Jasper County Democrat, Volume 12, Number 41, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 September 1909 — The Man From Home [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

The Man From Home

A Novelization of the Play of the Same Name

By BOOTH TARKINGTON and HARRY LEON WILSON

SYNOPSIS. CHAPTER I.—Daniel Voorhees Pike, a rising young Kokomo (Ind.) lawyer, hears that his ward. Ethel GrangerSimpson, is to be married abroad ta the son of an English earl. Her father was hfs nearest friend and he has long loved the girl. He goes abroad to arrange with her the business matters connected with her marriage. ll—Ethel Granger-Simpson and her brother Horace, have become anglomaniacs and are spending much of their late father’s fortune in travel and entertaining. They become intimate with Lady Creech, the Earl of Hawcastle, his son, Aimeric St. Aubyn, and Comtesse de Champigny, an adventuress and associate of the earl's. They are at a hotel at Sorrento. Italy. Ethel promises to marry the son because she craves a title. Ill—The Russian Grand Duke Vasil! is shortly to arrive at the same hotel Incognito as Herr von Grollerhagen. IV —The Earl of Hawcastle is in need of money and wants his son to get a huge settlement of money at his marriage to Ethel. An escaped Russian bandit is located at Sorrento. V—For some reason the comtesse fears the alleged bandit is one Ivanoff. Aimeric tells his father Ethel has accepted him. Vl—Horace agrees to persuade his sister Ethel to settle $750,000 on Aimeric. Vll—Ethel tells Horace of her delight at the prospect of her coming marriage into the ancient family of the St. Aubyns. VIII—Von Grollerhagen arrives with Daniel Voorhees Pike on foot, their auto having broken down. IX —Harold, Ethel and the Hawcastle party are disgusted with what they term the “American manners” of Pike. She tells Pike of her Identity, as he had failed to recognize her in her European clothes and European deportment. X —Pike refuses to consent as her guardian to her settling $750,000 on Aimeric, and Ethel is enraged at him. Xl—The Russian refugee meets Pike, and the latter shows him a place to hide from the Italian police. Von Grollerhagen aids Pike to do this. XII—• The fugitive tells Von Grollerhagen and Pike how he came to be sent to the Siberian mines. Horace falls In love with the adventuress the comtesse. Xlll—Pike tells Ethel that he can never forget how she used to sing “Sweet Genevieve” back home in Indiana. XIV —Hawcastle tells Pike that he will have him put in jail for sheltering a fugitive from justice unless Pike gives his consent to Ethel's marriage with Aimeric. XV—Pike learns that Hawcastle has had a checkered career in St. Pettersburg and that he stole the wife of Ivanoff, the Russian fugitive. XVI—Von Grollerhagen is revealed as the Russian grand duke. Hawcastle and the comtesse (Ivanoff’s faithless wife) are confronted by Ivanoff, and they are horrified at the discovery of their awful secret.

He was about to add more when the door opened and Mariano appeared. Instantly the American changed his tone to ope of severe command. “And don't you forget what I’ve been telling you. You get the sand out of that gear box first thing tomorrow morning, or I’ll see that you draw your last pay Saturday night!” Ivanoff caught the idea and bowed silently and then turned and entered the door to the inner chamber. Mariano came forward and bowed. “Mees Granger-Seempsone,” said he and went out, standing to one side to make room for Ethel as she entered with a look of complete astonishment on her face. Pike approached her. “I’m much obliged to you for taking my note the right way,” he said. “I’ve got some pretty good reasons for not leaving this room.” She Inclined her head icily and fidgeted with the note she held. “Your note seemed so extraordinarily urgent,” she began, but he Interrupted. “It had to be,” ho said. “Some folks who want to see me are coming here, and I want you to see them—here. They'd stopped you from coming If they could.” She flashed a look of disbelief at him. “There was no effort to prevent me,” she said coldly. “I didn’t give ’em time,” he smiled. “May I ask to whom you refer?” sbt Inquired. "Certainly. The whole kit and boodle nf ’em,” he replied. “Excuse me. I haven’t time to be elegant, even If I knew how.” “Do you mean my chaperon would disapprove?” she asked, hastily rising. "I shouldn’t be surprised. I reckon the whole flhe flower of Europe would disapprove. ‘Disapprove!’ They’d sandbag you to keep you away!” “Then I can’t stay,” she cried and started for the door. He stepped between her and the exit and raised his hand with a gesture of command. “Yes, you can, and you will, and you’ve got to,” he said. “I’m your guardian, and you’ll do as I say. You'll obey me this once If you never do again. You’ll stay here while I talk to these people, and you’ll stay in spite of everything they say or do to make you go!” She looked startled and stepped back from him, and he went on: "God knows I hate to talk rough to you. I wouldn’t hurt your feelings for the. world, but it’s come to a point where I’ve got to use the authority I have over you.” In an instant she flared up. “Authority! Do you think’’— “You’ll stay here for the next twenty minutes If I have to make Crecy and Agincourt look like a peace conference,” he snapped. And she sank back Into a chair with a gesture of alarm. Pike went closer to her and spoke more softly. “You and your brother have soaked up a society colutnn notion of life over here,” he said. “You’re like old Pete Delaney of Terre Hut He got so he’d drink cold tea if there was a label on the bottle that spelled

"You're going too far,” the girl cried. “They’ve got you fuddled with labels here,” went on the American. “It’s my business to see that you know what kind of people you’re dealing with.” She Cropped her head. “You’re bullying me! I don’t see why you talk so brutally to me.” “Do you think I’d do it for anything but you?” be asked. “You are odious, Insufferable!” she cried, with a flash of temper. “Don’t you think I know you despise me?” he asked bitterly. And she flared again. “I do not despise you. If I had stayed at home and grown up there I should probably have been a provincial young woman, playing ‘Sweet Genevieve’ on the organ for you tonight,” she said. “My life has not been that, however, and you have humiliated me from the moment of your arrival here. You have made me ashamed both of you and myself. And now you have some preposterous plan that will shame mo again—both of us—once more before these gentlefolk.” There was a bustling without and some loud talking, and Pike smiled wanly. “I think them gentlefolk are here,” he said. As he spoke the door was thrown open, and Lady Creech hurriedly entered, followed by the countess, Horace. Aimeric and the earl. The latter bowed sardonically tt> Pike, and Lady Creech hurried to Ethel with a cry of astonishment. “My dear child! What are you doing here in this dreadful place with this dreadful person?” she demanded IhrfUy. “My dear! Les covenances!” cried inadame. “Ethel! I am surprised! Come away at once!” demanded Horace. “Olf, I say, you know, Miss Ethel, really!” echoed Aimeric. “You can’t stay here, you know!” Pike stopped them with a gesture and said: “I’m her guardian, and she’s here by my authority, and, what’s more, she’ll stay by my authority.” Horace turned to the earl. “Lord Hawcastle, will you Insist upon Ethel’s leaving? It’s quite on the cards we shall have a disagreeable scene here.” i Hawcastle smiled evilly. “I see no reason for it We’re here simply for Mr. Pike’s answer. He knows where he stands, and he knows where we stand,” said the earl suavely, and the American met bis smile evenly. “I reckon you’re right so far,” he said. “And your answer will be yes?” asked the earl, but Pike shook his head. “You’re wrong there,” he answered, and Hawcastle changed front in an instant. “Perhaps you are right Mr. Gran-ger-Simpson,” he said.* “There may be painful things done. Better your sister were spared them. Take her away.” Pike snapped at them all and moved to the door, where he faced them. “Miss Ethel, you’ll stay right where you are!” he commanded, and, paying no attention, Pike turned to Hawcastle. “You’re here for an answer, you say?” “Yes,” answered the earl, after an instant’s pause, and Dan went closer to him. “An answer to what?” he demanded, looking the other in the eye. “An answer to our request that you accede to the wishes of this young lady,” replied the earl uneasily. “And if I don’t what are you going to do?” demanded Pike quickly. Horace at once broke in. - “Ethel, you must go!” he Implored.

But Pike waved him to silence. “Tell her. Why do you come here sure of the answer you want?" he insisted savagely. “A gentleman would spare her that.” said Hawcastle, with uneasiness. and the American laneberi “I won’t!” he snapped. “Speak out! Why?” But the earl would not an- ! swer directly, so Pike turned to Ethel. ‘.*This afternoon I tried to help a poor devil, a broken down Russian running away from Siberia, where : he’d been for nine years.” Ethel half rose in her chair and faced him eagerly. “A poor, weak thing,” he went on, “bounded like you’ve seen a rat In the gutter by dogs and bootblacks. Some of your friends here saw us bring him into this apartment. They know we’ve got him here now. If I don’t agree to hand over you and $750,000 of the money John Simpson made it means that the man I tried to help goes back to Siberia and I go to an Italian jail for two years or as much more as they can make it.” “Nonsense,” cried Hawcastle. But Ethel waved him aside and turned, with a withering look on Pike. “I knew you had some further hu- , miliation in store for me. Do you think I would believe that an English nobleman would stoop”— ■ Pike interrupted her ruthlessly and bitterly. “Stoop?” he cried. “Why, ten years ago in St. Petersburg there was a poor devil of a revolutionist who in his crazy patriotism took government money for the cause he believed in. He made the mistake of keeping that money In the house, when this man”— he pointed to Hawcastle—“knew it was there. He also made the mistake of having a wife this man coveted and stole, as he coveted and stole the money. Oh, he made a good job of it! Don’t think that tonight is the first time he has given Information to the police. He did it then, and the husband went to Siberia”— Hawcastle was the picture of amazement and horror as he staggered up. “A dastardly slander!” he cried. “And he’ll do it again tonight!” Pike went on. “I go to an Italian jail”—he whirled and pointed an accusing finger at Mme. de Champigny—“and that same poor devil of a husband goes back to Siberia!” “It’s—lt’s a ghastly He!” croaked Hawcastle, his face livid. “You came for your answer,” went on Pike stridently, “and, by the living

God, I’ve got it for you!” He stepped to the door of the inner chamber and threw it open. “Ivanoff!” he called, and the Russian came into the room. At the sight of

him Hawcastle fell back against the mantel, and the countess collapsed in a heap on the floor. Ivanoff saw none but her and, striding to her. lifted both clinched bands above her head. “Ivan—oh. mother of God!—lvan! Don’t kill me!” she gasped. For a moment he stood over her, then collapsed into a chair, where he wilted, sobbing violently. (To be Continued.)

“He has betrayed me himself!”

IVANOFF SAM NONE BUT HER.