Rocky Ford enterprise., 1908-09-11
CHAPTER II.-continued.

CHAPTER il.-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
levity and freedom from the conyen-
tionalifies usually observed at a din
ner party. in which those girls in
dulGcd. was a bit shocking TO me. al
though 1t did not seem to disconce-t
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
low tone told us that, when we had
finished our smoKe. Mrs. Armlstead 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
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 Win.
cent burst into a flood OF excited CON
lecture. Are we in a girls boarding
school. or n lunauc asylum, or WHAT
he demanded. Il don't know what TO
make OF It. II it's an asylum then I'm
distinctly for lunatIcs, They're the
most attractive !!cc:: We ever seen. but
~ they're all sisters why didn't Papa
and Mamma WyckhOff find different
names for en-? Six Agathas. and all
the honorable at that. It's absurd!
But It doesn't seem to hpther them:
they call each other Az and 'Argie.
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" I said. 81 have n
presentiment that we shall find out
what It all means when We Join Mrs.
did. As | have said. my intuItions sell
dom fail me.
The library was little room At
some distance from the dining hall. II
was beautifully furnished. like the rest
of the house. and a big iipplace took
up one side of the room. Before Il
was 4 massive armchair. worn and
old, as II the barons OF WyCkhoff for
ages back had sat in IL. On the large
table were some leSal-lookInE papers.
and as we entered Mrs. ATmistraI !
arose and placed her hand upon them.
The secretary closed the door and tool;
up her position beside her mistress.
while We stood before them. III at
ease and expecting we knew not what.
Gentlemen" began Mrs. Armistel
with great gravity. Il am right. am
not. in presuminE that you are caadi.
dates for the hand OF the Honorable
Agatha WyCkhofT?"
Yes. that's just what she said: Can.
dldates for the hand OF the Honorable
Agatha Wyckhoff." 1t took my breath
away. and before had time to sueaE
and set her right heard Vincent calm
ly assuring her that We were canLi
dates. AS he had thus rashly com
mitted himself | couldn't go back or
him. so | let him make all the othel
answers that were necessary.
Then you wish to hear the will ?
continued Mrs. Armistead, and Vincent
assented.
Read the WILL said Mrs. Armisteat
to the secretary. and the young lady ii
gray picked up one of the legal.iookinl
papers.
This is to certify" she began. anC
read to the finish, while held M
breath, for, when I had heard tn,
whole OF that extraordinary document
was filled with amazement and curl
osity. not unmixed with a certain eX
citement. In brief. the provisions o
this remarkable will ran thus:
Fletcher Boyd. stepfather OF tn
Honorable Agatha Wyckhotf, had lef
her his entire fortune OF about $40. 900.
900. provided that she obey the condi
tons of his will. Should she dlsregart