Tutt themselves about a good, hotdinner for
six.
Van Kamp suddenly glowered and strode into the Tutt
House.
Three-handed poker is a miserable game, and it
seldom lasts long. Air you a-goin t scribble that there three thou-san on a piece
opaper? I forget what a fellow does with theother hand.
What a ripping, queer old building that is! The
Claiborne family and household followedlike small boys after a circus procession.
Ellsworth went out to hunt up Uncle Billy, with an especial solacein
mind.
Van Kamp tore it open and drew out a note. I told
you about hanging your hat on the rack and disposing yourlegs. Honors are about even
in that game, he said.
He followed her slowly, and was met at the door by
her father.
Confronted by the act itself, Abner was suddenly
aware that he knewnot how to begin. Im just that way when I get thrown off thetrack.
I am truly sorry, but I am acquainted with so few people in New York. You dont
happen to know Billy Evans, of Boston, do you? Then we can get away before any of
the family isup.
He fell upon it and tore it into
infinitesimalpieces. Evelynreturned first and came out on the porch to find a
handkerchief.
Run home to your mother, growled the originator of
the plan,savagely. Shealways managed to get them paid, principal and interest. She
couldreadily believe him, she had assured him, and had then left him
inscorn.
And tears of humiliation stood inhis
eyes.
They sat as though bound in their chairs,while the
old man read in silence for a while. Servants traipsed through thedarkened yard,
going home for Sunday night. The old mans voice lapsed into silence; the light was
becoming toodim for his reading. The boys threw themselves upon him and ejectedhim.
Callin, replied the boy in the collar, laconically, but withcarefully averted
gaze.
Ralph thought that this had beenoverlooked, but his
mother afterwards set him right about that. Whats likely to happen after we get rid
of the card?
Not quite, it seems, she reminded him, and he
winced at the error.
The twogurgled out some sounds which were intended
for words and doged behindthe bedroom door. He fell upon it and tore it into
infinitesimalpieces. By the way, youdont happen to know Maud and Dorothy Partridge,
of Baltimore, do you?