The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-11-28

The property Was owned by Paul
Armstrong. the president of the Trad
ers Bank. who at the time we TOOK
the house was in the West with his
wife and daughter. and a DR.. Walker,
the Armstrong family physician. Hal
sey knew Louise Armstrong-had
been rather attentve to her the win
ter4before. but as Halsey was always
attentive to somebody, had not
thought OF it seriously. although she
was charming girl | knew of Mr..
Armstrong only through his connec-
ton with the bank, where the chill
drens money was largely invested,
and through an ugly story about the
sop. Arnold Armstrong. who was re-
ported to have forged his fathers
name for a considerable amount to
some bank paper. However, the story
had had no interes; for me.
| cleared Halsey and Gertrude away
10 a house party. and moved out to
Sunnyside the first of May. The road.
We're bad, but the trees were In leaf.
and there were stiil tulips in the Dor
ders around the house. The arbutus
was fragrant In the woods under the
dead leaves, and on the way from the
station. a short mile, while the car
stuck IN the mud. found a bank
showered with tiny forget me-nots.
! The birds--dont ask me what kind;
they all look alike to me, unless they
have "A hall mark OF some bright coll
or-~tbe birds were chirping In the
hedges, and everything brsathed of
peace. Jiddy. who was born and
bred ON brick pavement, got a lit
tic bit down-spirited when the crick
cts began to chirp or scrape their
legs together. or whatever 1t ig they
do, at twilight.
The first night passed quietly
enough J have always been Crate
fun for that one nights peace. it
shows what the country might be.
under favorable circumstances. Never
after that night did j put my head
on my pillow with any assurance
how long 1t would be there: or on
my shoulders, for that matter.
On the following morning Liddy
and Mrs Ralston my own house
keeper. had difference of opinion.
and Mrs Raleton left on the eleven
train. Just after luncheon. Burke.
the butler, was taken unexpectedly
with pain in his right side. much
worse when I was within hearing
distance. and BY afternoon he was
started cityward. That night the
cook sister had baby-the cook,
seeing indecision In my face, made
ii twins on second thought-and. to
be short. by noon the next day the
household staff was down to Liddy
and myself. And this In a house with
twenty-five rooms and five baths.
Llddy wanted 10 go back to the
city at once, but the milk boy said
that Thomas Johnson. the Arm
strongs eoiored butler, was working
as a waiter at tho Greenwood Club,
and might come back ] have the
usual scruples about coercng peoples
servants awaI. hut few OF us have
any conscience regarding institutions
or corporattons--witn the way we
beat railroads and street car COM
panies when We can--so T called up
the club, and about o'clock Thomas
johnson came to see me. Poor
Thomas,
Well. 1t ended by my engaging
Thomas on the spot, at outrageous
wages, and with permission to sleep
in the gardeners lodge. empty since
the house was rented. The old man
he was white haired and little
stopped. but with an immense idea
OF his personal dignity-gave me his
reasons hes!tatingly.
II amt sayin' nothin', Mis- 1nnes."
he said. with his hand on the door.
knob. but there's been goin's-on
here this lag few months as amt
natchal. '1'ain't one thing an faint
another--its lest a door squealin'
here a a vinder closin' there. but
when doors an winders gets to cuttin'
up capers and there's nobody nigh
'ern. It's time Thomas johnson sleeps
somewhar's else"
Ltddy, who seemed 10 he never
more than ten feet away from me
that night and was afraid of her
shadow in that great barn of place
screamed little. and turned u yellow
green But am not easily alarmed
1t was entirely in vain I repre-
scented to Thomas that we were alone
and that he would have to stay in
the house that night He was po-
litely frm. but he would come over