Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1908-08-22

no choice. and camp will be estab-
lished"
This is yours. The baggage that
came by express Is there. A wagon
goes with the place. and brought the
things up yesterday. There is a show
er bath beyond the rear veranda- The
mountain water is or the Ice. but
you viii require hot water for shaving
is II not sog"
You Cypress me with Injuries. Os-
car. Wind Up the clock. and nothing
will be wanting"
Oscar unstraped the trunks and then
stood az attention in the door. He had
expected Armitage TO condemn the
place In bitter language. but the pro
prietOr OF the abandoned hunting pre-
serve was IN excellent spirits and
whistled blithely as be drew out his
keys.
The place was built by fools" de
clared Oscar gloomny.
Undoubtedly There IS a saying
that fools build houses and wise men
live In them. You see where that
leaves US. Oscar. Let Us be cheerful
He tried the shower and changed his
rniment while Oscar prepared coffee
and laid a cloth on the long table be-
fore the fire. when Armitage appeared
coffee steamed in the tin pot in which
Il had been made. Bacon. eggs and
toast were further offered.
You have done excellently well. Os-
car. Go get your own breakfast" Ar.
mitoge dropped lump OF sugar into
his coffee cup and surveyed the room.
large map OF Virginia and 4 series
OF hunting prints hung on the unlimited
walls. and there were racks for guns
aud work bench az one end Of the
room where guns might be taken apart
and cleaned A few novels, several
three year-old magazines and a variety
OF pipes remained on the shelf above
the fireplace. The house offered posi-
bilities OF meager comfort. and that
was about all Armitage remem bered
what the agent through whom he had
made the purchase had said-that the
place had proved too isolated for even
hunting preserve and that its only
value was In the timber. he was salts
fed With his bargain and would not
set Up a lumber mill yet awhile He
lighted a cigar aud settled himself in
en- easy chair before the FIRE. glad or
the luxury OF peace aud quiet after his
circuitous Journey aud the tumult OF
doubt and question that had shaken
him.
he slit the wrapper Of the Washing.
ton newspaper that oscar had brought
from the mountain postofice and scan
ped the headlines. He read with care
dispatch from London that purported
10 reflect the sentiment OF the CONT
mental capitals toward Charles Louis.
the new emperOr-king OF Austria Hun
gary. and the paper dropped upon his
knees. and be stared into the Ere Then
be picked up a paper OF earlier date
and read all the foreign dispatches and
he news OF Washington. He was
about 10 tOss the paper aside when ais
eyes fen upon boldly headlined artI
Gle that cause bis heart 10 throb fercS
~. IL recited the sudden reRppear
nnce OF the fraudulent BarOE Won ks
sci In Washington and described fl g
tail the baron's escapades az Bar Har-
Dor and his later career in California
and elsewhere. Then followed q story.
yelled In careful phrases. but based, 40
the article recited. upon information
furnished by n gentleman or extensive
acquaintance on both sides or the At.
lanuc. that Baron Won KisSel. under $
new pseudonym and with even more
daring effrOntery. had within a fort
night sought 70 intrench himself In the
most exclusive circles OF Washington.
Armitage's cigar slipped from his hn-
gers and fell upon the brick hearth as
be read:
The boldness OF this clever adven-
turer Is said 70 have reached a climax
IN this city within a few days He
had, under the name OF Armitage
palmed himself OF upon members OF
one OF the most distinguished families
OF the capital. whom be had met
abroad during the winter. A young
gentleman OF this family, who. 10 will
suffice 10 say, bears a commission and
title from the American government
entertained a small company OF friends
at a Washington club only a few
nights ago. and this plausible adven.
turer was among the guests. He was
recognized at once by one OF the for.
eigners present, who. out OF considera.
ton for the host and fellow guests
held his tongue. but IL is understood
that this gentleman sought Armitag sc
privately and warned him TO leave
Washington. which accounts for the
fact that the sumptuOus apartments al
the New American In which Mr.. John
Armitage. alias Baron Won Kissel. had
established himself we're vacated I'm.
mediateiy. None OF those present al
the supper will talk OF the matter, but
It has been the subject OF lively gossip
for several days. and the German EN-.
bassy is said 10 have laid before the
Washington police all the information
IN its archives relating 10 the American
adventures OF this impudent scoun
drel"
Armitage rose. dropped the paper
into the fire. and. with his elbow rest
ing on the mantel shelf, watched Il
burn. He laughed suddenly and faced
about. his back TO the flames. Oscar
stood at atten-
ffnn E, thu MID.