The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1910-03-31

hearing distance, and by afternoon ne
WAS started cityward. That night the
cooks sister had baby--the cook,
seeing indecision in my face, made II
twins on second thought-and, to be
shors, by noon the next day the house
hold staff was down to Liddy ana
myself. And this in a house with ~
rooms and five bathsl
Liddy wanted to go back to the city
at once, but the milkboy said that
Thomas Johnson, the Armstrong;
colored butler was working as a
waiter at the Greenwood club and
might come back. | have the usual
scruples about coercing peoples serv'
ants away but few OF us have any
conscience regarding institutions or
corporations the way we
beat railroads and street car eompan'
les when we can--so ! called up the
club. and about eight o'clock Thomas
Johnson came to see me. Poor
Thomas
Well. II ended by my engaging
Thomas on the spot, at outrageous
wages, and with permission to sleep
In the gardeners lodge, empty since
the house was rented The old man
-he was white-haired and little
stopped but with an immense idea OF
his personal dignity--gave me his
reasons hestallngy
Il amt sayin nothing Mis- lines
he said, his hand on the door.knob. but
there's been goin's'on here this las
few months as amt natchal. 'Talnt
one thing an 'taint another~-lt's Jest
door squealln' here, an a winder
closing there, but when doors an
wiuders gets to cuttin' up capers and
there's nobody nigh 'em, It's time
Thomas Johnson sleeps somewhar's
else"
Liddy. who seemed to be never
more than ten feet away from me that
night, and was afraid Of her shadow
In that great barn of place. screamed
little, and turned yellowgreen.
But am not easily alarmed.
II was entirely In vain represented
to Thomas that we were alone, and
that he would have to stay In the
house that night. He was politely
firm, but he would come over early
the next morning, and II gave him a
( koy he would come In time to get
some sort of breakfast stood on
the huge veranda and watched him
shuttle along down the shadowy drive
With mingled slngs-irritatlon at
4 his cowardce and thankfulness at get
ting him at all am not ashamed
to say that | double.locked the hall
door when | went In.
You can lock up the rest OF the
house and go to bed. liddy,' ! said
severely You give me the creeps
standing there. A woman Of your age
ought to have better SENSE" II usual
~ braces Iiddy to mention her age;
she owns to TO- which Is absurd. Her
mother cooked for my grandfather
and I.iddy must BIZ al least as old AS
!. BHt that night she refused to
brace.
You're not going to ask me to lock
up, Miss Rachel" she quayered
why. there's "A dozen French win
dows In the drawing room and the bill
Hard room wing, and every one OPEN
on porch And Mary Anne said thaf
last night there was man STANDING
BY the stable when she locked the
kitchen door"
Mary Anne was fool" | sal,
sternIy. 'lf there had been maj
there she would have had him IN thI
kitchen and been feeding him wha
was left from dinner inside Of an hour
from force OF habit. Now don't b.
ridiculous. Lock up the house and g
TO bed am going to read"
But Liddy set her lips tight an
stood still.
I'm not going 10 bed" she said
am going to pack up. and to.norro'
/ am going to leave"
You'll do nothing OF the sort"
snapped. Liddy and often desire t
part company. but never at the sam
time. III you are afraid. will &
with you. but for goodness sake don
, try to hide behind me"
The house was a typical summe
residence on an extensive seal
: Wherever possible. on the first foo
the architect had done away with pa
, tltlons, using arches and columns fl
: stead The effect WAS cod aud spae
| ous. but scarcely cozy AS Liddy an
+. went from one window to anorhe
| our voices echoed back al us unc0n
i fortably There was plenty OF light
> the electric plant down In the yIllae
!. supplied us--but there We're long VI
y tas OF polished floor. and mirror
o which reflected US from unexpecte
/. corners, until felt some OF Liddy
I foollshness communicate Itself to IN
g The house was very long. a reeisl
gle in general form. with the main el
g trance In the center OF the long sid
/ The brickpayed entry opened into
short hail. to the right of which, sep
y rated only by row OF pillars. was
Il huge living room. Beyond that wa
s the drawing room, and In the end II
/. billiard room. OF the billiard room
r In the extreme right wing. was del
y or cardroom, with a small hail opel
< Ing on the east veranda, aud frol
> there went up narrow circular stat
case.