Richard Forrest, Bachelor — page 125: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

116 PLEDGING HIS WORD. ‘Yes,’ he uttered, tenderly, ‘it has turned outas [never dared dream it would. But what of the other one—the count, away off there in Belgium? Must he go on hoping?”’ She was silent. ‘What of him, Gertrude?’’ he urged, gently. She put her hand in his, hesitated, and then looked u:, into his face. ‘‘Leave that to me,’’ she replied, in a tone that filled his cup of joy to the brim. | As it may be imagined, the first person Arthur sought on leaving Miss Clayton that afternoon was Dick Forrest. But to his disappointment, he was not at his apartments. Just before dinner, however, he discovered him at the club, deep in a game of pool. ‘Come into the library when you’re through,’’ he whis- pered, ‘‘I want to see you particularly.’’ Dick was just about to make an important shot, but he looked up. ‘All right,’’ he answered, ‘‘it won’t take long, either. Harper is almost beaten now.”’ Arthur let his eyes wander somewhat impatiently the length of the table to where Dick’s opponent stood, lean- ing on his cue. ‘Well, cut it short, won’t you? I must see you soon,”’ he said, and left the room. Fifteen minutes afterward Dick followed him into the library. He was occupied with a book and was not aware of Dick’s approach until he felt a strong hand upon his shoulder. He started almost guiltily. ‘Oh, it is you,’’ he uttered, closing the volume. “The same. You expected me, I suppose?’’ ‘*Yes,’’ and he tossed the book on the table. Gomichookssco im