The Mankato free press., 1910-03-11

HE HAD GLIMPSE OF SLENDER, BIG
EYED YOUNG WOMAN.
mans head, man with beard and
eyeglasses He seemed to be reading.
Then another shadow fitted across the
shade, slighter, more graceful shape,
evidently womans.
Nothing ghOstly about that" re-
marked the Cherub. "Am in board
ing house or what:"
Finding q lawn seat, he swung it
around, lighted a fresh cigar and
leaned back to make a comfortable
survey and reflect upon his discovery
at leisure. Instead of one there were
account. Perhaps there were more
four. five, six, dozen. Why not?
Room was not lacking. True, he had
been given to understand. both by Bull
kins and by Timmins, that he had
bought house tenanted only by serv-
ants. But persons who read books
in the library, dropped lace handker-
chiefs and occupied rooms in the main
portion of the house could not be
servants.
The Cherub wondered and speculat-
ed and made wild guesses as to the
identity Of the persons in those upper
rooms. Having no starting point, no
clew to follow, he arrived nowhere.
Give it up," he said. Guess I'll
go to bed"
Why he should rise at the unearthly
hour of 6. however. he explained in
quite a different way. He accused a
few twittering sparrOws Of waking
him. Perhaps, too. it was the spar
rows which drove him out to make a
circuit of the grounds. Quite Incl
dentally he glanced up at the win
dows he had watched the night before.
The closed shutters revealed nothing.
Finding a bench under tree, he sat
down and began to wonder how long
it would be before he might call for
his breakfast without seeming unsea-
sonable. He was aroused by a crunch
crunch of footsteps on the gravel.
Some one was walking down one Of
the intersecting paths.
During the brief instant that he
stared he had glimpse of slender,
big eyed young woman whose hair
hung in thick, dark braid over one
shoulder Across the hollow Of her
left arm was sheaf of freshly cut
flowers. in her right hand a pair of
shears. And then she saw him.
"Oh.'
Down fell the roses. The shears
clattered on the stones.
BY the time he could scramble to his
feet she had gathered up her flowers
and the shears She stood quite still,
eying him with apprehensive expecta-
! tion
"EhT' said the Cherub.
"I-I said nothing" replied the young
| woman
But you squealed, didn't you?"
Possibly"
We'll, ] was scared out of years
growth. Next time you feel like squeal-
ing you might send me word, so / can
brace myself. Live here, do your"
"Wbv-er-that is-not exactly"
Neither do l, thank the Lordi /
Just own the place. But don't mind
me. Go ahead with your posy pick
ing
"You-you don't object to-
"Great Scott, no! Cut 'em all if you
! like
| Only after she was out of sight did
Mr.. Devine realize that here was an
other person whose presence at Hew-
tngton Acres was not fully accounted
| for. She could not be Cne of the
servants He was sure of that. But
when you find person about the
grounds of a private house. apparent
ly quite at home, and they reply when
asked if they live there. mot exact
| ly," what is one to infer? She couldn't
be a guest. Who was there for her
to visit? Nor boarder.
Strikes me l ought to take a GEN.
sus," commented the Cherub.
Going back to the house. he rang a
bell until Eppings appeared, heavy
eyed and lugubrious.
Breakfast ready yet?"
Breakfast, sir? It's rather early.
sir. but
| early! It's the middle of the fore
noon. Go stir things up In the kitch-
en-"
As Eppings departed the hall clock
chimed Z. The Cherub grinned. He
lad not breakfasted at for years. In
less than an hour, though, breakfast
was an accomplished fact and Mr..
Devine, now soothed by one of his
black cigars, set out for more ex-
tended tour of the grounds. He dis
covered the path leading to the sound
and had spent some time on the porch
of the boathouse watching the steam
ers and coasting vessels crawl past