Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1908-07-15

no friends. The fact that he was al
ways known as Dickie, and that most
of his acquaintances had forgotten
what his surname was 0f they ever
knew it, is sufficient 10 prove that he
was not solitary in that sense. He
knew scores OF men--women he
rather looked down upon--and they
all liked him. Yet he never seemed
altogether at ease in their presence.
He had distinct dread of display
ing anything that might suggest senti-
ment, and yet, If the truth were
known. he was perhaps as sentimental
fellow as any healthy Englishman
that ever lived. Nature had made
him one Of the best companions pos
sible. and habit, which had almost be-
come second nature. tried hard to
make him IA hermit And, on the
whole. IL succeeded
Dickie lived i'm castle on the
Neckar. II commanded a very fine
view, but il was not in itself a pic
turesque castle. He had found il by
chance during ore OF the lonely rides
which he was wont to take from
Heidelberg. on his motor-tricycle. Be
fore he had found the castle he had
seldom stayed long in one place. Pos
sessed of independent means, he was
accustomed to saying that his father
had done him one bad turn by help
ing him into the world. and one good
one b. providing him with enough to
live upon until he was comfortably
out of it. He spent the best part OF
his time in travelling The occupant
Of the castle was a baron whose dis
tressed circumstances had induced
him to let Dickie a suite OF four
rooms on the second floor. His ar
engagements were that he should ap-
pear at mealtimes and take his food
with the baron and baroness. but at
all other times he was to be left to
himseN The baron allowed him to
play the hermit to his hearts content.
and for some weeks DiclIie declared
himself as happy az king with his
gun. his motor, his camera, and his
supply of books and magazines.
So things went very well until one
day the baron. who liked Dickie. and
was little perturbed at his eccen-
triciues, announced at lunch that he
intended to have some more guests.
Dickie protested strongly
The baron looked amused and
waved his hand with the air OF one
who having lived long and seen
much, is we'll able to- select or reject
In matter of comfort
Dickie became triie apologize.
We'll he protested. a throng of
visitors means noise"
81 shall have, as hitherto. the great-
est possible care for your sensitive
nerves said the baron with a dry
smile
II think III take a holiday till the
hurricane blows over" said Dickie.
Why not wait and see" asked the
baron. Perhaps they won't be so
bad after all
In point OF fact. the baron had Sc
lected his guests with some skill. He
had no intention OF opening his house
to anyone who might turn up. OF the
eight members OF The party. two were
personal friends Of his. and the rest
were friends of these
Dickie awaited their arrival gazing
savagely from the window OF his sit
tingroom. There were two Germans
i've Americans. and one Englishman
Four OF the Americans were of the fair
sex, and these constituted the fem.
mime element OF the party The baron
had not led Dickie to expect any fem
mime element, so their advent excited
little emotion in his breast other than
Hn-nn
caught sight OF the last figure i'm the
group. II was one Of the American
girls; but It was not the girl herself
that attracted Dickies attention Be
hind her. towed by a lead iickered
white fox-teriler puppy.
Now Dickie had no dog OF his own
and he wanted enc He was. more.
over. particularly keen on having .
fox-terrier. Accordingly. he deter.
mined 70 make friends with II even
" that entaiied making friends with
It's mistress
And so II happened that when the
Crowd-that was the name by which
they called themselves came i'm TO
dinner that evening they found Dickie
ready 10 MAKE himself completeIy
agreeable Re laughed and tested and
told anecdotes and finally invited the
lot OF them. dog and all. 10 his room
He accompanied them on their pfc.
mica. photographed them. gave them
the run Of lis books. opeHcd his
rooms TO them. And he undertook tho
training Of tho deg Bobs.
Bobs was thoroughbred. with no
markings excepting two brown and
black spots which covered his eyes
and spread on either side 10 his ears
When he arrived a. the castle lac was
sntiTeiy uneducatcd but under Dickje's
tuition be rapidly picked up the rms.
mems .! canine poiiteDcss. After a
week or trc nc world answer to tis
name. lie down. o. come 70 heel. and
he was beginning 90 take quite prom.
bing interest I'm rat-holes Then he