Show THE BOOMERANG in BY LEIGH GORDON r sent to tho the Ir Lct t mo inc have your horse stables You'll Youl give us tho ho day of oC course courset Z Cathcart hesitated Wh Why really call he ho said saltI I had expected expected ex ex- to get bask to the time Ua village c li In time timmie for luncheon I couldn't think of or troubling troubling- Not ot In time the least Ernest Interposed interposed Inter inter- posed cordially A pleasure I assure assure as as- 35 sure you ou We Yc had expected from front your our letter leter that you'd oud spend several se days In the neighborhood and we you'd mal make e our OUI place headquarters Its It's Is I's past 11 now and you cul couldn't nt begin 10 begin be be- gin gln to do to Justice to the horses In an 31 hour C Cant Can't nt I persuade you OU to stay Youre really very very kind Mr 11 Graves If I youre you're quite sure that I it I wont won't be bc an Imposition that that imposition that I shant shan't Incommode you your you your brothers brother's brothers er or Mrs Graves Craves Cathcart spoke e tentatively tenta tenta- with wih his Ills eyes on a n girl II In white frock flock who was crossing the time lawn Jawn toward them at th the tho side of or a ta tail tal young oung fellow whose resemblance to Ernest Identified him as the older elder o of the tho Graves Gra owner of or historic and amI Its Is galaxy of oC equine stars nest Ernest grinned wickedly Ho Ito took tooka a perennial delight In Involving his Imis Sil sh shy retiring senior In embarrassing complications rendered more moro akward awkward awkward awk awk- ward always h by the tho iatter's later's utter lack of aplomb The present opportunity was not to bo be missed Fato hasn't favored me ho sighed My 1 brothers brother's the thc fortunate fortunate fortun fortun- ate ate ate- Most fortunate certainly If you'll youl pardon I my saying aln eo so Mr Gla Graves Assuredly Cathcart might have been held pardonable under a more conventional conventional con con- code than that of oC his host Time The girls girl's opulent blonde beauty was not rot a timing thing to be passed over lightly Even where stricter l' l standards prevailed prevailed pre pre- ried it I was conceded that the simplest situ sim Iest mode of or procedure was to frankly frank frank- ly accept It I It take It I openly Into account ac ac- ac- ac count and get set 0 on to something else Cathcart was ivas telling himself that thal the scene which spread Itself before beCore hl his enchanted o eyes e far surpassing the mental picture he ime had painted of oC th the Ideal Kentucky estate the estate the stately gl gray old mansion with Ith wih Its Is tall tail tal Doric columns and wide verandas its Is broad blue grass lawn and anti Its sweep of or down cown and meadow beyond hail beyond had needed only this graceful figure In time the foreground to make mali It I perfect I The Thc girl in her white gown own with her hel vivid contrasts of oC coloring her hem brilliant brilant blue 1110 eyes ees dazzling complex complexion ion loa and the bright ht hair hall her brothers dubbed clubbed re red and her adorers st styled lcd golden served to enliven enl en the tho composition composition compo compo- redeeming the Stud study in still life from Crom Its Is tranquil ti mono monotony Ion and making It a picture to the aesthetic sense In which though he would woul probably have ha phrased the tho im- im differently Ernest entirely a agreed with him Ills Ils acquaintance with wih Miss ls Gibson dated tinted hack back a Q little less Ics than baum a month she he was wa spending the summer wih with crith an aim aunt In the vi vicinity vl- vl and auml the thil two to had taken an Instinctive in instinctive In- In liking to each other Ho lIe had found her bon camarade from the time I beginning amid and he counted upon her Imer aid In hi his scheme schema for Cor hi his brothers brother's discomfiture Fortune seemed to fa favor CaVO fa- fa vet vor VO his de designs for fot as the elder cider Graves Glaves paused a moment to give an order t to a groom tho the girl Irl moved uncertainly un un- certainly forward a few paces puces Ernest Er gl nest host hastened forward to 10 Intercept her Elsie he lie said in a tone lone one not meant tom for the time car cam of oC his unsuspecting ing lug senior this is 1 Mr Mi Cathcart of New York YOlIe who has come on oum a n search of or a K Kentucky saddler or 01 two for his stab stables Its It's Youve You've doubtless heard d LII- LII Li- Li lard sp speak HI of him My lily sister-in-law sister Mrs Graves Mr Ir Cathcart Th The girl recovered her imer composure quickly Already El Ernests Ernest's nests nest's vagaries had cea ceased d to tn surprise her Supposing Supposing ing the time idle jest aimed at herself alone she sho resolved ed in a hash flash fash to robIl rob robIt robIt It Il of Its Is point by accepting it grace grace- race race- full CUl fully She welcomed the visitor with wih charming cordiality and stood chatting chatting chat chat- tn ting plen pleasantly atty with him while he ho struggled led valiantly not nol to stare at her Imer until Graves camo Caine up to be presented He Ho was quite ten ton years ears cars his brothers brother's senior his heavy hair hai was already touched with gray gry ho ime was iras undeniably plain plain absolutely absolutely u ugly I Elsie had pronounced a moment moment mo- mo mo me- ment meat later later when ihen he lie smiles However Fate with a n generous impulse impulso impulso im- im pulse to oven ovel things g up had given g him in lieu leu of his brothers brother's good looks to to which the time elder could couil certainly certainly lay no claim a claim a more imposing statute a line athletic figure and a beautiful deep 1001 ole voice which Ernest Erne t openly coveted hasn't any particular nee need of or It I. I it ho lie lamented and I could put It i to such effective use muse Im Im as It I Is but Id I'd Id he be Irresistible im with Ith a voice ol I eo that Sorry Soy you OU didn't write Tle or wire e as you ou were coming coining down lown today Mr I Cathcart Liliam-d Liliam was saying fraying with with easy cot cordiality Ive Ive taken the liberty of or sending your man nina back to town town town- Ill I'll Il drive you OU over o to time the station when when- over you wish Im I'm Im tl disappointed that thal you failed to give us the chance to moot you but hut now that youre you're here we shall expect you rou to stay with us uh as long Jong as may suit your convenience Ill I'll Il be bo glad slad to show you OU over our place and if It you OU care to visit any of oC tho tim neighboring stock toce fat farms arms my horses hordes horlas arc are at your our disposal Cathcart and anti time the elder eider Graves drifted drift drift- ed cd oft off in lii th direction of ot the stables and Ernest hastened to explain n a as ho he turned with Miss Gibson toward the tho veranda a where Bert Gibson sat sut chatting chatting chat chat- ting with wih Mrs Graves Gm Im Im afraid you ou thought me mc pretty prett nel nervy Just now he ho he began an but our guest seemed bent on attributing you OU to ono one or other of oC u us and our and our consideration consideration con con- for or you you you-I I did dil violence to tom tomy tomy m my own feelings colls and cho chose c as the lesser evil evi Do carr carry out the thc Joke Miss ls Gibson such a 0 chump Its It's Is I's no end of fun to guy U him lInt Hut the he girl Interposed knowIn knowIng know In Ing your OUI brother as af slightly as ag I do It strike him In iii as vcr very ory questionable ques ques- taste Besides mightn't the Joke joko work both ways way It I would be a atril atrin 0 trin trie awkward If it he ime should openly re repudiate ro- ro pu late me ol Oh ho he wont won't do that Ernest answered answered an nn- s lies Hes so painfully polite polite polite po po- lite that ho ito woul wouldn't nt dony deny a a claim established ho b by a much less les attract attract- I beg bg your pardon re really I lc hell Holl J tuf- tuf for fer tel In silence I assure you ou ll Miss Gib Gib- Gib- Gib son Hell He'll simply stand around and look awkward and miserable and make a rU guy of or himself generally Do Doto Dotry Dotry I try to it It I. I wont won't you Ill I'll It'll bo be such fun Cun Cunto to see him Thanks so o much muc I Oh Oi you dont don't know or you'd oud understand he ime protested lies Hes les been ben a n recluse all al hl his life UCe and ho has hasa a holy 1101 hol horror of your sex You should foci feel flattered that he dl dl take to the tIme woods whon when he Ime hoard heard hord you ou were coming cominG toda today He le u do does 1005 whon mother has feminine haJ guests anywhere short o of sixty Hes He's an as much afraid of or a girl a as ass a I 1 am tot for instance Ernest ins proverbially pro a squire quiro of ot I fun Sill el CS t tI I r hardly think I dare tiara undertake It I the time girl sold dubiously as the they S1 t S I ev- ev r.- r. SS l 5 ii t J t S mounted amounted time the veranda sep steps hUt bill I t Ernt rt r t found an unexpected ally aly In his hii hiI moth moth- er or Cr Elslo Elsie had quite expected her liar loving cousin to fall tal In with wih the Idea Ida but when Mrs Irs Graves approved Cd the thC scheme and even mon added her pr u- u slon sJon to his tho tImO girl toll foil that she could scarcely refuse the role thu thus thrust upon herI herI herI her I really with wish you'd try It H it Miss I Gibson said sid the tho mother who wn was not without a quiet sense of humor humm It I would be an Interesting C is so utterly so o Inconceivably unsophisticated Its It's Is not that t hes he's cynic or eer 01 a woman hater I hater I never knew a man more chivalrous but woman Is simply an unknown quantity in ni imi ii experience My I husband died Llad was a mere lad IntI and at nt a time Ur when other youths are Indulging Ina In Ina a series of or harmless flirtations he ime found foun himself burdened with the care car of or a widowed mother an obstreperous younger brother an and amid a large and much Involved In estate For years eUl he lie had imad really really real real- ly Iy no time to think of ot affairs affair of or th the heart an and now that he might the the- po possibility pos possibility pos pos- never seems to occur to himI him I 1 don't dont dont don't believe beleve he I knows now he ho has a aheart heart heart Suppose you OU carry out Ernests Ernest's scheme If you dont don't mind Miss Gibson Gibson Gib Gib- Im I'm Im I'm call leall how ho son Im really curious to see ec Lillard will wi take tale IL Accordingly when whon two teO hours lafr later that unconscious youth and hl his guest approached the thc group on the tIme veranda Graves received recel tho the surprise o of i his Imis life Elsie arose nrose at their approach and anti advanced with wih a n pretty effect of oC cordiality Mother other she sho said lot me present Mr Mi Il Cathcart l 1 Mr Mi Cathcart my cousin in Mr lr Gibson Will Wiil 1 you come comeIn comein In or would you OU prefer afar to sit si out outside I believe Its It's ls l's rather cooler here hee Lii- Lii 11 lard she lard she spoke c the thc name miame he In ly but sweet withal withal wIlI wH will you ou bring out more chairs Graves had hiatt hal stopped short at her first word His face flushed darkly then hen went rather white The rhe expression sion slon which came canie Into his Imis e eyes eyes' e 1 made the girl Sill regret her complicity In the affair The humor of or the tho situation sud sod I denly ceased ed to appeal to her Graves waited l quietly until uni she hind had finished I then hen passed her without a word ord and amid went Into the house She felt dl ls- ls 5 uncomfortable A moment later later lator lat lat- lat lat- er or the tho feeling was intensified Take this seat scat dear said a a. deep voice olce at nt her ear car Elsie Elslo gasped flashed flash ed ad a hurried glance at the speaker and anti dropped abruptly Into the t proffered chair chah Graves Gra had pulled to together together to to- gether expeditiously and was wn smiling down at her with wih an assumption of possessive tenderness which warned her hll that he was not likely to prove e the time cas easy mark she sho had anticipated II It I was she who was disconcerted while Graves had Imad recovered his wonted alt air ai of at quiet composure Youve You E a wonderfully fine country countr hereabouts Mrs Graves os time tho unconscious guest est was saying Ing This is my amy list first listi i visit it to your state stat and Im I'm Im I'm quite charmed with wih it Id I'd Id always fancied d the thc bc beauties of oC the blue grass glss a hit bit hi exaggerated but I find tHyr they're not nol The Tho horses arc alc simply matchless and andas andas as tot for horsemanship why wh Mis vs Graves ayes turning to 10 Elsie I never saw aw anything quite quie so f clever clover as your yom husbands husband's riding Such skill stick Mich grace Mich uch perfect focI control of ones one's mount I had never Imagined lh l' l have haye been heen moments when I fanci fancied d c I was was something of a horse horse- nan man myself but I realize In my ion tion ton Really I never know kne anyone anyone- and ind Ive I've Ive seen scon sonic sonio fine One hOI semen hoi emen both holh here and In iii England England who who approached j 11 Mr Mi Graves GIaves and he toils tells mo me mC his Imis brother broth broth- I er el Is considered even c moie mome expert I think iii my boys iOS possess time the thC tm- tm I Kent Kentucky uck spirit I intensified n ln said aid the tho mother smiling They 1 live liven In n tIme the saddle and arc ni-c wholly absorbed in n their Itch goes goes A little dearer than luau lis mis horse would mean a good deal a as applied to either I Elsie had imad recovered reco sufficiently to tale take up the time though she sho was harassed b by uncomfortable an suspicion cion don amply confirmed by the ion json of or Br Berts Bert's rl's and Ernests Ernest's faces faCeR that Lillard Liard Gra Graves Graes es was isas leaning over oyer Item liei chair with an exaggerated air aut o of wih ail conjugal con- con ugal jugal devotion Do you ou know Mr h Cathcart she sho said I l am quite nuite absurdly jealous of Dillard's Dillards favorite fa GHana Gitana I sometimes some some- times half fane fancy that hos ho's fonder Condel of her than of me She Sho was aware that thai ho time appropriate accompanying action would have o boon been a n coquettish upward glance e at Liard but bul she sho did not daro dare attempt I It Sudden Suddenly I she felt cit Cel a strong hand land close for Instant an over o the lingers fingers Cs C's which lay on the arm alm of or her chair as s murmured sotto chai soto OCO oce yet quite audibly audibly- Im sure you needn't worry on that score You should know lwow where my heart icart J Is sweet t I Bert and Ernest narrowly escaped an ni outburst and anti lh Mrs Gravess Graves's face I was suspiciously red i Elsio Elsic full felt fel tho the blood rush In a a. swift crimson on tide over ovel her face and anti throat She opened her hel lips to confess the thc deception but the thc chalen challenge o she sho met In Lillard's Liard's eyes ces made mulo her imer set her teeth and anti resolve to see It Il outI out out I fanc fane you haven't ha been married a very ver glo groat t while Mr AIr G Graves 10 es ventured ventured ven von tho the visitor This Tills was too much lot for ret Ho lie bolted precipitately precipitately pre pre- followed by Bort BOt who had tho the grace to murmur an aim unintelligible excuse while Graves covered their re retreat retreat re- re treat b by saying with wih amusing amusing- tenderness tender tender- ness nel which made Elsie Elsio yearn earn to box box his cars ears It I certainly has imas not seemed a ar var r very great while to me inc Luncheon which was shortly horth served served seri |