Part 29 (1/2)

”Don't forget I've got you on for lunch and Mrs. Gantry's,” reminded Lord James.

Blake paused, pencil in hand. ”Aw, say, Jimmy, you'll have to let me off now.”

”Can't do it, old man, really.”

”At least that infernal call.”

”No, you've got to get used to it. Tell you what, I'll let you off on the lunch if you'll be at my hotel at four sharp. Don't squirm. That gives you as many hours to grind as are good for you at one stretch. If you try to funk it, I'll hold you for both lunch and call. Your social progress is on my conscience.”

”Huh!” rejoined Blake. ”Don't wish you any hard luck, but if you and your conscience were in--”

”Four sharp, remember!” put in Lord James, dodging from the room.

Griffith followed him closely and shut the door.

”I'm not so busy, Mr. Scarbridge. Step into my private office and have a cigar,” he invited, and as Lord James hesitated, he added in a lower tone, ”Want your idea about him.”

Lord James at once went with the engineer into his office.

”You wish to speak about Tom?” he said.

”Yes. Did you notice that look about his eyes? It's the first sign.”

”Oh, no! let us hope not, Mr. Griffith. I happen to know he has suffered a severe disappointment. It may be that.”

”Well, maybe. I hope so,” said Griffith dubiously. With innate delicacy, he refrained from any inquiry as to the nature of Blake's disappointment. As he handed out his box of cigars, he went on, ”I don't quite like it, though. He's a glutton for field work, but this indoors figuring soon sets him on edge. He can't stand being cooped up.”

”Count on me to do all I can to get him out.”

”Yes, I'm figuring on you, Mr. Scarbridge. He's told me all about you.

Between the two of us, we might stave it off and keep him going for months. Wish I knew more about the girl--Miss Leslie. If she's the right sort, there's just a chance of something being done that I gave up as being impossible, last time he was with me--he might be straightened out for good.”

”It's possible, quite possible! Others have been cured,--why not he?”

exclaimed Lord James, his face aglow with boyish enthusiasm. But as suddenly it clouded. ”Ah, though, most unfortunate--this stand of Miss Leslie's!”

”What about her?” queried Griffith, as the other hesitated.

”She has told him that he must win out absolutely on his own strength, without her aid or sympathy.”

”Well, I'll be--switched! Thought she loved him.”

Lord James flushed, yet answered without hesitancy. ”It is to be presumed she does, otherwise she would not have forced this test upon him.”

”How d' you make that out?”

”Mere grateful interest in his welfare would have been satisfied by the a.s.surance of his material success. On the other hand, her--ah--feeling toward him is at present held in restraint by her acute judgment. She had reason to esteem him in that savage environment. She now realizes that he must win her esteem in her own proper environment. She is not merely a young lady--she is a lady. Her rare good sense tells her that she must not accept him unless he proves himself fit.”

”He's a lot fitter than all these lallapaloozer papa's boys and some of their fathers,--all those empty-headed swells that are called eligibles,” rejoined Griffith.