The Idaho Springs siftings-news. (Idaho Springs, Colo.) 1905-19??, 1908-09-12
CHAPTER lI.-Continued.

CHAPTER lI.-Continued.
The meal was well cooked and beau
tifully served. and by the time the
salad course arrived Vincent and | had
lost much OF our constraint and self
consciousness and were talking and
laughing with the best of them. The
ievity and freedom from the conven-
tionaliiies usually observed at a din
ner party. in which those girls in
dulged, was bit shocking to me, al
though it did not seem to discomfort
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 Businessp 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
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 a flood of excited con
school. or a lunatic asylum. or what"
he demanded. Il don't know what to
make of It, If it's an asylum then I'm
distinctly for lunatics, They're the
most attractive lot I've ever seen, but
II they're all sisters why didn't Papa
and Mamma Wyckhof 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 if it were Rose,
or Gwen. or Maud, What do you sup
pose it all means? My heads in a
whirl,"
MY dear fellow" I 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. 1t
was beautifully furnished like the rest
of the house, and a big fireplace took
up one side of the room. Before it
was a massive armchair, worn and
old, as If the barons of Wyckhoff for
ages back had sat in it. On the large
table were some legal-looking papers,
aad 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. 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 l had time to speak
and set her right heard Vincent calm
ly assuring her that We were candi-
dates! AS he had thus rashly COM
mitted himself l couldn't go back on
him, so l let him make all the other
answers that were necessary.
Then you wish to hear the will ?"
continued Mrs. Armistead. and Vincent
assented.
Read the will" said Mrs. Armistead
to the secretary, and the young lady in
gray picked up one of the legal-looking
papers.
This is to certify" she began. and
read to the finish, while l held my
breath, for. when I had heard the
whole Of that extraordinary document,
I was filed with amazement and curl
osity, lot unmixed with a certain ex-
citemert. 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 500 ,0O0.-
900, provided that she obey the condi-
lions Of his will. Should she disregard