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reopen the subject, checked himself and went out.
As the door closed Gard chuckled. I bet he s cracking his skull to
find out my game, he thought with amusement. By the time he
reaches the office, he ll have worked it out that I m more far-sighted
than the rest of them, and am making character; that I m trying to do
business by the Ten Commandments will never occur to him. He
returned to the table and resumed his task, paused and sat gazing
absently at the contorted inkwells.
His secretary entered quietly, a sheaf of letters in his hand.
Saunders, said Marcus Gard, not raising his eyes from their
absorbed contemplation, did you ever let yourself imagine how
hard it is to do business in a strictly honest manner, when the whole
world seems to have lost the habit if it ever had the habit?
Saunders looked puzzled. I don t know, sir. Mr. Mahr is in the hall
and wants to see you, he added, glad to change the subject.
Is he? Good. Tell him to come in. Gard rose with cordial welcome
as Teddy entered.
There was an air of responsibility about the younger man, calmness,
observation and concentration, very different from his former light-
hearted, easy-mannered boyishness. Gard s greeting was
affectionate. Well, boy, what brings you out so early? Taking your
responsibilities seriously? And in what can I help you?
Teddy blushed. Mr. Gard, he said, hurrying his words with
embarrassment, I wish you d let me give you the Vandyke please
do. I don t want to sell it to you. Duveen s men are bringing it over to
you this morning; they are on their way now. I want you to have it.
I I He looked up and gazed frankly in the older man s face,
unashamed of the mist of tears that blinded him. I know father
would want you to have it. And I know, Mr. Gard, what you did to
shield his memory. If you hadn t gone to Field if you hadn t taken
the matter in charge He choked and broke off. I don t know
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Out of the Ashes
anything but you handled the situation as I could not. Please
won t you take the Vandyke?
Gard s hand fell on the boy s shoulder with impressive kindliness.
No, he said quietly, I can t do that, much as I appreciate your
wanting to give it to me. I have a sentiment, a feeling about that
picture. It isn t the collector s passion I want it to remind me daily
of certain things, things that you d think I d want to forget but not
I. I want that picture In Memoriam that s why I asked you to let
me have it; and I want it by purchase. Don t question my decision
any more, Teddy. You ll find a cheque at your office, that s all. He
turned and indicated a space on the velvet-hung wall, where a
reflector and electric lights had been installed. It s to hang there,
Teddy, where I can see it as I sit. It is to dominate my life how
much you can never guess. Will you stay with me now, and help me
to receive it?
Teddy was obviously disappointed. I can t I m sorry. I ought to be
at the office now; but I did so want to make one last appeal to you.
Anyway, Mr. Gard, your cheque will go to enrich the Metropolitan
purchase fund.
That s no concern of mine, Gard laughed. You can t make me the
donor, you know. How is Dorothy to change the subject!
What she always is, the boy beamed, the best and sweetest. My,
but I m glad she is back! And Mrs. Marteen, she s herself again.
You ve seen them, of course?
Gard nodded. I met them at the train last night. Yes she is
herself.
She had an awful close call! Teddy exclaimed, his face grown
grave.
There was reminiscent silence for a moment. With an active swing of
his athletic body, Dorothy s adorer collected his hat, gloves and cane
in one sweep, spun on his heel with gleeful ease, smiled his sudden
sunny smile, and waved a quick good-by.
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Out of the Ashes
XVIII
Teddy Mahr paused for a moment before descending to the street.
He was honestly disappointed. He had hoped with all his heart to
overcome Gard s opposition. Not that he was over anxious to pay, in
some degree, the debt of gratitude that he owed he had come to
regard his benefactor as a being so near and dear to him that there
was no question of the ethics of giving and taking, but he had longed
to give himself the keen pleasure of bestowing something that his
friend really wanted. There was just one more chance of achieving
his purpose the intervention of Dorothy; her caprices Gard never
denied. If he could only induce Dorothy Early as it was he
determined to intreat her intercession.
Walking briskly for a few blocks, he entered an hotel and sought the
telephone booth. The wide awake voice that answered him was very
unlike the sweet and sleepy drawls of protest his matutinal ringings
were wont to call forth when Dorothy had been a gay and frivolous
débutante. The enforced quiet of her mother s prolonged illness, and
the sojourn in the retirement of a hill sanitarium, had made of her a
very different creature from the gaudy little night-bird of yore. The
experiences through which she had passed, their anxiety and pain,
had left her nature sweetened and deepened; had given her new
sympathies and understandings. Now her laugh was just as clear
but its ring of light coquetry was gone.
Of course, I ll take a walk with you, came her answer, if you ll
stop for me. I m quite a pedestrian, you know. I had to take some sort
of a cure in sheer self-defense, up there in the wilds, so I decided on
fresh air and now it s a habit. I ll be ready.
Teddy walked rapidly, his heart singing. He had quite forgotten his
errand in the anticipated joy of seeing her. If he thought at all of the
painting, it was an unformulated regret that no living artist could do
Dorothy justice, or ever hope to transfer to canvas any true
semblance of her many perfections.
She joined him in the hallway of her home, called back a last happy
good-by to her mother, and passed with him into the silver and
crystal morning light. She was simply dressed in a dark tailor suit,
with a little hat and sensible shoes a very different silhouette from
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Out of the Ashes
that of the girl who left her room only in time to keep her luncheon
appointments. He looked at her with approval and laughed happily.
Hello, Country! how are the cows to-day?
Fine, she answered. All boiled and sterilized, milked by
electricity, manicured by steam and dehorned by absent treatment,
sir, she said sir, she said.
May I go with you into your highly sanitary barnyard, my pretty
maid? he asked seriously.
Not unless you take a bath in carbolic solution, are vaccinated
twice, and wear a surgeon s uniform, sir, she said.
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