The Portland daily press., 1898-02-09

-dlA 4ACU hAOW ~ L O4 SA4O0-S~ @-~ -
told us. Itwould have spared both Mrs.
Northcote and myself most anxious
day and night" His face expressed
vexation. Bascom's perplexity.
1t is no slight thing we have under
taken for pure love of you, Bascom, and
of her, and we must be allowed to have
supreme control in this matter, or you
must relieve us entirely. Our task is
difficult enough without any such inter-
ference -
The colonel dropped into chair and
held fast by its two arms as if putting
a physical restraint upon himself.
"My dear Northcote, would you OBJ
ject seriously to stop that gallop Of
yours just long enough to tell me what
you are talking about? Hang me if I
can extract one lucid idea out of it all!''
Northcote seated himself violently in
the nearest chair.
81 am talking about Miss Bascoms
$50 am [. :"
"Your sister, Mia8 Easoom. "
"The devil yea are! And you expect
ed to find her here?"
The colonel sprang from his chair en-
ergetically. Northcote faced him with a
dropped jaw.
"Then she is not here?'
"Here-here'' The colonel clutched
his well brushed hair with both hands.
"What should she be doing here, of all
places on earth?"
Northcote paled before the question.
"We have not seen her for two days
and nights. I have been away on pro-
fessional business, and Mrs Northcote
did not know what to do until return
ed. We supposed-we hopod"-
The colonel interrupted him testify.
"Good Lord, deliver us from this
mess of the DEVILS own continuing T!
And the house full of men! Do you sup
pose-can it be possible-that she has
heard about Jessie?''
'What about her?'
eI am looking for her home-here. :"
sob, you are How could Miss Bas-
com know anything about her when
neither Mrs. Northcote nor have been
honored with your confidence?'
"That is true-true. What an ass I
am! OF course not. I say, Hillary, I
never could think lucidly On an empty
stomach. Aren't you hungry after your
ID mile rider
1--WE had nothing since an early
breakfast, butt
The colonel possessed the happy fac
ulty of pushing disagreeables into the
background Of his mind, there to await
a more convenient season.
He smiled cheerfully into his friends
gloomy face and said:
cit is bad enough, old fellow, but
starving won't mend it. I've got 18
men sitting in my dining room, wait
ing for me to come back and Incidental
ly wishing you with the devil. Well
talk this snarl over after they have gone.
I've got my hands full. I'm going to
tell them about Jessie. 3"
Northcote fairly gasped:
You are? How will they take it?''
How they will take you can judge
for yourself; some of them kindly, I
hope-not ALL though. Come.
He opened the door leading into the
dining room with suddenness that
left no alternative. Northcote had to
follow.
oscar, another chair, there, at my
right Gentlemen, some Of you may re-
member my dear friend, DR.. Hillary
Northcote. All of you know him by
reputation. When he moved to Mack
county, Apologize county was the loser.
At least the undertaker's business Ian
guished. A happy chance has brought
him to me today. Northoote, down
with you and try to get even with these
fellows. :"
Inwardly marveling at the self con-
troll of the man. Northcote accepted the
situation with sigh of relief and smil-
ed at the men. He had ridden far and
was both tired and hungry. 1t would
certainly "be impossible to talk that
matter over with Bascom" until his
guests were gone.
The dinner progressed along familiar
lines to the point where it was custom
Rry for Oscar to place boxes of CIGARS
ash receivers and matches on the table,
stripped Of everything but flowers and
decanters Mr.. Potts was wondering if
his story about getting lost in the Maine
woods would bear telling again, Thatch-
er was wondering if Mrs. Thatcher
would smell the wine on his breath,
Northcote was wondering at what time
Of day these fellows would take their
departure. when suddenly Colonel Bas-
com stood up and drew all eyes upon
himself. His gaze wandered deliberate
ly over the entire group my friends"
he said, land I see none here whom
need hesitate to call friend, we will fin
ish our evening in state. am going to
let you smoke for this time only in my
drawing room-a room seldom used
since my dear old mother left it. I have
something there to show you and to
tell you. -
There was scraping Of chairs in uni
son and a somewhat subdued adjourn
ment in direction of the stately room,
whose rich hangings and handsome cd
furniture seemed far too good even for
their temporary occupancy. They found