The Washington herald., 1907-12-03
By S. R. CROCKETT.

reasons which might prevent the girl from
listening 20 his offers. He even went so
far as 10 suspect dismissed servant at
the "CaravanseraI' Of telling tales This
man had been working up al CORN Castle
for old Abraham Fyfe. the gardener. and
Abraham Fyfe was a favored guest az
Glebe End Cottage
Otherwise II was simply Incompetent
sible that he, a rich man. high in the
confidence Of the head OF Incubus. Romer
& Co, should be slighted without reason
given By a slip OF girl
It's the Romer temper" he affirmed at
last Look az her nose, The Old Jacob
sticks from her eyes like fire from flint
believe now that II ] We're poor man.
with my way TO make. 1 might have a
better chance.
Like most men when baffied. he never
suspected that he himself was the cause
II never struck him that he might sell
his house. his horses. his motors. and pre-
tend 10 be poor. But this was too much
20 face. James Kahn would not give up
farthing he had gained for half a dozen
Nidas. Vida and the farthings-good.
WithJut-many thousand times no,
But all the same the distant whirr and
nearer grunt of James kahn's motor be-
came familiar sound in the little house
at Glebe End sitting back from the gate
into the wood. And Vida. who till now
had known no fear besOught little Miss
Nunsby to remain with her There was
something about James Kahn which in
timidated her
But my father will so crazy" said
Rose Nunsby. shaking her head II he is
left any longer with Leeby Callum. and
the soapy blocks which are Leeby's idea
of boiliur~ naU roafafnas thara
murder done"
Meanwhile old Dick had recommended
his service at the Carron Pit, and was alb
sent most OF the day one week and the
whole Of the night the next. Since the
disaster Nida's nerves We're not what they
/ had been. She was afraid and she knew
not of what The days we're growing
I shorter. The tall trees were shaking
themselves clear OF leaves. which II was
the girls pleasure 10 gather and burn Ia
the short wIndless afternoons. her friend.
Rose Nunsby, assisting her. Occasion
ally Phil helped, too, when he could
snatch time from the duties Of his new
occupation He went and came at all
times, making straight up from the pits
dropping off his fathers gig. on the pre-
/ text of going 20 consult old Dick Finnaa-
and ever ready either to make tea for or
10 accept tea from the pair of girls in the
Gate Cottage.
Both times it was in the afternoon to-
ward o'clock that Mr.. Jacob Roner had
arrived. He marched down the avenue
erect in carriage as ever rugged in out
/ line OF face, albeit clean-shaven and
ruddy, with thick, quick-moving, irascible
/ eyebrows. He had a habit OF pouting the
| lips as if to whistle and then drawing
them in again as If he thought better
of IT,
He raped at the door under the ivy
/ sheltered porch with his knuckles. Little
Miss Nunsby opened il.
Il have come" he said, ito see the-the
young lady who had the misfortune 10 be
down in the pit on the day Of the acci-
dent"
"Ah, come in, said Rose Nunsby brisk
! ly. to the lord of the CORN estates Miss
Bryan is in the kitchen"
Mr. Romer stood musing little on the
doorstep, small cane tapping his pouted
lips
Miss Bryan" he murmured; so that
is the-the young lady's name. Any rela-
tive of yours?"
None" snapped little Miss Nunsby:
my music pupil. only-also "a Httle) my
/ friend"
Music pupil?" Queried the great man.
as if speaking TO himself; and you are"
Rose Nunsby," said the girl; my
\ father works in your Office"
-Ah. of course. said Mr. Romer. The
/ information conveyed nothing IN palticu-
| lar to him. In Kirktown the words de-
| scribed nine out of every ten male inhabi-
/ tants
Now the light Of a biscuit-dry Novern-
ber day is different from every other in
/ all the year There is something Of unpoI-
ished silver about II, fun Of vague visit
fulness and the regret of the lost years
At least Jacob Romer found II so. For
when he entered the little parlor. with the
/ late-coming flowers arranged on table and
mantelpieee, he sighed involuntarily.
! Perhaps some love for the old homelv
cottage life opposite Thorsby survived or
/ revived in the stubborn old heart of the
master Of millions. At CORN Castle Jacob
Romer seldom saw any one but Gregson
the formal. the meritorious. Everything
was large and still and chili-unpropitious
for the kindling of old blood. about CORN
Castle. The fires did not heat the rooms
/ When lighted they seemed sorry for them
selves and drooped ike flowers after q
first frost-such a one as was beginning
TO fall over the woodlands this very aft
ernoOn.
TO BE CONTINUED roMoRRow.