"I should like to meet Mr. Harrigan." Courtlandt returned his gaze to the

window once more.

"And his daughter?" said Abbott, curiously.

"Oh, surely!"

"I may count on you, then?" The colonel stowed away the offending brier.

"And you can stay to dinner."

"I'll take the dinner end of the invitation," was the reply. "I've got to

go over to Menaggio to see about some papers to be signed. If I can make

the three o'clock boat in returning, you'll see me at tea. Dinner at all

events. I'm off."

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"Do you mean to stand there and tell me that you have important business?"

jeered Abbott.

"My boy, the reason I'm on trains and boats, year in and year out, is in

the vain endeavor to escape important business. Now and then I am rounded

up. Were you ever hunted by money?" humorously.

"No," answered the Englishman sadly. "But I know one thing: I'd throw the

race at the starting-post. Millions, Abbott, and to be obliged to run away

from them! If the deserts hadn't dried up all my tears, I should weep. Why

don't you hire a private secretary to handle your affairs?"

"And have him following at my heels?" Courtlandt gazed at his lean brown

hands. "When these begin to shake, I'll do so. Well, I shall see you both

at dinner, whatever happens."

"That's Courtlandt," said Abbott, when his friend was gone. "You think

he's in Singapore, the door opens and in he walks; never any letter or

announcement. He arrives, that's all."

"Strikes me," returned the other, polishing his glass, holding it up to

the light, and then screwing it into his eye; "strikes me, he wasn't

overanxious to have that dish of tea. Afraid of women?"

"Afraid of women! Why, man, he backed two musical shows in the States a

few years ago."

"Musical comedies?" The glass dropped from the colonel's eye. "That's

going tigers one better. Forty women, all waiting to be stars, and solemn

Courtlandt wandering among them as the god of amity! Afraid of them! Of

course he is. Who wouldn't be, after such an experience?" The colonel

laughed. "Never had any serious affair?"

"Never heard of one. There was some tommy-rot about a Mahommedan princess

in the newspapers; but I knew there was no truth in that. Queer fellow! He

wouldn't take the trouble to deny it."

"Never showed any signs of being a woman-hater?"

"No, not the least in the world. But to shy at meeting Nora Harrigan...."

"There you have it; the privilege of the gods. Perhaps he really has

business in Menaggio. What'll we do with the other beggar?"

"Knock his head off, if he bothers her."

"Better turn the job over to Courtlandt, then. You're in the light-weight

class, and Courtlandt is the best amateur for his weight I ever saw."




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