Part 33 (1/2)

”That is my intention, Jack, and the day after tomorrow I visit Rosemont to persuade her to elope with me. Quite a society thrill--don't you know?”

”Thrill!” replied Jack, astonished. ”You mean sensation. Hazel eloped with me Lord Beauchamp, Knight of the Garter. Have one on that, Phil.”

”Oh, she's a darling, Jack, and now that Corway is out of the way--I think she'd like--to wear the garter,” and he grinned jovially.

”A garter is fetching, Phil.”

”Success to the garter! May Lady Hazel never let it fall; ha, ha,” and Jack laughed merrily as he filled the gla.s.s.

”Evil be to him who evil thinks. My garter, Jack! He, he, he, he.”

There was no mistaking the fact that the two men were verging on the hilarious, and though fully aware of the importance of conversing in low tones, they continued, because they felt satisfied the critical period of their operations had pa.s.sed and success was a.s.sured.

Again Rutley laughed. ”Jack, I've had an itching palm today.”

”So have I. See how red it is with scratching, and the sole of my left foot has been tickled to fits.”

”The signs are right, Jack. I congratulate you on your luck, and if it is as good as your judgment of liquor--it is a d.a.m.ned good thing.” He laughed as he seized the gla.s.s. ”This is the proof,” and he forthwith tossed it off, and handed the gla.s.s to Jack.

Jack's convivial spirits were quite willing. He took the gla.s.s, filled it, and laughingly said: ”What is good for the devil, applies to his imp.” Then he drained the gla.s.s and again laughed.

Rutley joined in. ”You make me blus.h.!.+ Did you say your left foot tickled?”

”Yes!”

”You will change domiciles. What do you say to secretary-treasurer of the Securities Investment a.s.sociation?”

”What? Resurrect the old S. I. A.?” Jack replied, and he stared at Rutley with amazement.

”Yes! Thorpe and Harris put us out of business. Why not use their 'simoleons' to start up again?” And he chuckled with evident satisfaction.

”Agreed, Phil! Start her up with a full page ad in a Sunday paper, eh?

Ha, ha, ha, ha--a d.a.m.ned good thing.”

”Precisely! Ahem,” coughed Rutley. ”We are pleased to announce that our former fellow townsmen, Mr. Philip Rutley and Mr. Jack Sh.o.r.e have returned very wealthy.”

”And were received with open arms,” added Jack, and he laughed.

”d.a.m.ned good joke, Phil; d.a.m.ned good joke. Have one on that!” And he turned and picked up bottle and gla.s.s from the table and offered them to his colleague.

Rutley always maintained a dignified bearing, yet his manners were quite unconventional, and suave, and easy, and it must be understood that neither of them on this occasion became boisterous. He took the proffered bottle and gla.s.s, poured liquor in the gla.s.s, and after setting the bottle on the table, said: ”Thirty days later, a-hem! We congratulate the stockholders of the reorganized Securities Investment a.s.sociation on the able and efficient management of your officers, Manager Philip Rutley and Secretary-Treasurer Jack Sh.o.r.e.” He then drained the gla.s.s and handed it to Jack.

”Ha, ha, ha, ha,” laughed Jack, as he took the gla.s.s and poured the liquor in it, and pointedly added: ”Addenda! It affords us much pleasure to apologize for our former charge of wilful dishonesty against the gentlemen above mentioned. Signed: John Thorpe, James Harris, committee.” And Jack drained the gla.s.s.

”He, he, he, he,” softly laughed Rutley. ”Very proper, my boy; quite so!”

”It only needs the measly 'yellow goods' to make it practical,”

suggested Jack.