The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1909-11-26
BY Es7L2
MEREDITH eza s
NICHOLSON y
ILLUSTRATIONS BY
nv NI4Z7ZRS
CppX0YcHT 1907 az 6068S MERRILL ca
CHAPTER I.
A Telegram from Paul stoddard.


sage, which was, to be sure, harmless
enough in itself, but, like many other
scraps of paper that blow about the
world, the forerunner of confusion and
trouble.
My friend, Mr.. John Glenarm, had
gone abroad for the summer with his
family and had turned over to me
his house at Annandale that | might
enjoy its seclusion and comfort while
writing my book on Russian Rivers"
If John Glenarm had not taken his
family abroad with him when he went
TO Turkey to give the sultan's engi-
neers lessons in bridge building; II
] had not accepted his kind offer Of
the house at Annnndale for the sum-
mer; and IL Paul Stoddard had not
sent me that telegram, should never
have written this narrative. But such
was the predestined way of 1t. rose
from the boat / was caulking, and,
with the waves from the receding
steamer slapping the pier, read this
message:
Stanford, Conn, June 5.
Meet Miss Patricia Holbrool AMMAN
dale station. five twenty Chicago express
and conduct her to ST. Agathas school.
where she Is expected. She will expluin
sympathy and aid. Will join you later IL
necessary. Imperative engagements call
me elsewhere, STODDARD
To say that was angry when 1
read this message is to belittle the
truth. read and re-read it with
growing heat. had accepted Glen
arms offer Of the house at Annandale
because 1t promised peace, and now
was ordered by telegraph to meet a
strange person Of whom had never
heard, listen to her story, and tender
my sympathy and aid. 1 glanced at
my watch. 1t was already after four.
Delayed in transmission" was
stamped across the telegraph form
learned later that 1t had lain half
the day in Annandale, New York
SO that was now face to face with
the situation, and without opportunity
to fling his orders back to Stoddard
II I wanted to. Nor did l even know
Stamford from stamboul. and l am
rot yet clear in my mind-being an
freshman. with rather vague notions of
American Observation-Disclosures Con-
necticut is north or south of Massa-
chusetts.
"Ijima!"
! called my Japanese boy from the
boathouse. and he appeared, paint
brush In hand.
Order the double trap. and tell
them to. hurry"
reflected, as l picked up my coat
and walked toward the house, that If
any one but Paul Stoddard had sent
rne such a message should most GER
tatnly have ignored 1t; but knew him
as a man who did not make demands
or impose obligations lightly. AS the
founder and superior of the Protestant
religious Order OF the Brothers of
Bethlehem he was, knew, an ex.
ceedingly busy man. His religious
house was in the Virginia mountains;
but he spent much time in quiet, hum
BILE service In. city slums, in lumber
camps. In the mines OF Pennsylvania:
and occasionally he appeared like a
prophet from the wilderness in some
great church Of New York, and
preached with marvellous elouuence
ito wondering throngs.
The trap swung. into the arched
driveway and l babe the coachman
make haste to the Annandale station.
The handsome bays were soon trot-
ting swiftly toward the village, while
] drew on my gloves and considered
the situation. A certain Miss Hol-
brook, OF whose existence l had been
utterly ignorant an hour before, was
about to arrive at Annandale. A
clergyman. whom had not seen for
two years, had telegraphed me from
q town In Connecticut to meet this
person, conduct her to st. Agatha's
school--tust closed for the summer, as
! knewand to volunteer my services
In difficulties that were darkly indi-
Gated In q telegram Of AZ words. The
sender of the message l knew to be
. serious character, and gentleman
OF distinguished social connections.
The name Of the lady signified moth
ing except that she was unmarried:
and. as Stoddard's acquaintance was
among all sorts and conditions OF
men I could assume nothing more
thaa that the unknown had appealed
TO him AS q priest and that he had
sent her to Lake Anpandale to- shake
on the burdens OF the world In the
conventual air OF st. Agatha's.
b The Chicago express whistled for
Annandale just as we gained the edge
q the village. It paused grudging
moment and was gone before we
reached the station. jumped out
and ran through the waiting room to
the platform. where the agent was
gathering up the mail bags while an
assistant loaded truck with trunks.
! glanced about, and the moment was
an Important one in my life. stand.
ing quite alone beside several pisces
OF hand baggage was lady--unmfs.
ftakably 2 lady leaning lightly upon
an umbrellA. and holding pnders her
arm 9 magazine. She Was clad IN
brown. from bonnet to shoes; the um.
lbrella and magazine cover were Of
like TINT. and even the suitcase near.
est her struck the same motto of color.
There was no doubt whatever as I'd
ner Identity: II did not hesitate q mo 10.
ment; the lady In brown was Miss
Holbrook. and she was an old lady. Z
GEAR bewitching old lady, and 8 j