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Cfje Younger Set By ROBERT W. CHAMBERS, Author of "THE FIGHTING CHANCE," Etc. Copyrighted, Synopsis op pkeokmng chaptkks. 1 Chap. 1-Keturnlng from Manila. Captain klwttm rnmnrltrnr hfl nmlV. IS WelCOmCO home by his sister. Nina Gerard. her wealthy husband Austin, and their numerous child ten. Kllecn Krroll. ward of Nina and Austin. Is part of their household. Selwln has been divorced, without guilt on hi" part. bj his Iwlfe. Allxe, who Is now the wife of Jack Kuthvcn, with whom she ran away from Selwyn. II-Klleen, who Is very fond of her brother. Gerald, despite the young man s neglect of her, makes friends with Selwyn. III-Gcrald Is worried about young Krroll a mingling In the fast set. Gerald Is employ ed by Julius Neergard, a reale state operator In a large way. Selwyn promises Kfleen he will look after her brother. He tells her about Boots Lansing, his army chum in Manila, who Is coming to New York. In the park Klleen and Selwyn ride past Allxe. I) Eileen's deceased father was an archaeol ogist, and she has Inherited some of his scholarly qualities. Selwyn helps Gerald to settle a gambling debt and determines to undertake his reformation. V-AUxe and Selwyn meet and discuss their altered rela tions. He Is Introduce J to .Mrs. Ilosamund Fnne. leader of the fast set and Allxc's clos est friend Ileappeals toAUxe to help him keep Gerald from gambling. Chapter 6 T was still early lacking a quarter of an hour to midnight when Selwyu arrived homo. Nina had retired, but Austin sat in tho library, obstinately plodding througli the last chapters of a brand new novel. "This Is a wretched excuse for sitting up," he yawned, laying the book Hat on tho table, but still open. "I ought never to bo trusted alone with any book." Then he removed his reading glasses, yawned again and surveyed Selwyn from head to foot. "Very pretty," he said. "Well, how aro the yellow ones, rhil? Or was it all debutante and slop twaddle?" "Few from the cradle, but bunches were arriving for the dance as I left." "Eileen went at half past 11." "I didn't know she was going," said Selwyn, surprised. "She didn't want you to. The play ful kitten business, you know frisks apropos of nothing to frisk about. But we all fancied you'd stay for the dance." He yawned mightily and gazed at Selwyn with ruddy gravity. "Whisk?" he Inquired. "No." "Cigar?" mildly urgent. "No, thanks." "Bed?" "I think so. But don't wait for me, Austin. Is that the evening paper? Where Is St. Paul?" Selwyn unfolded the paper. So his brother-in-law moved ponderously away, yawning frightfully at every heavy stride, and the younger man settled back In his chair, n fragrant cigar balanced between his strong, slim fingers, one leg dropped loosely over the other. After awhile the news paper fell to the floor. He sat there without moving for a long time. His cigar, burning close, had gone out. The fire having burned low, he rose, laid a pair of heavy logs across the coals, dragged his chair to the hearth and settled down In it deeply-Long after his cigar burned bitter he sat with eyes fixed on the blaze. When tho flames at last began to flick er and subside his lids fluttered, then drooped, but he had lost all reckoning of time when he opened them again to find Miss Erroll in furs and ball gown kneeling on the hearth and laying a log across the andirons. "Upon my word!" ho murmured, con fused; then, rising quickly: "Is that you, Miss Erroll? What time is it?" "Four o'clock In tho morning, Cap tain Selwyn," she said, straightening up to her full height. "This room is Icy. Aro you frozen?" , Chilled through, he stood looking ijibout in a dazed way, Incredulous of Alxo hour and of his own slumber. "I dou't know how 1 happened to do It," ho muttered, abashed by his plight. "I rekindled tho lire for your bene fit." sho said. "You had better use it before you retire." And she seated I herself in the armchair, stretching out Craig. her ungloved hands to the blaze, smooth, Innocent hands, so soft, so amazingly fresh and white. He moved a Btep forward Into the rorwaru ror a chair and drew it up be side hers. "Do you mean to say you aro not If I H r7 maw. If 1007, by Kobert W. Chambers sleepy?" he asked. "I? No, not In the least. I will bo tomorrow, though." "Did you have a good time? You danced a lot, I dare say," he ventured. "Yes a lot" studying the floor. "Decent partners?" "Oh, yes." "Who was there?" She looked up at him. "You were not there," she said, smiling. 'No, I cut it. But I did not know you were going. You said nothing about it." "Of course you would have stayed if you had known, Captain Selwyn?" She was still smiling. "Of course," he replied. "Would you really?" "Why, yes." There was something not perfectly familiar to him In tho girl's bright brevity, in her direct personal Inquiry, for between them hitherto the gayly Impersonal had ruled except In mo ments of lightest badinage. "Was it an amusing dinner?" sho , 1 asked In her turn. "Rather." Then ho looked up at her, but she had stretched her slim, silk shod feet to tho fender, and her head was bent aside, so that ho could see only tho curve of tho cheek and tho little, close set ear under its ruddy mass of gold. "Who was there?" she asked, too, carelessly. For a moment lie did not speak. Un der his bronzed cheek tho flat muscles stirred. Had some meddling, malicious fool ventured to whisper an unlit jest to this young girl? Had a word cr a smile and a phrase cut in two awak ened her to a sorry wisdom at his ex pense? Something had happened, and tho Idea stirred him to wrath, as when a child Is wantonly frightened or n dumb creature misused. "What did you ask me?" he Inquired gently. "I asked you who was there, Captain Selwyn." Ho recalled some names and laugh ingly mcuttoncd his dinner partner's preference for Harmon. She listened absently, her chin nestling in her palm, only the close set, perfect car turned tov ml him. "Who led the cotillon?" he asked. "Jack Ituthven, dancing with Rosa mund Fane." She drew her feet from the fender and crossed them, still turned away from him, and so they remained in si lence until again she shifted her posi- tion almost imrmtienri "You are very tired," he said. "No; wide awake." "Don't you think it best for you to 1 go to bed?" "No, but you may go." And as he did not stir, "I mean that ' you are not to sit here because I do." ' And she looked around at him. "What has gone wrong, Eileen?" he said quietly. Ho had never before used her given name, and she flushed up. "There Is nothing tho matter, Cap tain Selwyn. Why do you ask?" "Yes, there is," lie said. "There is not, I tell you" "And If it Is something you cannot understand," he continued pleasantly, ! "perhaps It might be well to ask Nina to explain It to you." "There is nothing to explain." "Because," he went on very gently, "one is sometimes led by malicious suggestion to draw false and unpleas ant inferences from harmless facts" "Captain Selwyn" "Yes, Eileen." But she could not go on. Speech an thought Itself remained sealed; only a confused consciousness of being hLrt remained somehow to be remedied by something ho might say, might deny. Yet how could it help her for him to deny what sho herself refused to be lieve refused through sheer Instinct whl'- teuoruut of its meaning? Even if he had done what sha heart Rosamund Fano say ho had done ii uatl remained meaningless to her savi for tho maimer of the telling. Bu' now; but now! Why had they laugh cd? Why had their attitudes aud man ner and the disconnected phrases It French left her flushed and rigid among tho idlo group at Slipper? Whj had they suddenly seemed to rcmem bcr her presence and express theii abrupt consciousness of it in suet furtive signals and silence? It was false anyway, whatever 11 meant. And, anyway, it was falsi that he had driven away in Mrs. Ruth ven's brougham. But, oh, if he had only stayed, If he had only remained this friend of hers who had been sc nice to her from the moment he cami Into her life, so generous, so consid erate, so lovely to her and to Gerald! For a moment tho glow remained, then a chill doubt crept In. Would he have remained had ho knowi sho was to be there? W he re did be go aftei tho dinner? An for what they said, it was ab surd. And yet aud yet He sat, sav agely intent up on tho wnnlnc He sof, savagely intent flro. suo turned upon the waning fire. restlessly again, elbows close togotho on her knees face framed In her bands. "You ask me If 1 nm tired," sh. said. "1 am-of the froth of life." Hla face changed. Instantly. "What?" ho exclaimed, laughing. But she. very young and seriously In tent, was now Wrestling with tho mighty platitudes of youth. First of all she desired to know what meaning life held for humanity. Then she ex pressed a doubt as to the necessity fot human happiness, duty being her dis covery as sufllcient substitute. But he heard In her childish babble the minor murmur of an undercurrent quickening for tho first time, and he listened patiently and answered grave ly, touched by her Irremediable loneli ness. So when she said that she was tired of gayety, that she would like to study, ho said that ho would take up any thing she chose with her. And when she spoke vaguely of a life devoted to good works of the wiser charity, of be ing morally equipped to aid those who re quired material aid ,he was ' very serious, but ventured to suggest that sho "You ask mc it I am dance her first tlrca" she sa,d season through as a sort of flesh mor tifying penance preliminary to her spiritual novitiate. "Yes." she admitted thoughtfully i "You nre right. Nina would feel I ,1t.An.1(l I f 1 .11.1 rt At. rt. tP Clllrt " , , , , " , " 1 7f imagined I cared so little for It all. But ono season Is enough to waste. Don't you think so?" i "Quite enough," ho assured her. "And why should 1 ever marry?" 1 she demanded, lifting her clear, sweet ' eyes to his. "Why, indeed?" he repeated, with conviction. "1 can see no reason." "I am glad you understand me," she said. "1 am not a marrying woman." "Not at all," ho assured her. "No, I nm not. and Nina tho darling doesn't understand. Why, what do you suppose? But would it bo a breacli of confidence to anybody If I told you?" "I doubt it," he said. "What is it you have to tell me?)' "Only It's very, very silly only sev eral men and ono nice enough tc know better Sudbury Gray" "Asked you to marry them?" he fin ished, nodding his head at the cat. "Yes," she admitted, frankly aston ished. "But how did you know?" "Inferred it. Go on." "There is nothing more," she said I without embarrassment. "I told Nina each time, but she confused me by ask ing for details, and tho details were too foolish and too annoying to re peat. I do not wish to marry anybody. , 1 think I made that very plain to everybody." "Right, as usual," he said cheerful ly. "You are too Intelligent to con- tnat sor' of thins just now." "You do understand me, don't you? she said gratefully. "There are so many serious things in life to learn and to think of, and that is the very last thing I should ever consider. I am very, very giaa i naa tnis tanc with you. Now I am rested, and I shall retire for a good long sleep." With which paradox she stood up, stifling a tiuy yawn, and looked smil ingly at him, all the old sweet confl- i dence in her eyes. Then, suddenly mocking: "Who suggested that you call me by my first name?" she asked. "Some good angel or other. May I?" "If yon please. I rather like it. But I couldn't very well call you anything except 'Captain Selwyn.' " "On account of my age?" "Your age!" contemptuous in her con fident ecraality. "Oh, my wisdom, then? You proba bly reverence mo too deeply." "Probably not. I don't know. I couldn't do It somehow" "Try it unless you're afraid." "I'm not afraid!" "Yes, you are, if you don't take n daro." "You daro me?" "I do." "Philip," sho said, hesitating, adora ble In her embarrassment. "No! No! No! I can't do It that way in cold Mood. It's got to be 'Captain Sol- ivyn,' for awhile anyway. Good night." Ho took her outstretched hand, laughing. Tho usual little friendly shako followed. Then she turned gay ly away, leaving him standing before the whitening ashes. lie thought tho fire was dead, but when he turned out tho lamp an hour later under the ashes embers glowed in the darkness of tho winter morning. Ck&pter 7jj ID-LENT, nnd the enemy grins," remarked Selwyn as ho started for church with Nina and the chil dren. Austin, knee deep In a dozen Sunday sup plements, refused to stir. Poor little Eileen was now convalescent from grip, but still unsteady on her logs. Her maid had taken the grip. Boots Lansing called to see Eileen, but sho wouldn't come down, saying ner nose was too pink. Drl na entertained Boots, and then Selwyn return ed and talked army talk with him until tea was served. Drl nn poured tea very prettily. Nina had driven -, JtZSS2- Austin to ves- pore. The fami- Brina poured tea very ly dined at 7 so prettily. Drlna could sit up; special treat on ac count of Boots' presence at table. Ger ald was expected, but did not come. Tho next morning Selwyn went downtown at the usual hour and found Gerald, pale and shaky, hanging over his desk and trying to dictate letters to an uncomfortable stenographer. So he dismissed tho abashed girl for the moment, closed the door nnd sat down beside the young man. "Go home, Gerald," he said with de cision. "When Neergard comes In I'll tell him you aro not well. And, old fellow, don't ever come near the office again when you're in this condition." "I'm a perfect fool," faltered the boy, his voice trembling. "I don't really caro for that sort of thing, either. But you know how it is in that set" "What set?" "Oh, tho Fanes, the Ruth" He stammered himself into silence. "I see. What happened last night?" "Tho usual, two tables full of it There was a wheel too. I had no Inten tion But you know yourself how it parches your throat the jollying and laughing nnd excitement. I forgot all about what you what we talked over. I'm ashamed and sorry, but I can stay here and attend to things, of course" "I don't want Neergard to see you," repeated Selwyn. "W-why," stammered tho boy, "do I look as rocky as that?" "Yes. See here, you are not afrnld of me, are you?" "No"- "You don't think I'm ono of thoso long faced, blue nosed buttcrs-lu, do you? You have confidence in me, haven't you? You know I'm an aver age and normally sinful man who has made plenty of mistakes and who un derstands how others make them. You know that, don't you. old chap?" "Y-cs.'jf "Then,' you will listen, won't you, Gerald?'- The boy laid his arms on the desk and hid his face In them. Then he nodded. For ten minutes Selwyu talked to him with all tho terse and colloquial confidence of a comradeship founded upon respect for mutual fallibility no Instruction, no admonition, no blame, no reproach, only an affectionately log ical review of matters as they stood and ns they threatened to stand. The boy fortunately was still pliable and susceptible, still unalarmed and frank. It seemed that ho had lost money again, this time to Jack Ruth ven, and Selwyn's teeth remained sternly Interlocked as bit by bit tho story came out, but in the telling the boy was not quite as frank as he might have been, and Selwyn supposod he was able to stand his loss without seeking aid. "Anyway." said Gerald in a muffled voice, "I've learned one lesson that a business man can't acquire the habits and keep the Infernal hours that suit people who can take all day to sleep It off." "Right," said Selwyn. "Besides, my Income can't stand it," added Gerald naively. "Neither could mine, old fellow. And. Gerald, cut out this card busl- "Grip?" he aslxd. ness. It's the final refuge of the fee ble minded. You like it? Oh, well, if you've got to play If you've no better resource for leisure, and if nonparticl patlou Isolates you too completely from other Idiots play the Imbecile gentleman's game, which means a game where nobody need worry over tho stakes." "But they'd laugh at me!" "I know. But Boots Lansing would not, and you have considerable respect I for him." Gerald nodded. He had immediate i ly succumbed to Lansing like every- body else. I "And ono thing more," said Selwyn. I "Don't play for stakes no matter how j Insignificant where women sit In the yame. Fashionable or not, It la rotten sport, whatever tho ethics may be. And, Gerald, tainted sport nnd a clean record can't take tho samo fence to gether." A little later the boy started for homo at Selwyn's advice. But the memory of his card losses frightened liim, and he stopped on the way to see what money Austin would advance him. Julius Neergard came up from Long slnnd, arriving at tho office about noon. The weather was evidently cold Dn Long Island, ne had the complex ion of a raw ham, but the thick, fat hand, with its bitten nails, which he offered Selwyn as ho entered his office, was unpleasantly hot, nnd on tho thin nose, which Bpllt tho broad expanse of face, a bead or two of sweat usual ly glistened, winter and summer. "Where's Gerald?" ho asked as an office boy relieved him of his heavy box coat and brought his mail to him. "I advised Gerald to go home," ob served Selwyn carelessly. "He Is not perfectly well." Neergard's tiny, mouselike eyes, set close together, stole brightly in Sel wyn's direction, but they usually look Ed just a little past a man, seldom at him. "Grip?" ho asked. "I don't think so," said Selwyn. "Lots of grip round town," observ ed Neergard, ns though satisfied that Gerald had it. Then ho sat dovm and rubbed his largo, membraneous ears. "Captain Selwyn." ho beean. "I'm latisfled that It's a devilish good thing." "Are you?" "Emphatically. I've mastered the Setalls, virtually all of 'em. Hero's Uid iltuation In n grain of wheat. The Blowltha club owns a thousand or so acres of oak, scrub, pine scrub, sand and weeds and controls -4.000 more that is to say, tho club pays' the farm ers' rents nnd fixes their fences and awards them odd jobs aud prizes for the farm sustaining the biggest num ber of bevies; nlso the club pays them to maintain millet nnd buckwheat patches and to act as wardens. In re turn the farmers post their 4.000 acres tor the exclusive benefit of the club, ts that plain?" "Perfectly." ' "Very well. then. Now, tho Slowltha Is Inrgely composed of very rich men. mong them Bradley Harmon. Jack F.tlecn. ftuthven, George Fane, Sanxon Orchil, ho Hon. Delmour-Carnes that crowd -rich and stingy. That's why they ire contented with a yearly agreement ;vlth the farmers instead of buying the 1,000 acres. Why put a lot of good noney out of commission when they :an draw interest on It and toss an in- liguiflcant fraction of that Interest as I sop to the farmers? Do you see? rhat's your millionaire method, and It's what makes 'em In the first place." He drew a large, fancy handkerchief rom his pistol pocket and wiped the beads from the bridge of his limber lose. But they reappeared again. "Now," he said, "I am satisfied that, working very carefully, wo can secure ptions on every acre of the four thou land. There Is money In It either ivay and any way we work it We jot it coming and going. First of all, If the Slowltha people find that they really cannot get on without controlling these acres, why" and he snickered lo that his nose curved into a thin, ruddy beak "why, captain, I suppose tve could let them have the land. Eh? Oh, yes, if they must have it!" Selwyn frowned slightly. "But the point is," continued Neer sard, "that it borders the railroad on the north, and where the land is not tvavy It's flat as a pancake, and" he tank his husky voice "It's fairly rid lied with water. I paid a thousand lollars for six tests." "Water!" repeated Selwyn wonder ngly. "Why, It's dry as a desert!" "Underground water only about for ty feet on tho average. Why, man, I :an hit u well flowing 3.000 gallons llmost auy where. It's a gold mine. I don't care what you do with the icreage split It up Into lots nnd ad vertise qr club the Slowltha people Into submission, it's nil tho same; It's a gold mine, to bo swiped and developed. S'ow, there remain tho title searching mil the job of financing it. because ivc'vo got to move cautiously and uock softly at the doors of tho money raulta. v we'll be waking up some 5Valt siVett relatives or secret bus! less issoelntes of the yellow crowd, ind If anybody bawls for help we'll be ip In tho air next New Year's and it ill hiking skyward." IIo stood up, gathering together the mall matter which ills secretary had already opened for his attention. "There's plenty of tlmo yet. Their leases were renewed tho first of tills vnni- !iml tlmv'il i-nn tlin voar out. lillt lis someuung iu imuiv uuuui. Will you talk to Gerald, or shall I?" "You," said Selwyu. "I'll think the matter over and give you my opinion. May I speak to my brother-in-law about It?" Neergard turned in his tracks and looked almost at him. "Do you think there's any chance of bis financing tho thiug?" "I haven't tho slightest Idea of what ho might do, especially" ho hesitated "as you never have had any loans from his people, I understand." "No," said Neergard, "I haven't." "It's rather out of their usual, I be lieve." "So they say. But Long Island acre age needn't beg favors now. That's all over, Captain Selwyn. Fane, Har mon & Co. know that Mr. Gerard ought to know it too." Selwyn looked troubled. "Shall I consult Mr. Gerard?" ho repeated. "I should like to If you have no objec tion." Neergard's small, close set eyes wero focused on a spot just beyond Sel wyn's loft shoulder. "Suppose you sound him," he sug gested, "In strictest" "Naturally," cut in Selwyn dryly nnd, turning to his littered desk, open ed tho first letter his hand encounter ed. Now that his bead was turned, Neergard looked full at the back of his neck for a long minute, then went out silently. o That night Selwyn stopped at his sister's house before going to his own rooms and, finding Austin nlono In tho library, laid tho matter before him exactly as Neergard had put It "You see," he added, "that I'm a sort of ass about business methods. This furtive pouncing on a thing and clubbing other people's money out of them with It this slyly acquiring land that is necessary to an unsuspecting neighbor and then holding him up I don't like. There's always something of this sort that prevents my cordial co-operation with Neergard always something In the schemes which hints of of squeezing of something under ground." "Like tho water which he's going to squeeze out of tho wells?" Selwyn laughed. "Phil." said his brother-in-law, "If you think anybody can do a profitable business except at other people's ex pense you are an ass." "Am I?" asked Selwyn, still laughing frankly. "Certainly. Tho land Is there plain enough for anybody to see. It's al ways been there. It's likely to remain for a few eons, I fancy. "Now, along comes Meynhcer Julius Neergard, the only man who seems to have brains enough to sec the present value of that parcel to the Slowltha people. Everybody else had the samo chance. Nobody except Neergard knew enough to take it. Why shouldn't he profit by it?" "Yes. but If he'd be satisfied to cut It up into lots and do what is fair" "Cut it up Into nothing! Man alive, do you suppose that Slowltha people would let him? They've only a few thousand acres. They've got to control that land. What good Is their club without it? Do you imagine they'd let a town grow up on three sides of their precious game preserve? And, besides, I'll bet you that hnlf of their streams and lakes tako rlso on other people's property nnd that Neergard knows It the Dutch fox!" They discussed Neergard's scheme for a little while longer. Austin. They discussed Xccrgard-'s scheme. shrewd and cautious, declined any per sonal part in tho financing of the deal, although he admitted the probability of prospective profits. "Our Investments and our loans are of a different character," he explained. "but I have no doubt that Fane. Har mon & Co." "Why. both Fane and Harmon are members of the club," laughed Sel wyn. "You don't expect Neergard to go ta them?" A peculiar expression flickered in Gerard's heavy features. Perhaps he thought that Fane and Harmon and lack Ruthven wero not above exploit ing their own club under certain clr cumstances; but. whatever his opin ion, he said nothing further and, sug gesting that Selwyn remain to dine, went off to dress. A few moments later he returned, crestfallen and conciliatory. "I forgot Ninn and 1 are dining at the Orchils' Come up a moment. She wants to speak to you.' So they took tho ruse tinted rococo elevator. Austin went away to his own quarters, and Selwyn tupped at Nina's boudoir. "Is that you, Phil? Ono minute. Watson Is finishing my hair. Come in now and kindly keep your dlstnnce, my friend. Do you suppose 1 want Rosa mund to know what brand of war paint I use':" "Rosamund?" he repeated, with a good humored shrug. "It's likely, isn't it?" "Certainly it's likely, know you wero telling but she'd extract You'd never her unything. every detail In ten seconds. I understand she adores you, Phil. Eileen Is furious at being left here all alone. She's practically well, and she's to dine with Di-lua in the library. Would you bo goo d enough to dine there with them? E 1 1 o o n, poor "Js that you, 1'hll?' child, Is heartily sick of her imprison ment. It would be i mercy. Phil." "Why, yes, I'll do it, of course, only I've somo matters at home" "Homo! You call those stuffy, smoky, impossible, half furnished rooms home! Phil, when are you ever going to get somo pretty furniture nnd art things? Eileen and I have been talking It over, nnd wo'vo decided to go there and see what you need and then order it, whether you like It or not." "Thanks," ho said, laughing. "It's Just what I've tried to avoid. I've got things where I want them now, but I knew it was too comfortable to last. Boots said that somo woman would be sure to be good to me with an art nou veau rocking chair." "A perfect sample of man's grati tude," said Nina, exasperated, "for I'v ordered two beautiful art nouvcar. rocking chairs, one for you and ono for Mr. Lansing. Now you can go and hu miliate poor llttlo Eileen, who took s much pleasure In planning with mo for your comfort. As for your friend Boots, bo's unspeakable with my com pliments," (Continued on page 2.) IB!