Pocahontas star herald., 1908-09-25

with the pink roses being a conspicu-
GUS contrast to the frills and furbe-
lows OF the six Agathas. | thought
had never seen her look so well, and
she passed us men without so much as
glancing In our direction, though Vim
cents gaze, l thought, was a trife
rude.
They had been gone some Is min
utes when II occurred to me that 1t
might do my head good to go out and
get some fresh air. Besides which |
mad begun to regret that | had per
mitted Vincent to go to church the
only esquire Of such galaxy Of beau
w. So | put on my hat and strolled
out over the lawn and down the long
! drive, and before knew 1t | had
reached the bottom of the hilly road
and had set out over the fields. The
church party had gone by the way of
the path over the fields, for that was
shorter route than the main road.
AS | walked quickly along the we'll
beaten path between the thickets |
stopped suddenly and stopped to pick
up small dustcovered object which
proved to be prayer book "One of
those careless girls has dropped It," |
said to myself, for they had all car
ried them Opening it to find the
owners name, was much agitated to
read on the fiyleaf this inscription:
ITO my daughter Agatha, from her
father, Fletcher Boyd" and the date,
1900. 1t was, then. a gift which Fleteh-
! er Boyd had made to his daughter only
two years before his death.
was wild with excitement in a
minute. would keep the book, and
some time when all the girls were
gathered together would announce
that had It in my possession and
see II one OF them did not betray her
self by asking me for 1t. But Fate
decreed that l should make my test
OF the prayer book more speedily, for
spied In the distance the white figure
Of a girl Fastening back. The path
was dusty and the sun was shining
right in her face, so | trusted she
had not seen me, and, putting the little
volume down just where | had found
Il, jumped behind the bushes. The
owner OF the book was looking for her
property. On she came, runRing slow.
ly and glancing eagerly from side to
side of the pathway. As she came OPP
posite me she stopped and snatched up
the book, and when she had run back
again the conviction that the Honor
able Agatha was no other than Agatha
Fourth was forced in upon me.
So reused was by this event that |
turned my steps homeward at once,
Suspicion had now fallen on every one
of the six Agathas, but this-this was
the most convincing Of proofs! That
night could hardly walt for the end
of the evening, so that | could drag
Vincent into my room aad disclose to
him my final and greatest discovery. l
was so full OF excitement over 1t, be-
sides feeling certain pride In my wit
and sagacity which had led to the dis
coyery OF so many important clews,
that | was rather disappointed when
Vincent received my disclosure with
Indifference.
"At II again, Arch" he said, rather
gloomily, as he sat cross-legged before
INV fire In extreme deshabllle, and
smoking his vile pipe. What is the
use? should think you'd get tired
of pursuing the elusive gold. admire
your patience, my boy, but don't take
any more stock in this 'clew' than |
did in Your others. When you think
that YOU have now fastened suspicion
upon each one of the six fair ladies'
who have been christened Agatha l
marvel at the sanguiHe temperament
which permits you to place SO mucn
importance on this last Hnd or yours
He stopped and answered him rather
sarcastically, as | didn't hke the gen,
tie ridicule of his tone or his lack OF
enthusiasm.
"It seems to me-" said, that con
sidering how you've spent your time,
NV dear boy you are a very poor per
son to look down upon my EFFORTS TO
turn this adventure of ours to some
account The fact that | have kept
nv eyes open and used those Faculties
Of penetration and observation et
which am the natural possessor TO
discover a piece of information which
might prove of great value, not only
10 myself. but also to you-this fact
saw. Vincent, ought hardly to bring
mon me your derision as well as your
lack of sympathy" | don't mind al,
mitting that really felt hurt, and
Vincent saw that did.
He took his pipe out OF his mouth
and looked at me with those big truth
ful ewes of his so penitently that
smiled inwardly; then he gathered up
his long limbs from my hearthrug and
come and ensconced himself at my
feet as sat in my easy chair,
'cWel there, then" he said patting
INV hand as if I'd been an old woman
or small child. Poor old Arch bald
Aid 7 make it cross? Well, it was
sbama,o And he smiled at me with
such mixture Of conbiton and fun
nat 7 was Obliged after a short strug
ole to laugh mconstrainedly
oWeu. l suppose you will begin op-
orotions according to your latest clew
to.morrow?9 he laughed at me-
,,s ,ot answer him. and silence