xOUR RIVER COUME. " PASS. OREGON, MARCH 27,
1908.
Richard
Brazen
ORES TOWNSEM
BRADY,
Author of "Kor tb Free
dom of lli Km." Th
Houtberorr." CU.,
EDWOD FEPLE,
Author of A Hrokoa
Koaarr." Tlie Hrlo
Chap." Etc
Coprrlfht. 1808. bjr Moff.t. Yard L Company.
, Coutinued from last wttk.
Once more the merriment twinkled
ta the little gimlet eye whose owner
held Aide and ihook from iboe to
xllar button. Richard waited patient
ly for Uncle Michael to apeak, but that
rentleman aat puffing hla cigar and ap
parently studying the momentoua ques
tion In all Its lights and bearing.
"Dtk," he aald abruptly, "yon hare
got yourself Into a nice mess, haven't
you? It's up to you to do something
original. Any Ideaa on the subject?"
"Yea." aald Itlchard; "I'm going to
Mr. Renwyck tbla evening and make
ii clonn brcaat of It I fa the only
thing I can do."
Mr. Corrlgaa whistled softly.
"After which brilliant move I dare
way you will apply for board In the
Ktate Insane asylum."
"Any place will do for me after
that." admitted the unfortunate ad
venturer.
"You would find Its Inmates Congen
ial after you followed that course, I
Hm sure, but If I were In your place
I'd do nothing of tb kind."
"Why notr
"For various reasons. In the first
place, what good will tt do? Would
you then be In a position to tell your,
father? No; you see that clearly for
.vouraelf. You will be Invited to leave
Irvlngton and wtll accept the Invita
tion promptly. Thns endeth the first
leeson. Miss Harriet Kenwyck being
lue principal aubject matter. Mr. Ja
iob Iteuwyck wilt then Institute pro
ceedings against one Bill Williams for
obtaining Information by fraud In the
parson of hla son."
"But, my dear sir," cried Dick, wltn
some asperity, "I bsd no such Inten
tion, I assure you. The Information
was well, t was forced on me."
"Aha!" exclaimed the old lawyer
knowingly. That's Just the delicate
point. I'm speaking legally. Of course
you're Innocent Yon know tt and I
believe It bat bow about a Jury of
your peera? To put It bluntly, yoo
have taken the name of wounded
and helpless man without his knowl
edge or consent You have bribed bis
servant Bad point Dick-very bad.
Then you creep Into confiding oM
gentleman's bouse and worm away tha
secret of bis Inmost heart The al
b'god pursuit of the girl Is merely I
blind to cover your deep laid, crafty,
nefarious designs, which"
"Hold on, for God's sake!" vehement
ly protested Itlchard, appalled at the
revelation of hla perfidy by the law-
jer'a uivrcilesa logic, which waa about
s hard to bear aa If It had been
truthful indletroeut. "Don't put It
that wayt You make me feel like an
actual criminal. Neit I'll be eteallug
their cut glaaa and allver balrbrusbea."
"1 am merely looking at It from a
legal point of view," sHld the little iiinn
s ilemnly. "To confess to Jacob now
1m the very wonit policy Imaginable.
Then what am I to do?" demanded
the young man savagely.
"Brawn It out," advised hla counsel,
striving to auppreii the dancing hu
mor In bis eyes. "Hut, for the Lord's
sake, Hcky, hoy, do brush up on Kng
Huh history."
"And what of dud?"
Mr. Corrlimn began to churklo and
to rub his hands violently.
"I'm afraid." ho aald, with great
tonvlctlon. "(lint HIM will bnve to play
this baud alone. You can't help blin.
.voutig ninn, and you've got to trilNt to
luck. If your father tliuls out about
t lie deal ho may pull down Jacob's lad
i it; If not-well, I'm almoMt as sorry
fur Kill us I am for his sou."
Richard drvv bis brows together In
u troubled f r w u.
i all the advice you can
asked, hoping agalusl
"But you'd try
wouldn't you?
I begged you
your
"Nothing short
was frustrated, and be found himself
In tbe clutches or some uu
lf I asked you
m xue t;iuii.u v.
You couldn t resist ir Mtof llke M)cblle Corrlgan.
er-real hard, could chlttendon.
! u. nnr an occunled with his
a.?a8?Hm!.hU ' thoughts, however, as to forget a plains-
of
could make me refuse you," said Rich- tram,Dgi ami during the latter
half hour of hla wild flower hunt he
was conscious of a spy upon nis irai.
become a troubled spot after alU Ris
ing from the bench at last be cut
across lots toward hla own home, half
mile away, measuring every stride
with a sort of chuckling pedometer.
Meanwhile Richard followed the law
yer's counsel, not only aa to closing
bla mouth wtth regard to Mr. Benwyck,
but as to opening It without delay
with regard to Mr. Renwyck'i daugh
ter. This at least was bis Intention,
but be fonnd himself once more disap
pointed. Mlsa Harriet was In her fa
vorite aeat on the lawn, with an open
book reatlng In her lap. Richard's foot
falls made no sound on tbe soft green
turf, and, unconscious of bis approach,
before he waa within balling distance
abe aroae abruptly and went into tbe
bouse. He followed her forthwith, but
just aa he reached the veranda steps a
sprightly little figure bounced out and
greeted biro effusively. Needles to
say. It waa not Mis Renwyck. Ml
Imogen Chlttendon wa more fiumly
Irritating to the adventurer than usual.
Her motions, Ilk her manner of speech,
were nervous and spasmodic, not un
like the movements of humming bird
over a bunch of honeysuckle, with the
lord representing the fragrant blossoms.
'Why, Lord Croyland T ah twit
tered, with aometblng between a giggle
and a shriek, "bow very fortunatel I
waa Just going out to, pick wild flowers.
I've never picked wild Bowers with a
real nobleman. Please say you are
Juat dying to give roe a new experience."
She looked up at him with a baby-like
Ir of Innocence and admiration and
laughed again.
"I-I should be dollghted." aald Rich
ard, telling the first downright lie
which bsd passed bla Up since arrlv
lng at Irvlngton.
He relieved ber of the absurd basket
she wa carrying on ber arm and start
ed aero tb field, cuntng Inwardly
at tb fat which linked blm with tbla
troublesome and Irresponsible little
creature and striving outwardly to be
decently potlt to her. Unconscious of
bis cogitation, Mlsa Imogene fluttered
at bla aid, new murmuring Idiotic
amall talk Into hi bored ears, now
pouncing with little squeals of delight
upon aoro gaudily colored weed and
depositing It In tb basket
"It la ao good of yen to come," ahe
confided, with a melting glance. "It
Isn't heavy enough to tire you, la It?
You are so strong, you know, and o
brave."
6b alluded to tbe baaket, which
weighed erhaa four ounce. Rich
srd aaaured ber that he thought be
could atand the strain and that he waa
not In the least afraid of butterflies,
the only living thing they had met ao
far, which brought forth a fresh out
burst of glgglesome Joy. Presently she
took a seat upon a atone, begged him
to do likewise and began fanning ber-
aelf with her hat.
"Do you know," ahe whispered, "1
think I ahall trust you and tell you a
secret"
"All right," be said carelessly. "Fire
He bad turned at some remark of his
companion and bad chanced to see a
figure that dodged swiftly behind a
bowlder some fifty yards away. He
bHd paid no special heed to the oc
currence. But when It was repeated
I twice he become convinced that some
hedge. It seemed a very sirauBr
fulr. and he determined to get to the
bottom of It. So. excusing himself ou
the steps of the veranda, be roaue a
circuit of the bouse, cut acru i-
rose garden and vaulted a rence lino
the road. Tbe hedge ended at this
point, and, to the vast surprlne of two
gentlemen. Richard came near to iauu-
Ing on tbe head or Mr. uornenu m
der Awe.
0
"And Is tli
Vive me?"
In'pe.
"No," snlil
ii; o more
too, by tit'or.
I he little man; "there Is
.I'M Ion, and a sound one.
My vision Is a shade
I i.vrfect ov lug to creeping age, but
I think I see Harriet over yonder un
i i r the trees 1, an your counsel, ill
i.- t you to i and talk to ber.''
Ibis lust piece of advice was too
hI to be m-gUvled, mid kit hard, dlx
missing bla cares, followed It forth
villi.
OIAITKU X.
W11KN the young Texan bad
got out of earshot .vlr. l or
rlgau leaned back and laugh
t-il nil inn piuuip antes louiu
' mil the strain no more. Kiitvly hud
1 ' paused so amusing and delightful a
li.f hour. He lived the lonely life of
i wealthy old Ixichclor, and the com
ely bud come to hint In the shape of
.1 .'odsend. He liked what bo bud seen
; the jmiug loan Immensely, and he I
v. : a prepaid to like blm more f or j
h.s father's sake, but be determined to
ii. ke blm suffer us much us posslhle '
Ui payment tor hla re. k ess assurance.
ii- Idea, he bad another end lu view. I
H e success of which depended largely
I ! on the sou of his old friend Hill Wli ,
I.--. me. Every feature of the game was.
i I iy to bis merry heart, and In order
n vv uteri Its progress he determined to
I a freiiueut visitor at Rcsuiioro, :
v, bleu promised to belle Its mine and
Ml
i( W M !
"I'lY m is. r
arV emnhaslllng me pronoun
looking sadly out across the Hudson.
It waa wrong, of course, but he couldn't
help It and really she was pretty
enough to excuse so venal a lapse
"Oh, you dear, delightful manr chir
ruped the little lady. "Now. listen
Don't look at tbe river. Look at me."
"I dare not."
"Nonsense! You said you were not , watchng them-why. be could
afraid of butterfllea." j Qot ,migll)e. As they neared Restmore
"I waa wrong. I am of one. . . K,chnr(, wheeed suddenly and spied
"Don't be afraid of me. I won t bur crouching along a boxwood
you, aaiu me uiuj uani..
laughingly.
"I breathe again. Go on."
"Wll. Lord Croyland. we are gniuv
to have a little one act play on Fr
day evening, and yoo are In it be
cause you Just said you would, and 1
know you will do It Just beautifully.
because I told nnrriet you couiu, ana.
having promlsod, of course you can't
refuae now. when everything haa
been"
Hold on: bold on!" Interrupted Rich
ard. "I'm sort of losing my grip on
things. Slow down to a trot and let s
get our bearings."
This sounded very unlike an tng-
llsb nobleman, but tbe young lady in
her excitement failed to notice.
You aee." ahe began again, the
play la called 'The Mnn and the Bird.'
You are tbe man. and
"And you are the bird," completed
Richard. "I thought as much. wen.
go on.
Miss Imogeno dimpled wltn pieas-
ore and applauded hla quick perception.
"Ye." ahe said; "I am tbe bird, and
you-lt's only a play, you know, of
course and you're Just desperately In
love with me."
"I couldn't act that part If too
real, and"
"Oh. yea, you can! I thought yon
wouldn't find it difficult I II help
you."
"That settle It I'm lost."
"And. besides, It will make Corneliue
Van der Awe Just frantic. He Isn't In
the csst you know. We've put blm
In the audience, and he has Just to ait
there and be wretched. Ob," ah cried,
"It will almply be too delicious! Don't
you think so?"
"Rapturous, but dangerous for me,"
assented Richard gravely. "I Mlaa
Renwyck In tbe play?"
"Why, of course she Is, stupid! 8he'
getting It np herself and baa tb lead
ing part"
Richard brightened. Private the
atrical were not so silly, after all
"What sort of part will ah playf
he asked.
"Ob, the serious part!" bla compan
ion advised him. "It's more real act
ing than mine, of course, but I Ilk tb
love part beat don't yon?" Richard
nodded, and the debutant continued:
"Harriet la the rich heiress, you know.
And, oh, she's going to wear tb Ren
wyck diamonds! Her father will
bring them np from tbe city tomorrow
night She'll look awfully stunning In
them. You are engaged to her In the
play, I mean but you'll find out that
you love m best add It'a an awfully
netting scene. You and I In the play,
I mean you and I are In a room to
gether, and you tell me bow much you
love me"
"Hadn't we better practice a little
bit now ?"
"Don't you think you could do It
without practice?"
"1 ahull need to acquire er restraint
In the presence of such temptation,
you know."
"Oh. I see. 1 guess It won't be neces
sary for you to lie too restrained. It'
beautiful, so Impassioned the lan
guage, you understand"
"I shall try to live up to It."
"And Just w hen you kiss mo"
pliA'ci U l.M rtmu u ,."i .
Yll rioflo III!!!!,"
-vr I menu do so, by nil means" ll.
seated himself and ml. let ilrainatl. :i:
Pj, "llelleve me. maiden. It shall U
sacred w lib me."
"There!" she cried In triumph. "I
knew you timid do 1!. though Harm
says t'.atly - Just I'.aily t:..u o
COUldu't."
"Couldn't wbulV
"Act."
"Wed, she's right." agreed Ki
"I can't I'm- U-cu i i'd s,. I
Where do you g. t . ..r strange
Slons'i"
Oiuv mere her big I .. looked
Upward with a j .ca.i i g g:. LK
htir.'.
cforc.
OVl'.l-
"I'u sure It would t beat for US to
try that lu private."
"Not at nil. We cau make believe
about that part, you know."
"That's not true acting"
"Isn't It? Oh. we'll nee about that
later, and we need n't rehearse that
anyway."
"Hut I'm sure to be so awfully awk
ward about that. I've hud so little
practice lu my short life."
"You poor little Innocent I'.ngllsh
man! We'll tlx that later."
"(Mi. happy hope I"
"Will you listen to me. Lord Troy
lunar
"I'm silent."
"Harriet conies in and denounces
you I'on't you think It's perfectly de
licious 7"
"Oaz'llng "
" Then It's settled, I'm so glad. Come
on and lei's dig up more roots."
Miss liiiogeiie ' h i 1 1 1 1 1 -1 . ' 1 1 proceeded
to pick wil l tlowers. Mr. I!!. hard Wll
Mains carried them In the four ounce
basket au-l communed with himself.
I 1 'entiui-ia I ion at the present sneakim;
was rather a sore sublet with him
and coming from ihe llis of the girl he
i vorshiil in a one act play In which
he was sou.e one else was more than
: llesli and Wood could stand It had tixi
detinue a relation to his present cir
cumstances to be comfortable. On the
wlto.e. he divided to get out of that
play if he could. He d,d not want
Harriet denouncing him. even In fun.
She might I'.ive to do it its earnest
later, and he did not wish her to have
the ail . un!ai;e of a previous rehearsal.
; He whs getting sensitive, he realized.
but he wanted to s.v her al.v.e. to talk ' bow:i
with her as a kind of relief from the I true, r
CHAPTER XI.
H. It's you. Is It?" said Rich
ard. the first to recover from
astonishment "Do you
know I almost fancied It
was some on with designs on the
poultry." !
Mr. Van der Awe flushed, drew him
self np and folded bla arm In a strik
ingly dramatic pose.
"No," he answered without the first
vestige of humor; "I was not after tbe
poultry. To b perfectly frank, I was
after you."
Thl waa another one! WaB every
body lying In wait for him this morn
ing? Could he hav speech with all
the world but ber?
"I admire candor," coolly remarked
Richard In return, "and I rejoice In
the fact that your desire la gratified.
How may 1 aerve you?"
"Lord Croyland," said the dramatic
young gentleman, "there la a matter
which must be settled between us here
and now. Upon It depends my future
happiness." ,
"All right" responded the Texan
cheerily. "Shall It be rifles, pistols, lari
ats, bowle kntvee or arbitration?"
Once more Mr. Tan der Awe flushed.
He bad a faint Idea that the English
nobleman was laughing at him, a point
on which extreme youth la sometimes
oversensitive.
"I think It can be settled by arbitra
tion." he answered coldly. "WUI yon
kindly follow m to om less public
placef
Tbe two young gentlemen walked up
the road for a short distance, stopping
at tbe brow of a hill which overlooked
the river. It struck Richard that this
being continually led away from the
house of bis ladylove for secret con
ferences waa growing rather monot
onous. This waa tb fourth time In
two daya. and each excursion seemed
to Involve him more deeply In some
quagmire of trouble. They aat down
under a tree and for a time remained
silent
"Smoke?" asked Richard, holding
out his cigar case.
"Thank you. no," aald the young
man sadly. "1 have no heart for pleas
ure Just at present If you don't mind,
we'll get down to business."
The Texan lit his cigar and express
ed a willingness to open negotiations
with tbe enemy, while tbe enemy col
lected his thoughts and dug boles In
the ground with a short sharp stick.
"Lord Croyland." he began at last
"In this country openness and square
ness are tbe first principles. I've
heard that gentlemen hare the same
Ideas In England. Is this true?"
Richard bowed.
"Very well. I'm going to ask you a
plain, blunt question, without any In
tention of offense, and I want you to
give me a straight, plain answer.
Which one are you ufterT'
Richard's cigar pearly dropped from
betwepu Ills teeth, while he gazed at
his questioner In extreme amonlsb-ueut.
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"Which one of what?" he asked
hen lie revovered himself.
"The Kills." said Mr. Van tier Awe.
"lVilas 1 didn't put It ilearly."
The Texan tried hard to conceal bis
Itiniseineiit and siuvcc.lcd iiupcrfccti.v.
"All. i see." lie returned. "Wliicn
.me :i:e yon after?"
"M:s lniiitfciie," confessed the vonni;
;u..n u t hunt reserve, "ami if von don't
..I'.'ect lo civ conlideucc. Lord Crov
l.:n,l. 1 love her as no man ever loved
i i hefore. It's It's well, hanj; it.
:' painful:1' He fell Into a thought
I'nl pause, then looked up aaiu. "Now.
I tin. ik I've heou perfectly candid vvi'.u
von. and I nt you to he unite frank
v i'.Ii i"e. If it's i,s ( h'tteiidon we
an decide vv hat to do later."
"My dear fellow," s;1d Uichard.
"yoa can't imagine how I appreciate
your iipeiiiH" and squareness. It
throws new llht upon your glorious
American people. Allow me to i;ive
jou a cijrar and W eijtially unreserved.
While 1 admit without hesitation that
Miss Imogene I'hit'.eudon Is a most
charmim; ami utterly desirahle young
lady, I tci to assure yon, sir, that
never for a sir.tle fraction of a second
have 1 entertained the least idea of
of In your own p!.':so. of going after
her Is that satisfactory?"
1 Ki.uv:;. ..," said Mr Van der Awe.
h iM;: l- out I.N hand with the nearest
approach to happiness . iia i Tot
"I'm glad to know- you In your
il I You are not a hit like
alwaya made him feel like an Idiot;
but, on the other hand. It gave a daah
of local color to hla appearance with
out which he would have been lost.
"Ia there anything else In which I can
aerve you, old chap?"
"Yea, Lord Croyland. there Is. You
have very kludly stated to me that
you hare no Intention of making a bid
for Imogene. That'a very square of
you. and I appreciate It But would
you mind telling ber ao?"
Richard laughed a long, free, bubbly
laugh that came echoing back In mer
ry mockery at this most Ingenious
proposition.
"Well, he said, "that's rather a dif
ficult thing to do. Isn't it? Strikes me
aa rather r Indelicate."
wilt
j L W
tro:t .. that were gathering around
lil.'i in is:i',mifrt:tl:o. sticky colls.
lul at every turn Irs tntnvv.it purpose
ior I.:: ; s
u i;on t c
.a tl I
. talk
"Th.
sere vi ,
' " e t , t. Tact 1
i.ke one."
i: : pnid
. vie. ihe eye
" nhouui line hir present fancy tor you
dllulonltl."
"Not at all." protested Mr. Tan der
Awa. "Imogene Is a sensible girl"
oh. the blindness of love! "and would
understand you perfectly. You see,"
he explained, "she's young. Her mind.
I coufess frankly, is Immature. She's
apt to he-well, dazzled. 1 mlchr v
i.tly ' bj- r',re!s titles and brass burtons and
lass 1 tiirs of that description. If a wo
man's natural Instinct, you know, an9
I have no logical right to blame her.
You see, I have reasoned It all out and
am speaking from a standpoint of su
perior age and experience. Now, yoa
can't find fault with that line of
thought, can you 7"
"Not a flaw," answered Richard
gravely. 'It's simply perfect Oo on."
The lover proceeded earnestly.
"Aa Imogene'a future husband It hr
my duty to surround the child with
every possible safeguard, and for that
reason I should like ber present fancy
for you disillusionized. She refused
to let me go with her to pick wild
flowers this morning and chose you.
merely, I suppose, because you are an
enrl. That's why I followed you.
Now, I'm not asking you to do any
thing that I would not do for yon
cheerfully, and so I ask you again If
you would mind dropping a rather
broad hint to Imogene that a union
with you Is out of the question. You
might explain that you are unworthy
of her, or something like that I don't
care how you fix It Just so It's fixed.
What do you say?"
Richard thought for a little space,
especially of his harmless but decided
ly Imprudent remarks to Miss Imogeno
I of half an hour ago. Then he flung
away his cigar and turned to his com-
panlon.
j "Look here," be said. "I'm going to
: help you out in this matter, but I'll
have to do It tn my own way. I have
a brilliant Idea as a starter. Just lis
I ten and don't Interrupt me. They're
I going to have a play next Friday night
called 'The Man and the Hoe' no, I
beg pardon the 'Bird.' I'm the man,
and Miss Imogene Is the bird. Yon
see, the rough idea Is this: I'm encag-
led to Miss Renwyck. but am In love
with Miss Imogene to the point of
frenzy lo the play, of course. So far
to good. The man Is In the room with
the bird and declares his passlec In
language which Is simply beautiful,
making other demonstrations that are
realistic both to the actors und the au
dience, or course I'd rather set my
heart on doing this role; but by Jove.
I'm going to chuck the thing and let
you do It!"
(To Be Continued)
The Conner, one year H-IO'
The latest in catling card at tha
Courier office.