People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1893-03-31
"YEs, IRIS A GRAND LARK, MARY" M'KEE

necessary now, but may be at any mo-
ment. Call on me without hesitation.
am something of a huntsman myself"
Indeed? Wish | had known that be-
FORE" Mckee answered, promptly.
However, better late than never; and
shall be glad to have you join our very
next trip. Here's my door,"
Thanks. Good night" the federal
said, muttering, as he turned away:
'No harm in him. Fitzhugh was right;
he's as big a fool as he looks. They
were mistaken; he needs no watching"
Suddenly he turned, stepping rapidly
back to Mckee, strangely delayed by
the familiar night-latch.
by the way, Mr.. Mckee, who is Mr..
Carroll Meredith"
Carroll? Why, major, he's the club
bachelor of the town; our Marylands
Maj. Pendennis.' Don't you know
him?"
"No; only heard his name. Is he a
hunter, too?"
"a very Nimrod," Mckee answered,
lightly-"the best shot and surest cast
of fly in all Maryland. As you're a
hunter, you must meet him. But come
in and have nip before you turn in"
He threw the door wide, turned up
the hall gas, and, for the first time, a
unionist foot had passed over Mrs. dc
KEGS jealous threshold.
"Try that brandy" Willie said in the
dining-room. my father imported it
thirty years ago. We don't use it often;
Mary Clonan must have left it out"
miss Clonan has good TASTE" the
major said, emptying his glass with a
sigh of satisfaction. 81 drink to her
judgment: cognac like that is not to be
found often"
miss Clonan is a reliable grand
mother of about sixty" the other re-
turned, with laugh. "She is the
servant whose daughters illness keeps
me from the ducks. By the way, she
leaves at dawn; and, as you said the
passes might be needed, would you
mind giving her one?" he added, natur-
ally, as he reflled the majors glass
"She may need it." the latter an
swered, courteously. "rll write her
one, anyway, for her presence of mind
in leaving that cognac out" He took
out pass-book and began to write.
Better make it for herself and daugh-
ter, Ell? She may wish to move the
girl, later"
The pass given, the major ushered out
with courteous pressure to call again,
but the door eagerly locked behind him,
Mckee sped softly up to his own apart
ments. Once there, he opened that ar
canum-that holy of holies-containing
his theatrical outfit. Costumes, tights
of every hue, cloaks, wigs, boards,
swords, and numberless pots, pans and
bottles Of unguents and colors for
makeup" stood revealed in we'll
ordered confusion. Quickly his prac-
ticed eye ran over the whole, selecting
two wigs, several pairs of heavy tights,
a lot of pads and female busts, and nu-
merous pots of paint-chosen with most
care. Packing them into a valise. he
passed noiselessly into the street and
regained Meredith's house. He entered
without ringing, and softly opened the
door Of the sitting-room. The old bach
elor was stretched at ease in his great
leathern chair, warm smoking-iacket
enveloping his sturdy frame, and his
slippered feet stretched cozily to the
fire, his huge meerschaum filing the
room with fragrant, dream-inducing
clouds. From any visions he was
aroused by the quiet query:
"Wud ye be afther mindin' : cup o.
| tay, now. wild bite o. shopper? Or