Picture Play Magazine (Oct-Nov 1915)

16 PICTURE-PLAY WEEKLY striding up and down the room, did not hear more than half of what Willet was saying, and now he turned to him abruptly: "Excuse me, Willet, I'm going to get that fellow out of my house at once." When the doctor set out to do a thing. "you may go into the house. I want to speak to Jim alone for a moment." Helena sensed something strange in the air — something which boded ill for the incipient flirtation which had sprung up between herself and the governor's brother. It had begun, upon her part, "I refused to save Willet," the Governor declared to his brother. 1 cannot spare you." 'Therefore he did not let the grass grow under his feet. Within five minutes of the time he had left Willet in the library, he found Jim, and gave him his walking papers. Jim rose nonchalantly as the doctor entered the garden. "Howdy, doctor?" said Jim, thrusting out a careless hand, which the doctor ignored. "Helena," said the doctor sternly, in a mischievous desire to make Evelyn Clayton jealous; Evelyn had assumed such proprietary airs with Jim upon the night of the inaugural ball, and Helena, as the acknowledged belle of the capital, could not permit such airs in a mere lady of the court. Jim, quick to note that Helena was smiling upon him, and knowing of his brother's love for the girl, had thought it good sport to pique Evelyn and William at the sam time. And so it had come about that Jii was a frequent visitor at Doctor Leigh and that, upon this particular day, the had been sitting rather closer to one ar other than was customary in the littl society of the State capital for couple not engaged to be married. Helena felt that her conquest wa threatened, and her regard for Jim wa immediately trebled as she began to fea that she might lose him ; but, being dutiful daughter, reared in the fear ar.i respect of her father, she obeyed hin I albeit with a slight air of vexation. "Sorry. Jim !" she flung over he I shoulder as she passed up the walk. "Don't mention it," said Jim care lessly, reseating himself and crossing hi | legs. "See you later.'' Doctor Leigh did not believe in beat ing about the bush. "I don't want you to speak to mj| daughter," he said. "I have heard abou' your treatment of Jenny Strong." Jim raised his eyebrows inquiringly "My treatment of Jenny Strong, doc-1 tor? Who has been telling you an> such nonsense as that?" "It does not matter, sir," returned the doctor, "the fact remains that I know all about it, and it is of no use for you to pretend that you are not guilty." Jim sprang to his feet in well-simulated indignation. "Guilty ! That is a harsh word. Doctor Leigh, and a younger man would pay dearly for it. If it were not for your age and my regard for your daughter" — here the doctor almost gnashed his teeth in his rage — "however, we will say nothing about that. It is for me to punish the sneaking rascal who has told you such a pack of infernal lies." "Arthur Willet does not lie." retorted the doctor angrily. "And I would take his word against yours any day in the week." "Ah !" sneered Jim. "So it was Willet who told you, eh? Well, we shall see what profit Mr. Willet has from mixing in my affairs. I will bring him to you, sir, and make him eat his words." Now, Jim had not the faintest belief in the world that he would ever be able to make Arthur Willet do anything of the sort, but he was a thorough believer in the efficacy of a strong bluff, strongly maintained, and he had just enough vanity to wish to impress the old man with the dignity of his exit. He did not