Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1908-12-24
I asked Vincent afterwnrd rhat B.

asked Vincent afterwafd what BE
made of Agatha Thirds behavior
1T looked to me-" said that young
person, AS II those girls had them.
selves so much In command that they
would never betray the gecret they're
guarding. no matter what you did"
''But didn't you see Agatha Third
get up before the others did7" I said,
excitedly. "sho gave herself away.
tell you, Wilfred. she's the real hon
cradle. without a doubt. There can be
no two ways about IT,"
How keen you are!" he said; "and
tell you what II is. Arch'bald"-viu-
cent always calls me "Achbald" with
the 4" left out and the emphasis on
bald" when he's particularly Aff04t
tionate or sleepy; he was the latter
Just now-"rm Just as keen about
marrying this heiress as you are; the
only difference is that insist upon be-
ing in love with her into the bargain.
and you don't. For I'm hard up. fear
fully hard up. you know, and the gov
ernor's so awfully good. hate to ask
him for another's months allowance
Just now. I'm way behind as Il Is,
and | owe Jack Gordon for that prize
polo pony OF his. offered him Ri00
for her the day Of the Nottingham
games and he sold her to me on the
| spot. Jacks as hard up as l am
poor fellow. And then. you know. It's
all perfectly fair. II we only had the
time, that's all. It's pretty quick work
to expect a man to find out the heiress.
learn 10 love her and teach her to love
him. all in six weeks. and propose on
the last day Of"
But that's Just IT," interrupted,
you're not expected TO find out the
heiress frst. That's Just what old
Fletcher Boyd wanted to prevent
when he made the will"
Nevertheless, you yourself mean
to find out first. don't You, Arch?" was
Vincent's facetious response.
was disguised and made no an
swer.
"Of course" he went on, Il wouldn't
propose to any girl / didn't love, but
I'd like the chance TO learn to love
this particular lady. the Honorable
Agatha. feel that there would be nc
trouble about her learning to love met
Vincent has few really serious faults
but don't attempt to deny that he Il
conceited.
The trouble is," he said. they're
all so attractive could love one a.
well as another. wish. though.
could Just naturally fall in love will
one OF them, and I'd propose to her OF
the last day and take my chances
Who knows? I'm sometimes lucky.
might win the prize!"
so you might" said. but as II ia
we haven't even discovered the he'll
ess as yet"
And can't fall In love with an
of EN-" finished Vincent, "becaus
I'm madly In love with the whole siI
and there you are!" and he shook hi
head hopelessly. Come, let's TO bed,
he added.
Not just yet, Freddy" l said.
never call him that, as ! have befor
stated, but his hair was all rumple
up and his face flushed and l fe
warm toward him because he was &
Z dense. Surely with a rival as unol
serving as he is" thought. Il am NJ
heavily handicapped" For had mad
up my mind that Agatha Third was II
deed the real and only Agatha. Tht
involuntary rising OF hers was prot
positive.
II say. Vincent" called after hin
was that a master stroke OF your
giving the toast that way? Did yC
intend to try TO surprise one Of the
into oetrayIng herself?"
Vincent laughed sleepily.
Good old Archibald" he drawle
\ you're always looking for maBt'
o. strokes. but pom my honor / new
=, thought OF such a thing" And mig
J" have known that he wouldn't.
(To BE CoNTINUED)
st HOTEL MAN HAD A CONSCIENCE