Putnam patriot., 1909-09-17

k HlISS PELHAM'S affair with M Thomas Saunders by this time had reached the stage where observers feel a hesitancy about twitting the parties most concerned.
 Miss Pelham Is a clever girl. much cieverer than Saunders would be if he were girl" said Britt '.Shes found out that he earns a thousand a Year and that his mother Is 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 di- 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 nineteenth story in Broadway"
 She's very nice girl" agreed Bob by Browne.
 "A very saucy one added Depping- ham. who had come severe eropper ill his single attempt to interest her in mild filtration.
 She's of with Saunders now" went on Britt That's why you can't find him. my lord If you really want him. however. l think you can reach him by strolling through the lower end of the park, but don't fail to shout
 Il do want him, confound him. I want fo ask him how many days there are left before our time is up on the island Demmed annoying that l can't have legal advice when r.
 How many days have you been here?'
 -How the devil should 1 know? That's what we've got Saunders here for. He's supposed to tell Us when to go home and ail that sort of thing. you know
 Deppingham. phlegmatie soul, was forever disturbing Saunders with calls to duty, although Saunders was bru- tish enough in his British way to main. tain-in confidence. of course-that he was in the employ of Lady Depping- 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 unfeIded his star ting solution to the problem that con fronted them all
 First he eonfided in Britt soberly, sagely and in perfect good faith. Britt was bowled over. He stared at Saun- ders and easped Nearly two minutes elapsed before he could find words to reply, which proves conclusiyely that if must have been something Of shock to him. When at last he did exnress himself. however. there was nothing that could have been left un- satd-absolutely nothing He went so far as to call Saunders a dodderlng fool and a great many other things that saunders had not in the, least ex- pected.
 The Engiishman was stubborn They had 1t 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 determina- tion that surprised even himself. called for conference of all parties in wyckholmes study at o'clock
 Now. what's 1t all about. Saun- dersy demanded Deppingham. with wide yawn. Saunders looked hurt.
 -lt is high time we were discussing sonhe way out of our difficulties. he said ~gut five weeks remain before our stay is over. The apparent i'm possibility of marriage between Lady Deppingham and Mir. Browne natural ly throws our joint cause into jeop- srdy There would be no controversy, 6 course, if the terms of the VIII could be carried out in that respect. The islanders understand our position and seem secure in their rights They imagine that they have us beaten on the face of things. Now. the thing Tor us to do is to get married
 He came to this conclusion with startling abruptness- Four of his hear CTS stared at him in blank astonisn- ueat
 ..Cet usarriedy' murmured first one. then another.
 Are you crazyy demanded Browne Britt was grinning broadly .certafnIy not-' snapped saunders -oh. by Jovew exclaimed Depping- ham relieved. "I see. You mean you contemplate getting married l con sratulafe you. You gave ne quite . shock. Saund"-
 Il don't mean anything of the sort my lord said Saunders. getting vefy red in the face. Mss Pelham looked up from her notebook quickly He winkea af her. and her ladyshig sa ' him do fl. T mean that II Is higf tine that Lady Deppingi1am and " growue were getting married VI haven't much time to sza-e- IT.