SOLDIERS OF
FORTUNE

BY
RICHARD HARDING DAVIS

TO
IRENE AND DANA GIBSON




SOLDIERS OF FORTUNE

I

``It is so good of you to come early,'' said Mrs. Porter, as
Alice Langham entered the drawing-room. ``I want to ask a favor
of you. I'm sure you won't mind. I would ask one of the
debutantes, except that they're always so cross if one puts
them next to men they don't know and who can't help them, and so
I thought I'd just ask you, you're so good-natured. You don't
mind, do you?''

``I mind being called good-natured,'' said Miss Langham, smiling.
``Mind what, Mrs. Porter?'' she asked.

``He is a friend of George's,'' Mrs. Porter explained, vaguely.
``He's a cowboy. It seems he was very civil to George when he
was out there shooting in New Mexico, or Old Mexico, I don't