THE PRINCETON TSJttOm ^tffi*MtiL£f, JTOTB*llf iSSS. T tn IHISIORICAL «p and she ought to have consulted him reception, of his statement His bomb­ ing it when I came in. Don't let me sir?' he asked, with a first of all. She made up her mind at shell, which he had charged so elabo­ •poll your afternoon. Try it again," t« once and turned to him impulsively. rately, seemed to be hanging fire. He his voice. ~ ...By... The valet, still wondering and un­ "Gentleman?' repeated Richard ab­ "Lord" Croylandi*^ she said, "I beg was not so sure that' Mr. Renwyck certain, took the Indicated seat, nar­ CYKCS T0WNSQTO you to believe me when^I say that I would pay for his information after sently. "What gentleman?" rowly watching his master while the "Wy, the—target gentleman, sir, the J never thought for an Instant of hold' all, and a bird in the hand is worth Texan crossed the room,'returning to BRADY, many on the wing, especially to an in­ one as was losin' parts of 'Isself thai Author of MFortbe Free- ing you up to ridicule. Won't you for­ the table with a small screwdriver and Richard donvof the Sea," The ebriate, whose facilities for bird catch­ don't count Mr. Williams, sir. I give me? It was splendid of you to a formidable revolver. He seated him­ mean"— Soathernen,** Etc, agree, and—there—we won't have the ing are limited. self and began taking the weapon to "Oh, yes, yes!" laughed the Texan. play at all!" "I'd—I'd rather stay with you, sir," pieces, oiling each part carefully and EDWAKD PEPLE, he faltered presently, with a sugges­ "I was thinking of something else. "But, my dear Miss Renwyck," Rich­ then running a greasy rag through the You mean my contract man? I don't Author of "A Broken ard protested, "I should feel frightful­ tion of compromise, not to say sur­ barrel. Bills became more and more Rosary," "The Prince render, in his tones. remember exactly. He was alive when Chap," Etc. ly cut up if you abandoned it on my Interested in this singular and to him I left him, I believe, but I rather think account Do go on with it Perhaps "Suit yourself," smiled Richard gen­ unfamiliar proceeding, but Richard of­ Brazen ially, more indifferent than ever. the crows got him in the end." There I shan't be so jolly bad after all. I"— Copyright. 1906, by Moffat, Yard &• Company. fered no explanation of his unusual oc­ was another pause, in which Richard All four ladies immediately took up "The matter is of too little importance cupation. After five minutes of utter to trouble over—really. Get me out listened intently. "Ah!" he exclaimed. the cudgels against him until his polite silence the valet could stand the strain "I believe I hear Miss Renwyck com­ "Entirely so," said MfTVan der Awe, protests grew weaker and weaker, that pair of dove colored riding breech­ no longer. n.iiU *i* and denounces you. Oh, it's es, so long as you are here, will you?" ing downstairs. Hadn't you better see holding out his hand with the nearest finally subsiding in a suggestion that "Er—beg pardon, sir," he asked, and a bully little play, especially the de­ The valet brought the desired article her before we go for our ride?" approach to happiness he had yet nunciation! But you don't mind that relieved the situation from every point the tremor in his voice indicated his of view. and, looking his master squarely in the Bills breathed hard, thought fot shown. "I'm glad to know you in your on account of your great and glorious uneasiness, "but wot are you a-doin' awhile, then looked up timidly. true, real light. Tou are not a bit like "Why not have Mr. Van der Awe do face, summoned the last vestige of his of, sir?" love for the bird. Miss Harriet's re artificially supplied courage and made "M' lord"— other Englishmen I have met. Fact is, marks just roll off you like water the part?" he asked, with a beaming "Cleaning my gun," returned Rich­ "Don't call me my lord," said Rich you don't even talk like one." smile directed at that young gentle­ a final bold attempt at blackmailing from a duck's back. Touching little him: ard laconically. "What did you think ard so sharply that the servant nearly "Thanks," bowed Richard, prudently scene! Hanged if I can see how I can man. "You'd do it splendidly, old I was doing—shaving?" fell out of his chair. "I have no righl screwing in his monocle. The eyeglass chap, and I shall be uncommonly "Will you give me two hundud pun, give it up, but"— He paused, sighed, sir, or won't you, now?" "O-oh!" said Bills and lapsed into to that title now—since we've parted always made him feel like an idiot; then turned impulsively: "Shucks! I obliged to you." silence. company. No; I'm just plain Mr. Wil but, on the other hand, it gave a dash Amid a chorus of approval the young "Couldn't think of it" laughed the don't want to appear mean. The part Texan lightly. "I made a bargain with Richard began to whistle. It was a liams, ccwv puncher, man eater, any­ of local color to his appearance with­ is yours!" lover accepted blushingly, while Rich­ merry, happy little tune, but somehow thing you like except an English noble out which he would have been lost. ard not only freed himself of a hate­ you, and you break it at your own risk. For half a minute perhaps Mr. Van Now, bring me Lord Croyland's second it got on the valet's nerves. His mind man." ' Is there anything else in which I can ful task, but became a hero and a commenced to work and draw infer­ der Awe gazed in silence at his gen genius in the eyes of the entire party. best pair of riding boots. The new "But—but—m' lord," persisted Bills serve you, old chap?" erous friend, beaming with gratitude. ences. The gun had a very unsympa­ rising unsteadily and becoming the re­ "Yes, Lord Croyland, there is. You As they passed out of the dining ones are a trifle small and pinch my "Lord Croyland," he murmured toes damnably. That's right. Thank thetic look, which was lessened in no spectful servant once more, "I don'1 have very kindly stated to me that brokenly at last, "you're a good fellow! room Cornelius plucked Richard's degree by the six enormous cartridges want to leave you, sir. Candid, Mr you have no intention of making a bid sleeve and whispered: you." He looked up with a happy I'll try to do the part justice. I—I smflfe. "It's your deal, Woolsey. What that the worker placed before him on Williams, sir, I'll serve you faithful for Imogene. That's very square of don't know how to thank you." "See here; I thought you said you the table. He wished that the Texan 'deed I will. It was only the drink you, and I appreciate it. But would couldn't act?" do you contemplate doing next?" "I'm sure you -uill Don't mention The valet had been thinking hard. had not placed himself so as to com­ wot made me forgit meself, Lord Wil you mind telling her so?" it," said Richard, with the wan smile "Can't" returned the Texan, with a mand the only exit from the room. Hams,sir—I mean—good Gawd! M' lord Richard laughed a long, free, bubbly sly wink. "That was what you Amer­ He had one more shaft in his quiver of a complete martyr. "Let's play a and believed it would reach its mark. Presently the nervous Bills spoke you won't think of shootin' at my laugh that came echoing back in mer­ game of billiards." icans call bluff, but if you let on I'll again. The effect of the brandy was knuckle bones when I was only foolin', ry mockery at this most ingenious wring your neck." "I've decided, sir," he stated as he wearing off rapidly on account of his sir—when"— proposition. CHAPTER XII. The Earl of Croyland pro tern, pro­ swaggered across the room, "not to growing fear. "Well, he said, "that's rather a dif­ 1 JCHARD, much to his chagrin ceeded to his rooms with the object say nothink to Mr. Renwyck at all. "Oh, is that it?" Richard interrupted. and disgust, did not see Miss The information might be worth a "You—you don't expect to 'ave no "It was a joke, then?" ficult thing to do, isn't it? Strikes me of arraying himself in a certain riding "Yes, sir." as rather—er—indelicate." D Harriet until the four ladies suit in the wardrobe of the Earl of good deal more to Mr. Renwyck's immejit use for that 'ere thing, do you, Mr. Williams?" "Not at all," protested Mr. Van der MX and the two gentlemen sat Croyland, in actu, which would have daughter." "My! What a delicate humor you Awe. "Imogene is a sensible girl"— down to luncheon. To one thing he made a cow puncher snort with dis­ Richard wanted to strangle him on "Don't know," said Richard uncon­ Englishmen have! Am I to under oh, the blindness of love!—"and would had made up his mind definitely—he dain, but which Richard in his pres­ the spot; yet, strange to say, he acted cernedly.