The Ordway new era., 1910-11-04
CHAPTER ~.

IL
Of the next day saw our two other
prospective guests. the Misses Agatha
First and Sixth. actually under our
roof. We had sent motor over to
Chiltern house that morning after q
telephone confabulation between my
wife and the mistress Of that estab-
lishment. and by dinner time our rath-
er peculiarly interesting house party
was gathered round the table COM
plete.
We were very gay-my wife and
myself as head conspirators In
matrimonial plot especially 90.
though the two girls we're almost as
merry. Agatha First had much to
tell Of her visit at Chiltern house
and Agatha Sixth Of my wife's friends
in America. SO that the dinner hour
passed rapidly. Agatha First had
been with Mrs. Chiltern the longer. II
seemed. Agatha Sixth having had
friends in London to visit. had only
been with her a week. The two girls
were not intimate friends. Dearest
told me afterward. 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 Wyckhof. lay stress upon
this fact because 1t accounts for a
number OF things to occur later OF
all the party. Arch was the only one
who seemed at all quiet, and guessed
that he was somewhat sobered by the
swiftness with which the plot had
begun to thicken about him.
hol
and ! had bit Of laugh all to myself
as I watched the feverish attentions
which Arch was paying Agatha Sixth.
who was at the piano. The girl was
uncommonly attractive and that's a
fact. in a sort OF hand. painted, minia.
ture kind of way. She wore a most
becoming gown OF cream color, and
her fine profile showed to advantage
against the black OF Terhune's coat as
he stood beside her.
Nevertheless I couldn't help letting
my eyes wander to my wife who sat
across the room from me. delicate as
flower. supple as young tree and
wholly sweet. Her hair, which curled
to distraction about her long white
neck. made a gorgeous halo about her
head
II was a pleasant moment, that
after dinner interlude. as looked
around me Mt my wife and my guests.
the fine old room with It's golden.toned
piano and the soft glow Of many
lamps. But as I looked and sighed
with content, ! suddenly missed the
NTH member Of our party-Agatha
First She was not IN the room. In
case OF odd numbers It is easy not
to notice the absence Of tho odd one.
Poor Agatha First was undoubtedly
that unlucky individual. having no
man to pair of with. though Dearest
and had tried our best not to let her
feel this deficiency.
| However. gone she was from our
midst. that was certain enough. and
| was just about to wonder aloud as
to her disappearance when the door
from the hall opened and in she
walked.
| Don't let's stay indoors" she en-
treated in her breezy American voice.
ITS 80 lovely outside! The moons
Just coming up!" And she strobe Wig
orously across the room toward the
glass doors that opened upon the
| lawn. As she paused at the threshold
with little commanding gesture to.
ward tho terrace couldn't help think.
ing that my wife's friends were both
| Of them uncommonly handsome girls.
She was SO superbly healthy. with
such a color in her cheeks. such q
snap to her eyes.
caught Terhune glancing irreso.
lutely from the girl at the piano to the
girl at the door.
Let me open 1t for you." he offered
at last. going to her and throwing
wide the long windows. And the rest
Of US. Agatha Sixth after him and
Dearest and myself last, followed
them out. my wife and l exchanging
looks Of more or less Significance as
we did 30. Az we'll as I could read
It, her look expressed a slight appre.
hension. Mine meant to indicate