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great unit in the universe. And vmen
he left hi-s teens he had discovered that
his graceful young body had begun to
develop strange and joyous forces that
both amused and exhllarated him. So
that with ever-advancing manhood he
grew to love a new Reginald more than
he had loved the one of his boyhood.
e slipped into his place at the
breakfast table with a glance that ac-
knowledged his mother's eyes of pride,
his father's nod, and the butler-statue
behind his father's chair. The maid,
Marie, served him with fresh waffles
and poured his codee.
“So we shall see you at the office
after this, ch?" his father remarked,
dragging his attention from his paper,’
as Reginald unfolded his square of
“Well. I've been waiting for you,
son. ‘I want to get returns on my in-
vestment-undcrstand? Seven thousand
a year on a college course is some in-
vestment, believe me. Results I must
have, sir-results.”
It was no new argument and the boy
knew how to take it. He shifted his
glance to his mother, who put on her
most engaging air of protest.
“Dear," she said, with an “l-know-
you-won't-do-it" smile, “he has worked
so hard at his books. I'd let him have a
real good time before cooping him up
in an office-you promised him a
yacht. dear. Ilave you forgotten?" ‘she
added, still smiling her protest.
“Another big expense," growled the
railroad magnate.
Reginald threw back his head and
laughed. It was suclffun to hear his
father growl about the'toys he bought
‘ Then he touched his father's
elbow coaxingly.
been thinking, Gov'nor." he
said, with his boyish grin, “that I'll cut
the yacht this season, and I'll take
something else in its place that wotft
cost so much.”
“You needn't, dear,” his mother put
in. evidently in fear of the havoc that
might ensue with such unusual self-
denial.
‘Let's hear what it is that he wants.”
suggested the Wall street magnate.
"You give me a gun." Reginald re-
plied, with a swagger, "and let me
rough it up in the Maine woods.
laws are not very strict in the north of
It's the life,
I say. No feathers or frills or molly-
coddling-just the plain rough-stuff
camping life. I know I'd like it. Dad,
if you'll let me go. Harvey and I were
talking about it at the clubrooms, last
night. We're both for it with four feet.
Gee. I'd like it, tho!”
"Huh! Be arrested and pay a pretty
sum to bail you out!" was his father's
reply, but the deepening of his eye
wrinkles displayed no dislike to the
scheme.
Ills mother gazednt Reginald in-
credulously. >
“You don't mean,” she gasped, “to
-to live in 5. real rough manner, dear?
Not a real rough life in the open. I
hope."
"Why. sure, mother-real rough-
tough stuff," he cried, “with guns and
dogs and tents and campfires and real
rough-stuff things to eat-bear and
deer and trout and then s
of real camp life you'll hold up both
hands and feet. You'll take me for a
zztrange species of wild beast, Dad, I
should sunocate in an office Just now.
The whole city stlfles me. ' So just give
me a ‘yes’ and let me go."
“You poor darling!" breathed his
mother.
“You won't get a thing," predicted
his father. already indulgcntly debat-
ing.llie scheme.
"Won‘t I? I'll get deer, sir.
that‘: what I need lust now after-
after my strenuous work at college." ‘
He expected a snort u this, and got it
from his forceful, rugged and wcll-dis-
clplined father. That college fatigue
was as joke that both shared. the one
bitterly. the other with-s happy as-
surance all his own. -
“But-but, my dear, you would sure-
ly take your valet.” his mother inter-
posed. still gaspingly, seeing the mat-
ter was becoming serious. "You muzt
lnayegserrants, to look after your linen
and dinners." ‘
Husband and son exchanged know-
ing glances and laughed with their
eyes. The butler, being dismissed, went
out with the mere shadow of a :.mile
liickerlng across his stollrl face.
Maris departed and left the family’ H'i0 -
to enjoy the humor of the situation.
Mrs. Del'ell, half understanding. ral-
lied to say: ' g
P
- I'll get
game. I'll; get the greatest sport. and
xsm
CHlCAGO
I “He's-never had a gun-he'll shoot,
himself ,
“Harvey's got a Chink in view to do
the scrubbing and to cook the grub,"
Reginald explained. "'I'here‘s a prof-
a bugologist-and his son,’ a butterfly
fiend, who will play nurse to us if we
need nursing," he added, by way of
winning his way with his mother.
"We'll be in good company, It's Pro-.
fessor Tait from Yale. too." -
Ills mother had one glimpse of the
pout that followed, and the testy im-
patience on he heels of the pout
brought capitulatlon. She, looked as-
sent across the table. Her husband
got up to
‘‘Have your own way. boy," he ‘said..
as be made for the door, “bnt when you
come home I want you should be my
‘right-hand man."
A brick you are, Gov, and I'll do
it," Reginald nodded, as the sturdy
back disappeared. His face beamed
again, altho his mother began conjur-
ing doubts and fears until he frowned.
“Aw, chuck .it, ‘mother,'’ he replied:
‘‘I'm only out for a little sport-think
I'm going to shoot myself just as the
tarry begins to boil‘! Not on your life."
Ills mother i"ose to leave the room,
but paused to place an affectionate kiss
on his white forehead.
“I want my boy to be very happy."
she explained. "That's ull I ever think
about, it seems to me. If you took a
valet along-" --. ,
"‘Well, I can pick up somebody on the
way who Wants to earn good money
and will let me throw shoebrushes and
bootjacks at him," was the promise she
received.
"See that you do," she smiled, and
touched the bell, which was answered
by Marie, the pretty white-capped maid.
“See that Mr. Reginald is comfort-
able," she ordered and swept out.
Marie advanced reluctantly. A shad-
ow of fear lurked in her young eyes. it
was plainly a dread of liberties grant-
ed to those in command but denied to
those who‘ serve. She paused-‘at the
sideboard, and at once a host of in-
visible forces seemed to be let loose in
the big crystal-like room-forces mys-
terious, forces that man and maid may
(-3 feel but never understand. The air tin-
gled with them-the unseen, energizing
arrows of magnetic forces. They were
felt by both with a relish and a fear
almost disconcerting. The fear was
Marie's.
“You heard, Marie," the young man
said, leaning back to nod at her. “you
heard the orders? You are to make me
comfortable."
Marie did not lift her shy eyes. 3‘Yes,
sir.” she breathed, and blushed a lit-
tle, then poled with apprehension. ,
“You are to make me comfortable.
Give me a kiss. then. Marie," Reginald
ordered, with the air of one who has
a mouse in a cage.
A tiny flame leaped in the girl's blue
eyes, but it. seemed to die when her
white lids covered it. She did not an-
swer. ‘
Reginald, having recently discov-
ered the power of an ardent gaze upon
shy girlhood. rarely missed a chance
to exercise it. It amused him vastly.
It was one of the things that his fath-
er's gold did not buy for him. He fair-
ly exulted over so rare a find. be
gazed ‘openly, and Marie blushed and
paled alternately under hlsggaze.
“iilarie, I'm going nway,on a good-
time trip." he told her. “I know you're
sorry. But I've had such a strenuous
time at college that I feel the need of
resting up. I'll be gone six weeks, lila-
rie.
won‘t you? Promise t you won't
get married until I come back, Marie."
"You'll give me a kiss for good luck,
lllarie‘."’ Reginald was inwardly bub-
bling over at the girl's confusion.
Another silence. > .'
“You refuse me. lllarie? Now. that's
cruel. I'll have to report you to the'
h0“39k99I>ef. I'll have to tell her you
are not accommodating. Then what?"
M353 begin; nervously gathering up
Ii STRONGLY advise you to read, “SCORCHED
‘GIRL-MOTHS : or, CHARMEI) BY THE PRINCE 5,1
01? HEARTS," in x i. “s .
some interesting things about a millio airc's son. and how kind-
ness to onc and cruelty to the
bctrnvc g
in next week's Ledger.
o .
Say. glrja, you'll mislfame all right,.
h 1:: ue
LEDGER
the silver and cups, piling them on a
silver tray.
“She'd fire you as sure as taxes if I
did." . .
He leaned toward her and whispered
the playful threat. Thai: it was play
Marie became convinc . .
‘Then I'd quit before she gets the
chance," was her retort.
Reginald groaned aloud. “How cruel
-cruel these girls are! Say, hand me
my cigarettes.,tl1eI'e'.s a girl-and say.
tell the fellcr to have my car brought
round at once. I'm off to my club
where no cruel girls are there to bar-
rass me. Tell Simous to hurry, Marie
-but stay, tell him to come here, first."
“Yes, sir." Marie said, and departed
with trer tray. At once Simons, the
butler. appeared. -
Without turning his head Reginald
spoke. “Find out over the ‘phone if
Harvey Darrell has gone to the club-
and here, give me a light, Simous," he
said, and placed a cigarette in posi-
tion and held it up. Simons touched
the lifeless end with a flame and dis-
appeared. g
Reginald strolled to the window, ig-
noring his victim who was now clear-
lug the table. The lawn, a mere patch
of it showing from his position in the
alcove windows, was greening under a
recent baptism of summer rain. The
butler returned presently,
“Yes, sir. Mr. Harvey has gone to his
clubrooms," he reported, “and your car
is coming round, sir."
Reginald turned just enough to show
that he was giving attention. ‘'1 should
think it was time it was, coming, Si-
mons," he grumbled, and paused, in-
dolently pulling as Simons bowed and
went out. Reginald remained to gaze
ardently at Marie as she went about
her duties.
“Now, Marie," he remarked,‘ in his
casual way. "when I come back you'd
better look out. If you don't give me
that kiss I'll be strong enough to take
it-by that time, Marie. I'll be a won-
der when I come back. It will be in
the papers how strong 1’ am. Gee whiz!
Think of six weeks under the sun, the
moon, and the stars-what they won't
do for me. You look out, Marie."
He went over and tapped the girl on
her shouldergand nodded. Then he
sauntered oil. The notes of a college
song drifted back as he went out. “All
the stars are telling a story like mine,"
were the last Words that the girl beard.
"There goes a spoiled -boy, Marie,"
was Simona‘ remark, a moment later.
“a spoiled boy and no mistake.”
“”l‘is me that's willing to see his
back.". Marie retorted.
“Keep your chin in, Marie," was Si-
mous‘ ndvice, “and your mouth shut.
If you give him a bit of lip, oi! goes
your head."
Marie's reply was :. tiltnol‘ chin and
nose, too. defiance plain and simple,
and a silent, fearsome, "he'd-better.
not-go,-too-far" manner‘. - .
Meanwhile Reginald motored to his
clubrooms with a satisfied and com-
forted feeling that be and Harvey Dar-
rell were on the way to the biggest
"tear" ever enjoyed by two college fel-
lows worn out with the hard work of
the closing college year. V
“The Prince of Hearts will want his
car in one hour, Art,” he told the chauf-
feur, as they stopped before the impos-
ing structure in which were the sump-
tuous rooms of one of New York's
selc,5,t.clubs. ' '
“Yes, sir," replied Art, touching his
cap as Reginald left.,the tonneau and
ascended the white marble steps where
an attendant to brass buttons opened
the floor for him. ‘
“The ‘Prince of Hearts’ is right."
muttered the chauffeur. looking after
the young man, “and not male hearts
either."
CHAPTER II.
EGINALD found Ilarvey Darrell
vainly trying" to convert a circle of
the club members to his own glorified
idea of 21 hunting trip in the woods of
iltlaine in midsummer, and be hailed
his chum with glee as one to befriend
blm.ln the hour of defeat. The others
-r
5,
You will find in it
other, -xfltiictl the fate of two ,
. g V ‘ "if S‘. ‘ 0 boy readers we recommend. “CAPTAIN
MDDS RF-A5URE;or,TH1: :uv,sTi-zur or SIIELTER
' COVT7-." by Cflplaill Jack Jud-‘on; in: this issue.
. ita thrilling story. Look out fodsol '
'ou will find
o mighty interesting things
turned to Reginald unresponsive eyes.
In fact. there was derision as well as
affectionate concern in the voices that
objected to the ‘plan.
“ y, Reggie, what the deuce are
you doing with ' crazy notion?
Knowest thou not that no ladies in-
tiie lady killer of the club!" .
Reginald grinned at the speaker and
sat down astride of a chair. >
“Lo.dies," be repeated, puffing light
clouds of smoke into the circle that
stood and sat about an unused billiard
table, “spring up in grace and beauty
everywhere we go.‘ 'e need not
dread the barren soil. Wherever man
has trod there grow these fair flowers
-the rightful prey of human prowess,
the clear objects of our affection. They
are our prerequisites, sir. If a man
but goes to the desert, opens his arms,
breathes their names, their invisible
shapes become ‘visible-Jlowing, flying
to the rescue.”. .
ere some one tried to switch Regi-
nald olf his topic by saying:
“There is no hot bath for you, Reg-
gie. in this crazy idea." .
“ you won't know yourself with-
out that," cut in another. -
"Quite so. I'd be obliged to answer
to another name then," Reginald te-
torted good-naturedly. '“Now I like
am?..
“Yes, Sam Hill," Harvey laughed, and
took Reginald by the shoulder, “Come
along and have something iced, kid.
want to tell, you something that is
strictly private." v
They went away to a table. A soft-
footed waiter served them at once, and
left them. to their own devices. The
other men turned to the comforts of
the place as against those of the trail
-the silent waiters serving iced drinks
here and there thru the vista of al-
coved apartments, the soft hum of the
electric fans, the velvet of the floor, the
airy, if subdued, light against the ma-
hogany furniture-these all spoke of
comforts that the town offered against
those of the trail. ,
“Say, Reggie," confided Harvey, as
soon as they were alone, “incog would
be a great little idea for Podunk. '
change our names, which protects poor
little dad at home and dear sisters and
brothers. Then we paint little old Po-
dunk a bright scarlet and purple-the
time of her life, you know, and then dig
out. t?"
Reginald meditated. He looked ut
his half-burned cigarette, laid it down,
and took an iced drink. To his in-
dulged senses this llavor of mischief
that Harvey proposed was attractive.
Any new incense seemed good to Regi-
nald. but he ndvancedjoward this one‘
with a proper caution. lie was a De-
Veit. llarvey was 9. Darrell. both of
millionaire families in New York's se-
lect circle.
“Can it be managed?" he asked, but
he was already eagerly sure that the
thing could safely be done.
“You know it can be done, kid. These
bug men who are going along. and this
0'1)’ One-Lung that has just butted in
by order of his doctor, will all. be so
busy with their own concerns that the)’
will consent to let us spend days awn)’
from the camp. Guy is going to take
notes for a book that he will make us
buy for your loving friends at Christ-
mas time. They won't want us bother-
ing around." .
Reginald rubbed his chin and nodded
. Ilere a page
came calling’Mr. Darrell, and Harvey
rose to beckon him.
“Telephone call. sir," the boy said.
and Harvey went to answer it. hell
he returned. after several minutes, sup-
pressed merriment was in his voice. as
he took his seat opposite bis arch-con-
spirator.
“ omething in the wind?" inquired
Reginald.
“Yes, the Chink. lie wants to know
if he is to order the provisions before
we start. '
wholesale ‘velly chak.'
vvery cheap, of course.
cut lt'out."
"It's a staple of camp life." Reginald
objected. 3 -
Ile mean‘
I told him 0
“Spoiled with an ‘r',"-laughed Ilarve)'- u
“we can pick it up in any country 310’?
by the wayside, so why should We-HIS
it all the way from New York?"
Reginald gave up with a shrn
difference. "You are the boss," he said.
"until the real sport begins. >'l'hen we’
..
shall see who leads. . ,
“I'll give up the palm ‘when it comes
to the havoc of he'ari$."rHarvey replied
regretfully. "All the ladies of Podunk'll
.1--. -4‘
got m-,
g.,,,,..,.,.,, W .. V&...,.,.,
,,,...,,..,-...,,,......v,g. t‘ .,
-...:.....,p.
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