Show RU own 7 BY Y M E SUN W t U 0 lar S ta vial imo balla eA lla hr CHAPTER CHAITER VI Continued 10 please dad she said breath lessly essly teetering on the running board ot of the car will you take me to mary lillian pattons Pat tons house bouse on your way to wherever youre going hop in her father invited susan looked at jim in front she asked why not mr vaughn opened the door theres plenty of room susan settled herself between her father and jim the sedan rolled flown down the drive somebody looks very nice this morning mr vaughn remarked dont you think so jim swella jim saw susans face in the mirror attached to the windshield it was as pink as a carnation under the brim of a leghorn hat bat cecily had better watch out mr vaughn continued looks as though we may have another beauty in the family the carnation pink in the small mirrored face deepened to rose susan folded her hands bands primly over a rubber bag in her lap ive got my bathing suit she said both shy end and pleased and a towel and some talcum powder as its a swimming party is it mr vaughn asked in a conversational tone mary lillian Is having a birthday susan expanded in the agreeable and unaccustomed atmosphere of adult approbation ive got a p present resent tor for her its a book she added i 1 I thought you like mary lillian her father continued you hide in the barn the last time she came to see you 1 1 I dont like her susan replied serenely ashes an awful baby and iraida cat theres going to be a wedding at her house though next month in Sept september emberl I 1 thought id better be nice to mary lillian so BO that maybe id be e invited mr vaughn laughed youre growing up susie id rather not be called susie sh she e said with dignity or susan either my name is sue heres the gate jim I 1 could have walked only I 1 might have ruined my slippers 11 well well wel 1 marvelled marvel led mr vaughn the sedan turned into the patton place followed a shaded drive to a pillared house of 0 georgian brick surrounded by gardens and lawns children were playing croquet on a grass court at the side of the house little girls in dainty dresses boys i iri in clean white linen the party a arty had just begun c jick jim i opened the door lor for susan and handed her out ot witha with a flourish think she was a debutante he said anjim as jim returned to his place behind the wheel she 1 a bad looking child the transformation forma tion Is amazing mr vaughn glanced shrewdly at jim how did you do it 1 I jims ilmis laugh disclaimed all credit for susans reformation ashes certainly impressed by you mr vaughn continued she olgs after you like a shadow id no no idea shed ever be interested in weddings dings and clothes b susan is very feminine jim taid cald her vanity is blossoming bloss oming it would have happened some time and you had nothing to do with it dont doat be unduly modest rn adest jim no way to get on in the world oh something perhaps jim was becoming increasingly embarrassed m ar 1 I like sue so do 1 I but ive never been able to work the miracle went at it the wrong way I 1 suppose ive neglected the children he be added soberly berly to ive left them pretty much to schools and governesses wark the depression ive not been with them until this summer continuously that is tommy cecily i do you know anything about this clyde chap he asked abruptly cecily thinks ashes in love with faim the question caught jims straying attention here aias was his opportunity Y to make a suggestion this was the golden moment to present is as his own the plan which cecily had bad devised mr vaughn was in a receptive mood he had only to go gi about it tactfully he let the ahe into eternity no ie he said and then realizing that his reply was a little curt nothing he added except that b be writes bad poetry do we ve urn here sir air Is the place afi on the cherry hollow road mr vaughn dismissed his hia family and turned to jo alie the business at bund V this tide of cherry rollow hollow he said caid not I 1 tar far from here a mile ot ait had bad t to take over a riding academy well sell it at public auction I 1 suppose if fool enough to make a bid another white elephant the abandoned riding academy appeared to be a white elephant of the most hopeless variety the place formerly a farm was overgrown with weeds and brambles and blackberry bushes pretty bad it vaughn said to jim as they walked through the dim stable festooned festoon ed with cobwebs and littered with mouldy bouldy odds and ends of harness and rope and moth eaten blankets and corn cobs and fodder the land should bo be worth something jim said real estate bring anything in hi the present market mr vaughn replied no well take a licking on this the they v came out into sunlight jims eyes moved over the weed grown oval in the meadow the sagging rail jumps the house bouse huddling forlornly under the low branched trees was etever a paying proposition he asked yes mr vaughn replied four or five years ago it was tremendously successful 1 I should think it might have been jim said musingly the location is excellent excelle nL its only a mile from th the e green acres club and within a short distance of four our towns to say nothing of the country places around what happened the place changed hands the last fellow who ran it much initiative I 1 suppose it requires require sa a certain amount ot of personality to make a success of a riding academy its alke an inn or a roadhouse you have to cater to peoples whims and crochets the ladies especially must be pleased now you mr vaughn looked at jim speculatively you have some of the qualifications dodou do you think you could take over this place and make it go jims heart leapt he steadied it with a prompt application of com mon sense mr mi vaughn in earnest he was merely talking ive had no experience he replied as casually as he be could you know something about horses mr vaughn persisted defending his former statement oh something mr vaughns eyes twinkled macpherson told me you brought lady through an attack ol of the colic the other night it bad she was in fair air shape when the vet arrived I 1 know i few simple remedies there were horseson hors eion my uncles place where nii was that whitehall out beyond chestnut hill athe the king place mr vaughn asked quickly yes sir I 1 lived with my uncle my parents died when I 1 was a child macpherson came from the king pla place ce yes ayes sir jim smiled so the connect connection loiL mr vaughn looked thoughtful what college princeton 29 im one of the lost loit generation 11 mr vaughn made no reply he stood for a time on the steps of the house looking over the property with a minutely appraising scrutiny presently he be walked to the bar car all right he said lets go the s short hort drive back to meadow brook wai was accomplished in an almost unbroken silence once mr vaughn roused from his absorption to ask know anything about fox hunting hating and somi some time later h ha e said baidin ii an abstracted voice as r though he be was thinking aloud horse sense and personality the combination jim would not let himself believe that mr vaughn was considering the proposition he hid had mentioned so casually but he thought during the afternoon to the exclusion ot of lenores house party he was silent at s upper supper he mUch mitch appetite the matter jamie aarie mrs macpherson asked disguising her concern in 16 a sin simulated huff shortcake short cake and yo you u ria vent touched it its swell jim assured her im not hungry all jim glanced at macpherson the lean sandy scot was regarding him with an expression which he did not understand there was kindness in it it affection and pride the same expression puzzled hl him later when tommy came cameto 16 the cottage to summon jim to the bouse what does mr vaughn want wit hyou jamic camle mrs macpherson asked when tommy had bad delivered his bissas ines sace e and gone wants want to fire me X guess gues jim paused to answer the que question silon on his wiy way upstairs 1 I doubt that MacPhe macpherson rion sail said quietly ul etli and it was then that jim saw again the expression he no ti cedat supper mr vaughn satin sat in the library in a haze ot of cigar cibir smoke making rapid calculations on a pad on the desk before hini him he glanced up as jim entered the room sit down he said cordially this is likely to be i a long session smoke it if you carai care to thank you jim sank into a leather chair and ut lit a cigarette mr vaughn came to the point with gratifying directness do you think you can handle that riding academy he asked watching jim intently jim glanced up questioningly to his bis surprise mr vaughn appeared to e in earnest id like to have a try at it it he said have you thought of it since this morning AU ali afternoon jim smiled a little self consciously ive been telephoning all afternoon n I 1 think its well worth taking a chance the property bring anything like its value at public lic auction this Is a good time to put the place in order labor and materials are cheap you can take charged of the repairs there are masons and carpenters in the village how soon jim managed to ask immediately mr vaughns tone was crisp and decisive well get it partially ready for the hunting this fall there wont be much business during the tha winter by spring well be all set jim experienced a moment ot 01 panic im not sure he said doubtfully 1 I think I 1 can do it im not unduly modest as you suggested this morning butrie but ive had no experience Per peri lence ence except with horses youre probably taking a chance 1 I know kno but I 1 think you can do it mr vaughn was as delighted with the new project as a thild child with 00 P jim drew bals chair close to th e desk and the two plunged into possible figures a new toy and proportionately ge dial elal 1 I had bad a talk with Mac Pher son this afternoon and he agrees with me that explained ons expression pres slon he have mentioned his bis conversation with mr V vaughn aughn under 1 a I third degree grilling I 1 theres no doubt about your being competent to please the ladles ladies mr vaughn went on his eyes twinkling at jim 1 I never have any idea whether a young fellow is good looking or not but a straw vote in my almost entirely feminine household seems to settle that question you are it appears a cross between a young viking and the discus thrower with poi possibly sibly just a touch of that his name in ia the movies who plays society cow p punchers and ia last st summers lifeguard at cape may I 1 mention this in passing because its likely to be an asset he opened a box 0 on n the desk s selected a fresh regarded it with a guilty expression s 1 I kedmy allotment for today he said irritably how do they chiy expect me to talk business without a cigar they dont jim said grateful for a 9 change in the conversation all poppy N cockill doc kill mi va vaughn bugl uv proved 1 his p olal to mi his own s satisfaction s fa c at C leasa le at by lighting the cigar im as well aiice as ive ever been or 0 r practically so lie he amended The IThe first September of Illi IU start tart going in to ther the office at liast least two mornin mornings gsa a week youre fired jim the fragrant smoke 1 aft l creased his geniality au you a bad secretary though except that your dour typing left much to be de blied now see here I 1 have an idea jim drew his chair close to the desk deik and the two plunged into possible figures and specifications ns jim hesitant at first found himself making suggestions even arguing point with his hii employer now and then and in one instance winning thi the final ahal decision he thoi thought aught that mr vaughn was pleased with bis bli suggestions later mr vaughn questioned jim about his college career a 1 re erand and talked of ids his own they fishing ashing and baseball ara an A the ai possible causes odthe of the depreo depression sion its a mathematical fact that panics panic occur in cycles cy cles mr vaughn expounded and alap A tarpons the the I 1 hamest gamest fishe fiehn in the 46 sea jim contributed and good old connie mack hast a chance of winning the pennant this year they both agreed it was late lata when jim at last rose to leave mr vaughn went with him to the thedoor door I 1 dont worry he said were both taking a chance on the thing jim wrung the hand he extended im awfully grateful he said ive tried to be casual about it but I 1 dont feel that way iguess I 1 guess you abu know its the first real break ive Ivd had VIT jim in a rosy glow of optimism sprinted down the terrace steps at the side of th the house ehouse and through thi the garden taken taking a shortcut short cut to the th cottage A figure detached itself from shadows biml cecily called softly he halted halterin in the path beside the miniature min liture fountain one toot foot threatening a clump of night blooming stock she cami came up to him laughing ive been waiting tor for you she said forward of me it itt its iti getting to be a habit her voice was light gay excited ive never e i r believed in victims caughlin caught caugh tin in the tentacles of habit maybe there III something in it after all jim what did he say I 1 jim looked at ai her mentally bunking blinking what did who say ay he asked father youve youie been with him all al livening evening you drop a hint about jerry I 1 thought latwas that was probably why you youw were ere iii there ere her hand band as light as i a butterfly touched the sleeve of his coat it you make a single helpful suggestion several jim saw said but they about you and your jeremiah jeremiah Jeremi ahl I 1 loathe youl no I 1 dont youre teasing you did you jim youre a self centered young lady 11 jim found it impossible to be distant and unapproachable the rosy glow took care of that I 1 very nicely who the countered but if you talking about jerry and me all those hours and hours ive been waiting out here getting soaked with dew and bitten by ear W wigs digs what are ear wigs jim 7 what were you talking ab about or is it a secret something important and masculine that I 1 understand der stand I 1 it a secret jim felt his mouth stretching into a grin luckily the night was as dark as a dungeon maybe she sh woul dAlt notice 1 I was getting fired h he said that truel true father waste that much time on me men hes discharging what has happened dark as it Is I 1 can see how smug and pleased with yourself ya you look sounds terrible it Is she stood very close to him her hand resting on his arm thanks jim said wanting to loverher cover her hand with his prudently resisting the impulse it felt like a silly grin it if im not entirely respectful ful tonight he be went on put me in my place when an extra man in and about the house is elevated beyond his station its apt to go to his head tell me jim lets sit in the summerhouse summer house its buggy and the benches are damp but I 1 think we can stand it im not noi sure that I 1 should jim appeared to hesitate Is atcon it conventional vent ional for you ta bitin alt in a summer house with the manager of a riding academy im a little va vague due about social distinctions A riding academy acad emyl ll I 1 she laughed Is that what you and father are up to do you like the idea tremendously jim followed her to the summerhouse summer house built about the stone foundation of a smokehouse smoke house at the end of the pe garden has father taken over the place on the cherry hollow hollo w road like grant took richmond jim sat beside cecily in the summerhouse surn mer house screened with vines your father is swe swell he said mith enthusiasm thusia s sm im 1 1 I hope I 1 wont fall down on i the job c yoh oh make a success of it cecily e assured him just the sight of you on a horse will bring the debutantes debutante 3 flocking kingin in swarms and yearning ladies on the verge of and ades whose US bus bd bands rids doht understand fa them iian iia bithe the bene bench h in the summerhouse summer |