The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1910-09-24

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~" remarked Dearest. but knew sns
only said 1t to tease me.
20. come, now!" l expostulated:
you know you aren't going to stick
up for a wild westerner from the
American backwoods."
wherever they may be-" put In
my wife. who has spent the greater
part of her life in the states and 10
fonder of that country than l think
she should be.
From the American backwoods."
REPEATED. that you've never even
seen. against poor old Terhune! Why.
he probably wears a scalp lock and
brandishes a tomahawk. for all you
know"
She smiled pityingly at my primitive
notions of American civilization.
which," she said, "Terhune or the
third cousin? You're very ambigu-
cus Wilfred. Besides. you know lots
better than that!"
hung my head in well-affected con-
fusion and admitted that did.
Don't be a siliy!" she admonished.
though could see she thought my at
titude a good one. and tapped me ON
the head with her thimble. 1t hurt .
little and pretended to be very angry
at the liberty.
Just you stop that!" cried. sud
denly Ringing my arms around her
and pinning her SO tight to her chair
she couldn't speak. And don't pre-
tend you're not going to agree with
me about Terhune! It's serious mat
ter. and you know 1t! The old boys
in hole and l want to help him out!"
And you expect me to provide the
method OF exit. isn't that it?" asked
my prisoner as soon as she could get
her breath.
Exactly" said, setting her free
and settling myself in another chair
that was conveniently close to her.
pitch in and tell us how to go
about it," And leaned back and lit
a favorlte pipe of mine for which l
had long ago gained permanent par
don from Lady Vincent. Which title.
by the way, explains the fact that my
older brother Edmund had died short
ly after our wedding trip, making me
Lord Vincent instead of Lord Wilfred.
and at the same time my father. the
duke of Totten's, heir. At length my
oracle ceased puckering her pretty
brows and spoke. Il think" she said.
I'VE might manage 1t II we gave
small house party and had two Of the
Agathas who stayed with me year
ago during the time when I was car
rying out the conditions of my IA
ther's will and friend Terhune as the
only guests"
I withdrew my pipe from my mouth
and my gaze from the broken roof
line of Wyckhoff castle and the tops
of our famous Wyckhor oaks. which
was all my lazy line Of vision held.
and sat up.
II know it's an idea," remarked,
but l can't seem to get the inner
significance of it-a house party for
a week with just two Agathas and
Terhune for guests. How"
But she interrupted me. Yes" she
said. 80 far you're quite right. But
don't you see. Freddy. dear, that the
Agathas / meant to invite are Agatha
First and Agatha Sixth. In the first
place they are the only Agathas Of all
the six yet unmarried. and in the Sec
ond place, they just happen to be the
two girls Archibald showed the most
interest in at the time you two meE
were guests at Castle Wyckhon for
the first time"
"Of course" cried. Il see 1t now!
And you think he'll have more Of a
chance with them than with strange
girls he's never seen before?"
The secretary, I mean my wife
as l say the other name will slip out
occasionally sometimes when I'm
talking of old times-smiled indulgent-
ly. ''As I argue it," she said. "it will
be his only chance. He couldn't hope
to accomplish anything in ten days,
in regard to girl he doesn't know,
and If you will remember. Agatha
SIKH showed a marked liking for him
at that time! A most important point
in favor of his speedy marriage!"
Then why not ask just Agatha
Sixth? Why have Agatha First. too?"
l inquired innocently.
Dearest allowed the most delightful
little expression of pity for my linn
tied masculine intelligence to dim the
brightness of her eyes.
CTO BE CONTINUED)
I