“She has a dead weight of a helpless father and mother.”
The doctor put match to a cigar.
“Juliet says her brother died of dissipation in a gambling-house.”
Doctor Barnes began to chew hard on a cigar that he had failed to light.
“But she’s a mighty sweet girl,” said Anthony softly.
“See here, Tony,” the doctor burst out.—“Oh, hang it all—”
“I see,” said his friend, with a hand on his shoulder. “Go ahead, Roger Barnes—there’s nothing in life like it; and the good Lord have mercy on you, for the sort of girl worth caring for doesn’t know the meaning of the word.”
“All gone, little girl,” said Anthony jubilantly, as he turned back into the house the next evening, after watching out of sight the big touring-car of Lockwood’s which had carried all his house-party away at once. “They are mighty fine people and I like them all immensely—but—I have enjoyed to the full this speeding the parting guest. And now for my vacation. It begins to-morrow.”