The Democrat-sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1906-1935, 1909-04-15

ping day the girls thought they'd like
It, The phaeton is coming for us after
church. What's the matter with you?
We shall miss you"
"Oh just bit off my feed this
morning But, Vincent. my boy. do
you realize that you're going to church
all alone by Yourself with six girls, the
prettiest in England"
Seven" corrected Vincent, un.
moved "rhe secretary Is going with
us this morning"
shook my head at him admiringly.
You're wonderful fellow" told
him. II couldn't manage seven of them
at once to save my skin. 1t keeps me
busy enough when take 'em one at
a time
At this moment the girls trooped
downstairs. They had their prettiest
gowns on and were fully aware of the
admiration in the eyes of Vincent and
myself And that admiration was per
fectly eXcusable. for the six Agathas
were looking unusually lovely in theft
fiowered trocks, big white hats. and
the dainty parasols to match the wide
sashes, and | should have been hard
put to it to say which was the hand
somest But as they filed out of the
big door | saw Vincent look longest
at the secretary. who walked little
behind the others. her plain dark blue
silk gown and little rough straw hat
with the pink roses being Il conspcu.
GUS contrast to the frills and furbe,
lows OF the six Agathas. l thought
had never seen her look so well, and
she passed us men without SO much as
glancing i'll our direction, though Vim
cents gaze, ] thought. was triie
rude.
They had been gone some 10 min
utes when 1t occurred to me that 1t
might DO my head good to go out and
get some fresh air. Besides which |
had begun to regret that l had per-
mitted Vincent to go to church the
only esquire of such a galaxy of beau
~ So | put on my hat and stroiled
out over the lawn and down the long
drive, and before | knew II | 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 well.
beaten path between the thickets
stopped suddenly and stopped to PICK
up small dust-coyered object which
proved 10 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 fyleaf this inscription;
ITO my daughter Agatha, from her
father, Fletcher Boyd and the date,
1900. 1t was, then, gift which Fletch-
er Boyd had made to his daughter only
two years before his death.
was wild with excitement In
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 il one of them did not betray her
self by asking me for 1t, But Fate
decreed that | 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
lad not seen me. and, putting the little
volume down just where had found
it, l jumped behind the bushes. The
owner OF the book was looking for her
In oh puI 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 wait for the end
OF the evening, so that | could drag
Vincent into my room and disclose to
him my final and greatest discovery. |
was so fun OF excitement over II, be-
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 IL again, Arch" he said rather
glOomily as he sat crosslegged before
my fire IN extreme deshabille and
IL "a a
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
marvel at the sanguine temperament
which permits You TO place so much
importance on this last find of yours"
He stopped, and answered him rather
sarcastieally, as | didn't like the gen
tie ridieule of his tone or his lack OF
enthusiasm.
1T seems 10 me-" said, that con.
siderlng how you've spent your time,
my dear boy you are very poor per
son TO look down upon my efforts to
turn this adventure OF ours to some
account The fact that | have kept
my eyes open and used those faculties
OF penetration and observation of
which | am the natural possessor to
discover a piece Of information which
might prove OF great value, not only
20 myself, but also 10 youths fact,