The Clio messenger., 1908-08-21
CHAPTER Il.-continued.

he meal was well cooked and beau
hly served, and by the time the
salad course arrived Vincent and had
lost much of our constraiut and self
consciousness and were talking and
laughing with the best of them. The
levity and freedom from the conven-
tionalities usually observed at din
ner party, in which those gals in
dulged, was a bit shocking to me, al
though it did not seem to disconcert
Vincent in the least.
After dinner our adventure de-
veloped it's most astonishing feature.
At the close of the meal the ladies
arose, and we were invited to remain
and smoke some exceptionally fine
cigars, but before she left the room
the secretary came over to us and in a
low tone told us that. when we had
finished our smoke, Mrs. Armistead de-
sired that we should join her in the
library to discuss business. She-the
secretary-would come for us, as we
would not know the way.
We were amazed Business? What
business could we possibly have with
Mrs Armistead? However, we told
! the secretary that we would be happy
TO join her mistress in the library in
nSbout 20 minutes, although, as | said,
hadn't the widest idea what we
d possibly have to discuss with
cretary withdrew Vim
spuIst into a flood of excited con-
lecture Are we in girls boarding
school, or lunatic asylum, or what?"
he demanded. Il don't know what to
make of it. II it's an asylum then I'm
distinctly for lunatics! They're the
most attractive lot I've ever seen, but
If they're all sisters why didn't Papa
and Mamma Wyckhoff find different
names for EN-? Six Agathas, and all
the honorable at that! It's absurd!
But 1t doesn't seem to bother them;
they call each other 'Ag,' and 'Aggie,
and Agatha just as II it were Rose,
or Gwen. or Maud! What do you sup
pose it all means? My heads in a
whirl!"
my dear fellow" ! said, II have a
presentimen. that we shall find out
what it all means when we join Mrs.
Armistead in the library" And we
did. AS have said, my intuitions sell
dom fail me.
The library was a little room at
some distance from the dining hall. 1t
was beautifully furnished, like the rest
of the house, and big fireplace took
up one side of the room. Before 1t
was a massive armchair, worn and
old, as il the barons of Wyckhoff for
ages back had sat in It, On the large
table were some legal-looking papers,
and as we entered Mrs. Armistead
The secretary closed the door and took
up her position beside her mistress,
while we stood before them, i'll at
ease and expecting we knew not what.
"Gentlemen." began Mrs. Armistead
with great gravity Il am right, am
not, in presuming that you are candi-
dates for the hand of the Honorable
Agatha Wyckhoff"
Yes, that's just what she said: Can
didates for the hand OF the Honorable
Agatha Wyckhoff." 1t took my breath
away, and before had time to speak
and set her right heard Vincent calm
ly assuring her that we were candi-
Gates! AS he had thus rashly COM
mitted himself I couldn't go back on
him, SO let him make all the other
answers that were necessary.
"Then you wish to hear the will?"
continued Mrs. Armistead, and Vincent
sassented.
Read the will, said Mrs. Armistead
TO the secretary. and the young lady in
gray picked up one OF the legallooking
papers.
This is to certify" she began. and
read to the finish, while held my
breath, for. when had heard the
whole OF that extraordinary document
was filled with amazement and curl
osity, not unmixed with certain ex-
citement. In brief. the provisions OF
this remarkable will ran thus;
Fletcher Boyd. stepfather OF the
Honorable Agatha wyckhoff had left
her his entire fortune OF about s20. .0O0,-
600, provided that she. obey the condi-
fions Of his will. Should she disregard
49,