have hoard I think they meant that 1 should go to college ns well an Gerald. I don't know. Perhaps after all It Is better t for mo to do whnt other young girls j ; do. Besides , 1 enjoy It , and my mother did. too. when she wns my ngo , they sny She wns very much gnyor than I nm My mother was n bounty nnd n brilliant woman. But there were other qualities. I have her loiters to fatherwhen Gerald nnd I were very little nnd her letters to us from Lon- doil. I have missed her more this win- tor. It Hooms to me , than even In that dreadful time" She sat silent , chin In hand , delicate lingers restlessly worrying her red lips ; then In quick Impulse : "You will not mistake uic , Captain Solwyn ? Nlnn nnd Austin have been perfectly sweet to me nnd to Gorald. " "I nm not mistaking a word you utter , " lie said. "No. of course not , only them nro times-moments" Her voice died ; her clear eyes looked out Into space \vlillc the silent seconds lengthened Into minutes. One slender linger had slipped between her lips and tooth ; one burnished strand of hair lay neglected ngaln.it her cheek. "You said you wore going to look up Gerald , " she observed. "I am now. What nro you going to do ? " "I ? Oh. dress , I suppose ! Nlnn ought to be back now , nnd she expects mo to go out with her. " She nodded a smiling termination of their duet nnd moved townrd the door. Then on Impulse she turned , n qucs- tlon on her lips left unuttered through Instinct. It hnd to do with the identity of the pretty wotnnu who hnd so dl- "Don't " forget Gerald. rcctly saluted him In the park a per fectly friendly , simple and natural question. Yet It remained untutored. She turned again to the doorway. A maid stood there holding a note ou a salver. "For Captain Selwyu , please , " mur mured the tnnltl. Miss Erroll pnssed out. Selwyn took the note nnd broke the seal : My Dear Selwyn I'm In a bcnatly fix- on I O U due tonight and pas < lo qtiot1 Obviously I don't want Noergard to know , fccliiR associated , ns 1 am , with him In business. As for Austin , lie's a pepper ) ' old boy , bless Ills heart , and I'm not very Becuro In Ms Rood graces at present Fact Is. 1 not Into u rather atlIT K.-IIIIP last nlfjlit , and It's a matter of honor. Bo can you help mo to tide It ever ? I'll square It on the 1st of the month. Tours sincerely , GERALD URUOLL. P. S. I'vo meant to look you up for ever HO long und will the llrst moment 1 have freo. Below this wns penciled the amount due , nnd Selwyn's face grew very serl- . ous. ous.The The tetter he wrote In return ran : Dear Gerald Check Inclosed to your or der. By the way. can't you lunch with mo at the Lenox club eoino day this week ? Write , wk-o or telephone when. Yours , SELWYN. When he hnd sent Hie note nwny by the messenger he walked buck to the hay window , haml.s In his pockets , a worried expression In his gray eyes. This sort of thing must not be repeat ed. The boy must halt In his tracks and fnce sharply the other wny. Be sides , hlu own Income wns limited- much too limited to admit of many more loans of that sort. Ho ought to see Gernld nt once , but somehow he could not In decency ap- pcnr personally ou the heels of his loan. A certain Interval must elapse between the lonn and the lecture. In fact , he didn't see very well how ho could admonish and Instruct until the loan hnd been canceled that IB , until the first of the now year. Pacing the Hoer , disturbed , uncertain us to the course he should pursue , he looked up presently to see Miss Erroll descending the stairs , fresh and sweet In her radiant plumage. As she caught his eye she waved n silvery chinchilla muff at him n marching salute and passed on , calling back to him , "Don't foigct Gerald ! " "No , " ho said , "I won't forget Ger ald " He stood a moment at the win dow watching the brougham below , v. here Nina awaited Miss Erroll. Then abruptly he turned back Into the room n ul picked up the telephone receiver , muttering. "This Is no time to mince matters for the sake of appearances. " And he called up Gerald ut the odlces of Noorgard & Co. "Is It you , Oernld ? " he asked pleas antly. "It's nil right about that mater - ( or I've sent you a note by your messenger 8OU senger But 1 want to talk to you nbout another matter something lu cerning myself I wnnt to nsk ll r ndvlco In a vay Can you be at the Loiios by ( IV You have an engagement it 8 ? Oh. that's all right. 1 won't keep you. It's understood , then the Lenox at'8. ' Ctoodbyl" > There wan the usual early evening influx of men nt. the Lenox who drop ped In for n glance nt the ticker or for a cocktail or n gnmo of billiards or n bit of goflMp before going homo to Solwyu sauntered over to the banket , i inspected a yard or two of tape , then strolled toward the window , nodding tr Bradley Harmon and Sandon Crnlg. As ho tuniod his face to the window and his buck to the room Harmon cntno up rather effusively , offering an uu- Selwyn i tlctly rose unci stepped out of the circle. usually ! ' thin , flat bund nnd further hospitality , pUmsnntly declined by Sel- wyn. "Horrible thliit ; . a cocktail1 observed IlnriiMin after giving his own order and sealing hlniHoll opposite Solwyu. " 1 don't usually do It. Here comes the man who persuades me my own parta nor. " Solwyn looked up to see Fnno npa proachlng , niul Instantly u dark ( lush overspread his face. "You know George Fune , don't you ? " continued Harmon vastly "Well , tlnil's odd I thought , of course Capp tain ; Solwyn , Mr. Fane. It's not usual , but It's done. " They exchanged formalities dry nnd brief ' on Selwyn's part , gracefully urbane - bane on Fane's. Sandon Craig and Billy Flcotwood came wandering up and Joined them , One or two other men , drifting by , mlB herod to the group. Solwyn , Involved In small talk , glaucn ed sideways at the great clock nnd gathered himself together for dcparv ture. Flectwood was saying to Crnlg , "Cer- tnlnly It wns n stiff game Bradley , myself , Gernld Erroll , Mrs , Delmour- Carues nnd the Uuthvens. " "Were you hit ? " nsked Craig , Inter ested. "No ; nbout even. Gerald got It good nnd plenty , though. The Uuthvcns were ahead , as usual. " Selwyn , apparently hearing nothing , quietly rose and stopped out of the cir cle , paused to sot fire to n cigarette nnd then strolled off townrd the vis itors' room , whore Gerald was now due. Ho found young Erroll Just en tering the room and greeted him with uerrous cordiality. "If you can't stay nnd dine with me , " he said , "I won't put you down. You know , of course , 1 can only ask yea once In n year , ao we'll stay here and chat n bit. " "Right you are , " snld young Erroll , Hinging off his very now nnd very fashionable overcoat n wonderfully handsome boy , with nil the attraction thnt n quick , wnrm , Impulsive manner carries "And I sny. Selwyn , It wns awfully decent of you to" "Bosh ! FrlondH nro for thnt sort of thing , Gerald. Sit hero. " He looked at the young man hesitatingly , but Gerald calmly took the matter out of his Jurisdiction by nodding his order to the club attendant. "Lord , but I'm tired , " he flnld , sinkIng - Ing back Into n big armchnlr. "I wan up till dnyllulit. nnd then I hnd to bo In the otllce by 0. nnd tonight Billy Fleetwood Is giving oh , something or other By the wny. the market Isn't doing a thing to the shorts. You're not In. nro you , Solwyn ? " "No , not that wuy. I hope you nro not either , nro you , Gerald ? " "Oh , It's all right , " replied the young fellow conlidontly , and , raising his glass , he nodded at Solwyn , with n smile. "You were mighty nice to mo any- how. " ho said , setting "uli glass aside and lighting n cigar. "You see , I went to n dance , and after awhile Homo of us cleared out , and .lack Huthveu of fered us trouble , bo half a dozen of us wont there. I had the worst curds a mnn ever drew to n kicker. That was all about it. " "Do you mind suylug whether you banked my check und drew against It ? " asked Selwyn. "Why , no ; I Just Indorsed It over. " "To to whom , If I may venture ? " "Certainly , " ho bald , with a laugh. "To Mrs. Jack" Then In u flash for [ Ton v-'crii mlyhty nice to me anyhow , " he said. the first time the boy realized what ho was eaylng and sloped aghast , scarlet to liln hair / Sclwyn'a face had little color renlnln-1 , Ing In It , but he said very kindly : "It's all right. Gorald. Don't worry"- "I'm a beast ! " broke out the boy. "I beg your pardon u thousand times , " "Granted , old clmp But. Gerald , may I say one thing ur pcilnips two ? " "Go ahead. Give It to me good and plenty. " "It's only this Couldn't you and I' see ono another u little oftcnor ? Don't 'be afraid of me. I'm no wfet blanket I'm not 10 very > cod either. I know something of the -world ; I understand something of men. I'm pretty good company , Gernld. What do you any ? " "I ny sure ! " cried the boy wnruily. "It's a go , then. And one thing more : Couldn't you manage to conic Jip to the house n little oflencr ? Every body misses you. of course. I think your Bister is n trifle sensitive" "I will , " said Gerald , blushing. "Somehow I've , had such a lot on band all day at the offlco and nomcthinc on every evening. I know perfectly well I've neglected Elly-and every body. But the first moment 1 cau find frco"- Sclwyn nodded. "And last of nil , " he said , "there's something about my own affairs that I thought you might advise mo on. " Gerald , proud , cnchnuted , stood very straight. The older man continued , gravely : "I've n little capital to Invest not very much. Suppose and this , I need not add , la In confidence between us suppose I suggested to Mr. Ncer- gard"- "Oh , " cried young Erroll , delighted , "thnt Is fine ! Neergard would bo-glad enough. Why , we've got that Valley- dale tract In shape now , and there nro scores ( of schemes In the air scores of thum Important moves which may menu anything ! " he ended excitedly. "Then you think It would be all right-In case Ncorgani liken the Idea ? " Gerald wiw outhuMr.stlc. After nwhlln they shook hands , it being time to sop- uralo. Anil for n long time Rolwyn twt there alone In the visitors' room , 'absent eyed , facing the blazing Ore of cannul coal. How to be friends with this boy without openly playing the mentor ; how to gain his confidence without ap pearing to seek It ; how to Influence him without alarming html No , there was no grout harm In him yet ; only the Impulse of inconsiderate youth : only nn enthunlastlc capacity for pleas ure. ure.Ono Ono thing was Imperative the boy must cut out his card playing for stnlcos nt once , und there was a way to accomplish that by Impressing Gerald ald with the Idea that to do any thing behind Neorgnrd'a back which ko would not care to tell him about won n sort of treachery. UM prospect perplexed and depressed Solwyu. lie was sullenly a ware thnt in a town whero' ' the divorced must ever bu rockouud with when dnuco and dinner lists arc made out tinaIH nlways some thoughtless host- em * and sometimes n mischievous one. and the chances were that ho and Mr * . Jack Huthxen would collide chuer through the forgetfulneua or malice of Homebody or through sheer hazard nt Home large affair where destiny und fate work busily together In criminal copartnership. Their encounter was nil a mistake , born of the haste of a heedless and eld erly matron celebrated for managing to do the wrong thing , but who had been excessively nice to him that win- ler and whose position In Mnnunttaa was not to bo assailed. "Dear Captain Belwyn , " oho wheez- fd over the telephone , "I'm short ono man , and wo dlno nt 8 and It's Unit now Could you help me ? It's the rich and yellow this time , but you won't uilnd , will you ? " lie explained to Mrs. T. West Min ster hit * absurd delight at being asked. Then he sent for n cab and sauntered Into the dining room , whore ho was re ceived with undisguised hostility. "She's boon civil to me , " ho said ; "Jeunosse. oblige , you know , anl tliaf * why I"- "Tburc'll be u lot of debutantes there. What do you want to go for , you cradle robber ? " protested Austin. "A. lot of water bibbing , ollvo eating , talcum powdered debutantes" Eileen straightened up stiffly , and Selwyu'a teasing smile and his offered hand In adieu completed her Indigna tion. "Oh , goodbyl No , I won't shako hands. Thore'a your cab now. 1 wish you'd take Austin too. Nina and I arc tired of dining with the promnturo- ly ngcd. " "Indeed we are , " said Mrs. Gerard. "Go to your club , Austin , and give me n chance to telephone to somebody un der the anaesthetic age. " Selwyu departed , laughing , but lie yawned In his cab all the -wny to Fif ty-third street , where he onUrod In the wake of the usual laggards and , surrendering hat and coat in the cloak room , picked up the small , slim envel ope bearing his name. The card within disclosed the Information mation that he wns to take In Mrs. Somebody-or-othor. He mode his wny through a great many people , found his hostess , hacked off , stood "on on * log for a moment like a reflective wa terfowl , then found Mrs. Somebody- or-otlier and was absently good to her through n great deal of nolno nnd some Spanish music , which seemed to squirt j through n thicket of palms and bespat i ter everybody. | i "Wonderful music , " observed his i dinner partner with singular originalIty - . Ity ; "so like 'Carmen. ' " "Is It ? " he replied and took her awny at n nod from his hostess , whoso , daughter Dorothy leaned forward from her partner's arm at the same mo ment and whispered : "I must speak to you , mamma You can't put Captain Solwyn there because" ' But her mother wo * deaf and mntl- ( Continued next week. )