The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1909-11-11
CHAPTER XIII.
Mr.. sAuNpERs Has A PLAN

Mr.. sAuNDERs HAS A PLAN.
e Hiss PELHAM'S affair with
INT Thomas Saunders by this time
ii had reached the stage where
observers feel q hesitancy about
twitting the parties most concerned.
cleverer than Saunders would be II he
were girl" said Britt. "She's found
out that he earns q thousand q year
and that his mother u 4 very old wo-
man. That shows foresight. She says
she's just crazy about London. al
though she doesn't know where Ham
mersmith Is. That shows discretion.
She's anxious to see the boats at Put
ney and talks like an encyclopedia
about Kew gardens. That shows d.
plomacy. You see, Saunders lives In
Hammersmith, not far from the bridge,
all alone with his mother, who owns
the house and garden. It's all very
appealing to Miss Pelham. who has got
devilish tired Of seeing the universe
from a nineteenth story In Broadway"
"Shes a. very nice GIRL" agreed Bob
by Browne.
"A very saucy one" added Doping
ham, who had come q severe cropper
In his single attempt to interest her In
a mild Irritation.
"She's OF with Saunders now" went
on Britt. That's why you can't find
him. my lord. II you really want him.
however, think you can reach him by
strolling through the lower end Of the
park, but don't fail to shout"
II do want him, confound him!
want to ask him how many days there
are left before eur time Is up on the
island. Demmed annoying that can't
have legal advice when r.
How many days have you been
herer
How the devil should l knowf
That's what we've got Saunders here
for. He's supposed to tell Us when to
60 home and all that sort Of thing.
You know"
Deppingham. phlegmatic soul, was
forever disturbing Saunders with calls
to duty, although Saunders was bru-
fish enough In his British way to main
'tain--in confidence, Of course-that he
was in the employ Of Lady Doping
ham or no one at all. Nevertheless he
always lived under the shadow Of
duty At any moment his lordship
was liable to send for him to ask the
time of day or some equally important
question. And this brings US to the
hour when Saunders unfolded his star
thing solution to the problem that con-
fronted them all.
First he confided In Britt soberly.
sagely and In perfect good faith. Britt
was bowled over. He stared at Saun-
ders and gasped. Nearly two minutes
elapsed before he could md words to
reply, which proves conclusively that
1t must have been something Of Z
shock to him. When at last be did
express himself, however, there was
nothing that could have been left un-
said-absolutely nothing. he vent 30
far rs to call Saunders . doddering
fool and a great many other things
that Saunders had not in the least ex-
pected.
The Englishman was stubborn.
They had It back and forth, from legal
and other points of view. and finally
Britt gave in to his colleague. reserv-
ing the right to laugh when 1t was
all over. Saunders. with a determine
ton that surprised even himself, called
for conference Of all parties In
Wyckholme's study at 4 O'Clock.
Nov, what's 1t all about. Saun-
dersY demanded Deppingham. with
a wide yawn. Saunders looked hurt.
ut Is high time we were discussing
some way out Of our dinlculties," he
said. But Eve weeks remain before
our stay II over. The apparent i'm.
possibility Of marriage between Lady
Depplngham and Mr.. Browne natural
ly throws our joint cause into jeop-
ardy. There would be no controversy,
Of course, II the terms Of the win
could be carried out In that respect.
The islanders understand our position
and seem secure In their rights. They
imagine that they have W beaten on
the face Of things. Now. the thing for
us to do II to get married"
He came to this conclusion with
startling abruptness. Four Of his hear
ers stared at him In blank astonish-
ment
"Get marriedr murmursd nrst one.
then another.
Are you craxyr demanded Browne.
Britt vvaa 0rinnfD1 hrnadlv
Certainly notr' snapped Saunders.
"Oh, by Jovsi" exclaimed Depping-
ham, relieved. IT zee. You mean you
contemplate getting married. con-
graduate you. You gave me quite q
shock, Saund"-
II don't mean anything Of the sort
my lord" said Saunders, getting very
red In the facs. Miss Pelham looked
up from her notebook quickly. he