The Montgomery tribune. (Montgomery City, Mo.) 1892-1910, 1907-06-28
The Mystery
Carney-Croft
BY
5 E BROWN o
Copyright, iW7. by story-Press Corporation
CHAPTER xiv.-continued.


CHAPTER xiv.-continued.
Under an awning, back of q venti.
lator, making VIOLENT love to Miss Car.
ney of Carney.Croft!" gurgled Miss
Weston In a tone of waggish softness.
How are we to address you in the
future, my dear: The Rev. Mrs. Sipp-
kins,' or Mrs. Rev. S%impkins,' or
what, pray?"
Wasn't he awful, Mani" cried Miss
Carney, laughing heartily. And did
you hear him saying good-by to the
steward as we were coming into the
dock?"
Turning to me she explained. THE
chief steward was quite deaf and the
reverend gentleman grasped him fer
vently by the hand and, rolling his eyes
to heaven, said earnestly: 'Good-by,
steward, geod-by! l hope we may
meet again; II not on earth perhaps
in the home above!' Eth! eh!' cried
the steward, putting his hand to his
ear. 'Wot line are ye goin' by?'
How sailors do dislike TO have cler-
gymen on s%hipboard!" said Mrs. Ran
dolph, in a conventionally Hpologetical
tone as If, in her character of chape-
rome, she must be properly shocked at
the levity of Miss Carney's narrative;
but our merriment was too real to be
subdued by a look. and at length she
gave up entirely and laughed as heart
lily as the rest at the cleverly told lit.
tie anecdote.
There must be some reason for It,"
said Miss Weston with a chuckle, and
then she added roguishly: THE cap
tain said we were lucky to get home
at all with such a delegation of DOM
inies' on board to enrage the ele.
ments and drive the officers to sui
cide!"
BY this time the customs inspector
had finished with the hand luggage and
Miss Carney, followed by the others,
made her way to the end of the pier
to the carriage l had provided for
their use, leaving her maid to look
after the trunks and heavier pieces of
baggage.
You must come. too" she insisted,
as l was about to close the door of the
brougham. You know, Martha was
born and brought UP in New York and
she can attend to the trunks and find
her way to the hotel without the
slightest difficulty. Besides" she con
tinued, as l obediently took the vacant
place opposite her, Il want to see
good United States spoken again.
Her eyes fairly sparkled and her
expression of vivacity made her face
radiant.
There are so many things | want to
ask" she went on, that l don't know
where to begin, except that you mus
tell me the very earliest minute that
we can start for home"
ANY minute you WISH" l replied
Laughing. THE place is ready ant
waiting for its mistress"
why how did you ever manage tc
do it all so soon?" she exclaimed in
unfeigned delight. Then. turning te
Mrs. Randolph, she continued: Mr.
Ware is one of the most wonderful mer
in the world! He must be descended
from the genii of old, for l can hardly
express a wish to him before it Is full
filled. How did you do it, Mr.. Ware?'
1T wasn't a very difficult task, Mis-.
Carney" replied, with becoming mod
esty. you sec being on the spot, a.
I was, l could direct the work to Sc
much better advantage, and"
why! were you there yourself?'
she exclaimed in amaZement; ant
then, turning her face away, a fain'
flush, scarcely visible at first, crep
slowly up from her cheeks until 4
was lost under the little ringlets o
soft brown hair that nestled about he
ears and forehead.
My heart seemed to rise in m,
throat for an instant, and then begar
to beat SO violently that its %throbbingl
became somewhat audible as | said
somewhat sheepishly:
yes, l was there all the time.
went expecting to stay only a day o
SO, but there were SO many things L
be attended to that l stayed on ant
let the time go to my vacation"
1T couldn't have been much Of
vacation" she exclaimed, regainin:
her composure in an instant, "and
don't intend that you shall be treate,
so shabbily. Mrs. Randolph. won
you please ask Mr.. Ware to visit us a
C~arney-Croft for a fortnight after W,
get settled? If he makes any excuse
/ will order him to come In his profes
sional capacity. You see. you can
escape Is If you would" she laughed
and the matter was settled.
When we reached the hotel Mis-
Carney insisted or my remaining t
luncheon, explaining that she wishe'
to talk over some business matter
with me In the afternoon.
1t was a merry quartette that al
sembled around the table in the dir
ing-room Of Miss Carney's apartments
and my memory naturally carried m
back to my first luncheon with hel
over three years before. The anxious