The Glenwood post., 1907-06-29
The Mystery
Carney.Croft
By
JOSEPH BROWN COOKE
Copyright, l9O7, by Story Press Corporaton)

latOr, making VOllent love TO MISS Car
nsy 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. Simp-
k:ns, or Mrs. Rev. Simpkins,' 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 Srasped him fer
vently by the hand and, rolling his eyes
to heaven. said earnestly: 'Good-by,
steward, good-by. l hope we may
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 shipboard!" said Mrs Ran
dolph, in conventionally apologetical
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 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
thcn she added roguishly: The cap
tain said we were lucky to get home
AT all with such delegation of dom
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 | obediently took the vacant
place opposite her, 81 want to see
you, and talk to you, and hear some
good United States spoken again"
Her eyes fairly sparkled and her
expression of vivacity made her face
radiant.
There are so many things l want to
ask, she went on. that | don't know
where to begin, except that you must
tell me the very earliest minute that
we can start for home
ANY minute you wish,' l replied,
laughing. THE place is ready and
waiting for its mistress"
Why, how did you ever manage to
do it all so soon?" she exclaimed in
hnfeiSned delight. Then, turning to
Mrs. Randolph she continued: Mr..
Ware is one of the most wonderful men
In the world! He must be descended
from the genii of old, for ! can hardly
express wish to him before it is full
filled. How did you do it, Mr. Ware?"
1t wasn't very difficult task. Miss
Carney" | replied with becoming mod
esty. You see, being on the spot, as
I was, l could direct the work to so
much better advantage, and"
Why! were you there yourself?"
she exclaimed in amazement; and
then, turning her face away, a faint
flush, scarcely visible at first, crept
slowly up from her cheeks until it
was lost under the little ringlets of
soft brown hair that nestled about her
ears and forehead.
My heart seemed to rise in my
throat for an instant, and then began
to beat so violently that its throbbings
somewhat sheepishly:
Yes. l was there all the time.
went expecting to stay only day or
so, but there were so many things to
be attended to that l stayed on and
let the time 60 to my vacation"
1T couldn't have been much of a
vacation she exclaimed regaining
her composure in an instant, "and |
don't intend that you shall be treated
so shabbily. Mrs. Randolph, won't
you please ask Mr.. Ware to visit us at
Carney-Croft for fortnight after we
get settled? If he makes any excuses
q will order him to come in his profes-
sional capacity. You see, you can't
escape us II you would" she laughed,
and the matter was settled.
When we reached the hotel Miss
Carney insisted on my ramaining to
luncheon, explaining that she wished
to talk over some business matters
with me in the afternoon.
1t was "a merry quartette that as.
sembled around the table in the din
lng-room of Miss Carneys apartments,
and my memory naturally carried me
back to my first luncheon with her,
over three years before. The anxious.
fearful expression of the past had
given way to a countenance beaming
with vivacity, health and peace with
I'll the world, and her soft. ruddy COM