The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1908-08-25


what his surname was (if they ever
knew it, is sufficient to prove that ne
was not solitary in that sense. He
knew scores Of men-women ne
rather looked down upon-and they
all liked him. Yet he never seemed
altogether at ease in their presence.
He had a distinct dread of display
ing anything that might suggest senti-
ment, and yet, if the truth were
known, he was perhaps as sentimental
a 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 a hermit. And, on the
whole, it succeeded.
Dickie lived in a castle on the
Neckar. 1t commanded very fine
view, but it was not in itself pic
turesque castle. He had found it by
chance during one 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 by 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 suite of four
rooms on the second floor. His ar
engagements were that he should APP
pear at meal-times and take his food
with the baron and baroness, but at
all other times he was to be left to
himself. The baron allowed him to
play the hermit to his hearts content,
and for some weeks Dickie declared
himself as happy as 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-
Gricities, 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
whA having lived long and seen
much, is well able to select or reject
in matter of comfort.
Dickie became a trihe apologize.
We'll" he protested, "a throng of
visitors means noise"
Il shall have, as hitherto, the great.
est possible care for your sensitive
nerves." said the baron with a drv
smile.
I think I'll take holiday till the
hurricane blows over" said Dickie.
why not wait and seer" asked the
baron, Perhaps they won't be 50
bad after ALL"
IN point of fact, the baron had Sc.
lected his guests with some skill He
MAD 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 go.iuu
saVagely from the window of his sit
tlng-room. There were two Germans
nVe Americans, and one Englisbmon
four OF the Americans were of tho foin
SEX and these constituted the fen,
lnine element of the party. The baran
mad not led Dickie to expect anv fora
nine element, so their advent excitod
llttle emotion in his breast Other tbon
lnat OF fierce resentment mill bn
'aught sight of the last figure in 49,
group. 1t was one of the An,orioas
shls; but it was not the girl harsaIf
mat attracted Dickies attention D.
ma her' towed by lead, flickarod
white foX-terrier puppy.
NOW Dickie had no dog NJ bis -
and he wanted one. He was ~, o"n
over particularly keen on havi ino'
Accordingly, he dafor
mined to make friends with ~ 80
mat entailed making friends viii viii
is mistress. iuS Win
And so it happened that wbon a.,
Jro"d-that was the name NV Tb ine
.hey called themselves-camo ~
inner that evening, they fond nio, 70
'eady to make himself comnIa atn,e
. reaoie' He laughed and tested onS
ola anecdotes, and finally invited CIV, thu
OF OF them, dog and all. to bis noo. me
lie accompanied them on tboi. 0iiiS'
llcs' photographed them, gave th pic
ne run OF his books; onenod mel" en-,
ooms TO them. And he undertook, ms ms
raining of the dog, Bobs 'oN the
boos was a thoroughbred with
markings excepting two brow W." no
'iaek spots which covered bis anu anu
.nd spread on either side to HE YES YES
Nhen he arrived at the castle -, cars
uneducated, but under D,o,, WAS
ultion ne rapidly picked up the ma,
nents OF canine politeness At,au W.
week OF TWO he would answer ~
anne lie down. or come to heel. ans T
le was beginning to take quite a nn ,'nu
sung interest in rat-holes. Then ~
mastered the intricacies of sittinn ne
u MS mind legs with a lumn ~ s, up
upon his nose unti, sugar
that it was paid for As Tas
nat ne went on to the dead s,,
eat ana finally he learned -