Mexico Missouri message., 1908-12-03
CHAPTER discontinued.

The meal was we'll cooked and beau.
tifully served, and by the time the
salad course arrived Vincent and had
lost much OF our constTaint and self
consciousness and we're talking and
laughing with the best Of them. The
levity and freedom from the conven-
tionalities usually observed at a din
ner party, in which those girls In
dulged. was bit shocking to me, al
though II did not seem to dlsconcert
Vincent in the least
After dinner our adventure de-
veloped its 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
20 join her mistress in the library In
about 20 minutes. although, as said.
we hadn't the widest idea what we
could possibly have to discuss with
her.
When the secretary withdrew Vim
cent burst into food Of excited con.
lecture. Are we In girls boarding
school, or a lunatic asylum, or what?"
he demanded. II don't know what TO
make Of II. II it's an asylum then I'm
distinctly for lunaticsl They're the
most attractive lot I've ever seen, but
II they're all sisters why didn't Papa
and Mamma WyckhofS 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 Az and 'Aggie,
and Agatha just as II II were Rose,
or Gwen. or Maud! What do you sup
pose It all means? My heads In a
whirl!"
MY dear fellow" said. Il have a
presentiment 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. II
was beautifully furnished, like the rest
OF the house. and big fireplace took
~ one side OF the room. Before It
was massive armchair, worn and
old, as n 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
arose and placed her hand upon them.
The secretary closed the door and took
up her position beside her mistress,
while we stood before them, III at
ease and expecting we knew not what
Gentlemen" began Mrs. Armlstead
with great gravity. Il am right, am
not. in presumlng that you are candI-
dates for the hand OF the Honorable
Agatha wyckhohf?"
Yes. that's Just what she said: Can
dldates for the hand Of the Honorable
Agatha wyckhofR." II took my breath
away, and before ! had time to speak
and set her Tigit heard Vincent calm
iy assuring her that We were candI.
dates! As he had thus rashIy com.
mitted himself couldn't go back on
him, 80 let him make all the other
answers that were necessary.
Then you wish 10 hear the VIM"
continued Mrs. Armistead. and Vincent
asBented
Read the will" said Mrs. ArmIstead
10 the secretary. and the young lady In
gray picked up one Of the legal.looklng
papers
This Is 20 certify" she began. and
read 20 the finish. while Aeld my
breath. for. when had heard the
whole Of that extraordinary document,
was filled with Amusement and curl.
osity, not unmlxed with a certain ex-
citement. In brief. the provisions OF
this remarkable win ran thus;
Fletcher Boyd. stepfather OF the
Honorable Agatha Wyckhoff, had left
fher his entire fortune OF about $40 .OOa..
00e. provided that she obey the condi.
Tors Of his will. should she disregard