The Marshall republican., 1910-11-11
CHAPTER ~.

CHAPTER 10.
And II you'll believe me, the evening
of the next day saw our two other
prospective guests, the Misses Agatha
First and Sixth, actually under our
roof. We had sent a motor over to
Chiltern house that morning after n
telephone confabulation between my
wife and the mistress Of that estab-
lishment, and by dinner time our rath-
or peculiarly interesting house party
was gathered round the table com
plete.
We were very gay-my wife and
myself as head conspirators In a
matrimonial plot especially so,
though the two girls were almost as
merry. Agatha First had much to
tell OF her visit at Chiltc IN house
and Agatha Sixth of my wife's friends
In America, 30 that the dinner hour
passed rapidly. Agatha First had
been with Mrs. Chiltern the longer, 1t
seemed, Agatha Sixth having had
friends in London to visit, had only
been with her q week. The two girls
were not intimate friends, Dearest
told me a~fterward. They had not
been as much SO with each other as
they had been with others Of the six
Agathas who had FIRST visited her
at Castle Wyckhon. I lay stress upon
this fact because It accounts for a
number Of things to occur later. OF
all the party, Arch was the only one
who seemed at all quiet, and I guessed
that he was somewhat sobered by the
swiftness with which the plot had
begun to thicken about him.
After dinner we had a little music,
and l had a bit Of laugh all to myself
as ! watched the feverish attentions
which Arch was paying Agatha Sextn,
who was at the piano. The girl was
uncommonly attractive and that's q
fact, In a sort OF hand-painted, NINA
ture kind of way. She wore a most
becoming gown Of cream color, and
her fine profile showed 60 advantage
against the black Of Terhune's coat as
he stood beside her.
Nevertheless ! couldn't help letting
my eyes wander TO my wife who sal
across the room from me, delicate al
q flower, supple Is a young tree ant
wholly sweet. Her hair, which curlet
to distraction about her long white
neck, made a gorgeous halo about hel
head.
It was a pleasant moment, THAI
after dinner interlude, as l looked
around me at my wife and my guests
the fine old room with it's ~golden-tonet
piano and the soft glow of man!
lamps. But as ! looked and sighet
with content, l suddenly missed tn
fifth member of u party-Agathi
First She vas not IN the room. II
o case of odd numbers 1t Is easy no
to notice the absence of the odd one
Poor Agatha First was undoubtedl,
that unlucky individual, having n,
man to pair Off with, though Deares
and had tried our best not to let he
feel this deficiency.
However, gone she was from on
midst, that was certain enough, an
was Just about to wonder aloud a
to her disappearance when the doc
from the hall opened and in sh
walked,
Don't let's stay indoors" she eI
treated in her breezy American voice
its so lovely outside! The moon
Just coming up!" And she strobe viz
orously across the room toward tn
glass doors that opened upon tn
lawn. AS she paused at the threshol
with a little commanding gesture Il
ward the terrace I couldn't help thinl
ing that my wife's friends were bot
OF them uncommonly handsome girl
She was so superbly healthy, wit
such a color In her cheeks, such
> snap to her eyes.
! caught Terhune glancing irres'
lutely from the girl at the piano to tn
girl at the door.
Let me open 1t for you," he offere
; at last, going to her and THROWN
wide the long windows. And the rel
Of US, Agatha Sixth after him an
Dearest and myself last, followe
, them out, my wife and l exchangin
looks Of more or less Significance
we did 30. As well as I could req
II, her look expressed a slight Apr
hension. Mine l meant to indica,
5 amusement. Terhune Is such \ CO.
ceited old chap, a wink o. q nod fro
one of the other sex is enough to u
: set him, and he changes his alles
ance rs easily as he changes his Goa
Il would be lust Like bin Rftarp