I thought you'd
shed your follies as your grip upon life had tightened, but one
is never sure."
Tavernake sighed.
"Oh, I have shed the worst of my follies!" he answered. "I only
wish--"
He never finished his sentence. Elizabeth had suddenly seen him.
For a moment she leaned forward as though to assure herself that
she was not mistaken. Then she half sprang to her feet and sat
down again. Her lips were parted--she was once more
bewilderingly beautiful.
"Mr. Tavernake," she cried, "come and speak to me at once."
Tavernake rose without hesitation, and walked firmly across the
few yards which separated them. She held out both her hands.
"This is wonderful!" she exclaimed. "You in New York! And I
have wondered so often what became of you."
Tavernake smiled.
"It is my first night here," he said. "For two years I have been
prospecting in the far west."
"Then I saw your name in the papers," she declared. "It was for
the Manhattan Syndicate, wasn't it?"
Tavernake nodded, and one of the men of the party leaned forward
with interest.
"You're going to make millions and millions," she assured him.
"You always knew you would, didn't you?"
"I am afraid that I was almost too confident," he answered. "But
certainly we have been quite fortunate."
One of Elizabeth's companions intervened--he was the one who had
pricked up his ears at the mention of the Manhattan Syndicate.
"Say, Elizabeth," he remarked, "I'd like to meet your friend.
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