St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1910-07-30

WHAT'S this about BartOn?" he in
Quired after the first salutations.
Simply that he left for India yes
terday afternoon quite unexpectedly
1t was only decided the evening before
that he would 60"
Another expedition" queried
Wayne significantly. He was relieved
to note that Retta did not seem the
least bit anxious or worried.
"Yes-and no. she answered, re-
turning his frank smile Its not
quite a treasure-hunt this time, al
though there is a great stake to be
played for. Barton has gone to help
others and to clear up a very puzzling
mystery
We'll. I'm glad you know all about
it, returned Lord Wayne. Blanche
was quite put out when his telegram
arrived"
There's not the slightest cause to
fear for his personal safety, if that's
what you mean," said Retta. eff all
goes well he'll be back In three months
to tell you about it."
(Which MEANS" laughed Wayne,
that you are sworn to secrecy?"
mot exactly that" said the girl 81
am sure Barton would not wish to
have any secrets from you. But real
ly know very little, and l am sure he'd
rather be his own historian"
Il see,' said the marquis, nodding
his head, and greatly relieved. Il
shall be able to re-assure Lady
Blanche. But there's another thing on
my mind, Miss Cortice, in fact, it was
for that as much as the other that I
came to-day. Do you know what Bar
ton said in his telegram"
Retta shook her head, not trusting
herself to speak. By that intuitive
sixth sense which is vouchsafed most
women for their defense against the
so-called stronger sex, she OWNED
what Scarsdale was about to say. The
knowledge neither surprised nor star
tied her. In fact, if the truth were
known, she had rather expected an
avowal ere this.
Three little words: Look after
Retta.' Of course, I know what he
meant thereby. But they determined
me to ask you today and now, to give
me the right to look after you in a
nearer and dearer sense, now and for
ever"
He rose and came to her side, bend
ing over her chair, and taking her I'M
resisting hand in his.
Il think you know what mean,
Retta, dear. 1 want you for my own,
for my wife. love you, Retta. Will
you be mine, sweetheart?"
The girls answer was as simple and
direct as her lovers appeal and as her
own disposition. She rose, and stood
facing him, her hands imprisoned IN
his, looking deep into his eyes with
her own clear and unsullied maiden
hood. Silently he drew her closer
until she rested and nestled in his
arms, whispering, through happy
tears:
IF you want me, I am yours!"
my darling!" was his fervent re-
spouse as he strained her to him and
covered her face with kisses.
So here was another victory to the
credit, albeit indirectly, of "the man
who remembered" When Barton Cor
tice returned to England three months
later it was to find his sister in a
fair way to become the marchioness
of Scarsdale.
While these events were going on
behind my back, / was in the States,
returning in time, however, to con-
graduate the young lovers, to welcome
Barton from India, and to hear the
story of the great Buddha Ruby, which
I will let him tell from the beginning
in his own words as he told it to our
reunited sextet-for Forbes had run
down to Raynham for a few days of
grouse shooting:
"You know" said Cortice, I'm very
fond of browsing around the British
museum-spend a lot of spare time
there, in fact, the Indian and Oriental
ro2ms attracting me most. One day
I was gloating over case containing
some superb examples of native Indi-
an weapons-jeweled swords, daggers
and pistols, marvellous for their rich
ness and almost fabulous value. This
was my third or fourth visit, and had
previously noticed another interested
observer, who l decided was an East
Indian-probably Brahmin of high
caste, although he was dressed in the
regulation English morning costume
frock-coat, pot-hat, lavender gray trous-
ers, 'spats,' as we call 'em, and all
that goes with that particular brand
of makeup.
From bow and a 'good-morning' on
the second and third day we fell into
conversation about the treasures in
the locked case. AS I supposed, he
was an Indian gentleman attached to
the suite of that prince cricketer chap
who was over here, the Maharaja
Bhooleep Ringh. Well, on the fourth
day we lunched together and afterward
took in the cricket-match at Lords.
You know what these English crick-
et-matches are - intolerably slow, to
my mind-takes two or three days to
play single game. Give me two hours
of baseball, full of ginger for the whole
nine innings! But l suppose cricket