Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1909-11-13
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CHAPTER |.
A Telegram from Paul stoddard.

| maIlerS hereinafter QeScr1DeQ turn
upon the receipt of Stoddard's mes
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 I 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; if
had not accepted his kind offer of
| the house at Annandale for the sum-
| mer; and if Paul Stoddard had not
| sent me that telegram, 1 should never
| have written this narrative. But such
| was the predestined way of it. rose
| from the boat / was caulking, and
with the waves from the receding
steamer Shaping the pier, read this
message:
Stamford, Conn., June s.
Meet Miss Patricia Holbrook AMMAN
dale station, five twenty Chicago express
and conduct, her to st. Agatha's school,
where she is expected She will explain
difficulties. I have assured her of your
sympathy and aid Will join you later if
necessary. Imperative engagements call
me elsewhere STODDARD
To say that 1 was angry when 1
read this message is to belittle the
truth 1 read and re-read it with
growing heat l had accepted Glen
arms offer OF the house at Annandale
because it promised peace, and now 1
was ordered by telegraph to meet a
strange person of whom l 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
L learned later that it had lain half
the day in Annandale, New York
Sd that l was now face to face with
the situation, and without porsunity
to fling his orders back to Stoddard
II l wanted to. Nor did 1 even know
Stamford from STEAMBOAT, and 1 am
rot yet clear in my mind-being an |
!rishman with rather vague notions of
American eography-whether Con-
necticut is north or south of Massa-
chusetts
"IjiplaI"
I called my Japanese boy from the
boatkouse, and he appeared. paint |
brush in hand
Order the double trap, and tell |
them to hurry"
reflected, as I picked up my coat
and walked toward the house. that if
any enc but Paul Stoddard had sent
rec such a message should most GER
tal-ily have ignored it; but 7 knew him
as man who did not make demands
o. impose obligations lightly As the
ieu1der and superior CT the Protestant
religious Order of the Brothers of
tethiehen he was, 1 knew, an ex-
cccdingiy busy man. His religious
tSu-e VAS in the Virginia mountains;
I'll ec ct T1noh 'irHe in quiet kIl1,;-
~ service in city Stunts, IN iumbe.'
camps, II the mines OF Pennsylvania:
aid occasionally he appeared like
rr1Fhet from the wilderness in some
s,--1at church OF New York. and
PRESIDED with Z marTelous eloquence
: c:,:erirg ,h-c2-s.
Inc trap swang into the arched
GiIVew2y ard 1 babe the coachma.
maze haste to the AnnandaIe station.
The handsome bays were soon trot-
t:2s swiftly toward the village, while
crew On my gloves and considered
the situation \ certain Miss Hol-
brock, of whose existence L had been
altSAiS ignorant an hour before was
areut TO arrive at Annandale. A
Clergyman, whom 1 had not seen for
TWO years, had telegraphed me from
4 town In Connecticut to meet this
person, conduct her to St. Agatha's
school-just closed for the summer. as
knew-and to volunteer my services
IN difficulties that were darkIy indi-
Gated II telegram of As words. The
sender OF the message 1 knew to be
serious character, and a gentleman
OF distinguished social connections.
Inc name of the lady signified moth
Tag except that she was unmarried.
ana as Stoddard's acquaintance was
among all sorts and conditions of
men L could assume nothing more ,
thaa that the unknown had apneaIei !
10 MN as a priest and that he had
sent her to Lake Annandale to shake
OF the burdens of the world in the
conVentual air of St. Agatha's.
me Chicago express whistled for
Annandale Just as we gained the edge
Oh the village 1t paused a grudging
moment and was gone before we ,
the station. 1 jumped out
ana ran through the waiting room to ,
me platform, where he agent was
gathering up the mail bags. while an
assistant loaded a truck with trunks
glanced about. and the moment was
an important one in my life. Stand .
ns quite alone beside several pieces
o1 hand baggage was a la(ly-unInis /,
IakabIy lady-leaning lightly mo,