Mexico Missouri message., 1908-12-17
CHAPTER III.--contInusd.

My new knowledge, while It robbed
the affair Of its piquant mystery-for
had decided that Agatha Sixth was
in truth the real Honorable Agatha
made my game even more exciting.
now that the stakes were assured. !
read with Agatha Sixth, walked with
her, talked with her, and played chess
with her all the first week; and as
nearly as could make out Vincent's
program ran something like this: Be-
fore breakfast he took a horseback
ride with Agatha Fifth; after break.
fast he played golf with Agatha First;
tennis with Agatha Third; and took
Agatha Second out sketching. In the
afternoon Agatha Fourth played
Chopin to him by the hour. Agatha
Sixth he had not approached, fearing
me, as was natural. In the evening
he played games with them all or re.
tired into the library with Agatha
Fifth. who seemed to have lost her
head over him completely.
This program he repeated day after
day with reckless lack of generalship
and yet every now and then, to my
surprise and disgust, caught him
deep in his unfortunate Irritation with
Mrs. Armistead's secretary. IL wasn't
fair to the poor girl, and told Vim.
cent so plainly. We were sitting on
the low stone balustrade Of the castle
Vincent In riding clothes and look.
ing as fine lad as any in old England.
He was waiting for Agatha Fifth to go
riding with him oIthnugb a. ,ya, ta.a.,
than usual, all Of us having break.
tasted. For myself. wore my tennis
things, which become me greatly, II
do say II, for I intended to play a
set with those tennis fanatics, Agatha
Second and Agatha Third, as the aris-
toeratic Agatha Sixth was a late riser
and had not yet come downstairs.
mo, Vincent" said, ut won't do.
Flirt with all the Agathas. IL you must,
but when It comes to the secretary, let
her alone. To say nothing of what is
due her. think OF the time you're
wasting. We have only six weeks
think OF it-six weeks to make try
for twenty millions OF dollars!"
You forgot to say that a wife goes
along with the filthy lucre," he said,
and somehow l felt uncomfortable.
Vincent has faculty for making one
feel uncomfortable. It makes me quite
sngry-he's no better than the rest of
US, but he's 80 confoundedly innocent
about some things.
was going TO explain to him that
he needn't speak as II he thought that
were the sort OF a man to marry a
girl merely for her money--when his
face lighted and he spoke more ration.
ally.
Cad" he said, what a rare lark It
would be to toss up a coin and take a
chance at IT, Six 10 one only--yOu'd
have q good show to win QUIT"
How foolish you are, Vincent"
responded. Suppose you took a
chance at Il. as you say. and Just pro-
posed to any one Of them, when you
had made no attempt to win her
wouldn't she know you were fortune
hunting? And IL II should happen 10
be the real Agatha she'd refuse YOU
on that account because Il would de
feat the object of her fathers win; and
II II were not the real Agatha she'd
refuse you. too. because she'd know
she had no fortune TO give you"
"of course" said Vincent, signing,
you're right about that. But / tell
you. Archibald. I'm not airtirg with
Miss Marsh. She's an awfulIy sensible
little girl, and I go TO her for advice
about the course I'm pursuing with the
Agathns. need encouragement, you
know It's all such a beastly mess.
One doesn't know with which one OF
the attractive young ladies TO fall In
love. It's 30 dificult 70 decide with
that twenty millions lowering in the
background. Just think. Arch, what
the governor would say II his DenniIess
younger son should bring that amount
into the family. And the daughter OF
a baronesA to0, q would be such =