The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-04-09
A Virginian Page for Each Member Of the Family
The Secret Of Mr.. Somerset
nv LOLA VIOLA HAYS,


ONCE to be shaved?" demanded Rob-
lert as soon az he was within the per-
tails OF the once,
Just fussiiy particular" said Ham
| ilton carelessly.
i know the old man doexn't wea~
a Wig" ruminated Robert, because
he let's his hair grow tn he looks like
| . Newfoundland dos before he has
lit cut"
We'll, ! wouldn't lose any sleep
over it," advised Hamilton. Mr.
Somerset IN extremely proud of his
| personal appearance and youthful.
looks. He thinks he receives better
care. under my personal supervision.
He has no dark ana deadly secret
He laughed heartily at Roberts dis
gusted countenance and began to talk
of other things,
! II was a few days later that he met
Mr.. Somerset. The rain was driving
down in a sudden torrent. Neither
| had an umbrella, and. as IL for once
inspired by common thought they
| turned and ran fer the shelter Of q
nearby shed,
Az soon as the air iightened enough
! to see Robert could perceive the form
| Of Marion's papa leaning back against
the shed and striving 10 pierce to the
make a remark to his companion. he
I discovered who tt-wes- and, turning
| abruptly, marched disdainfuliy out
I into the rain. ROBERT whfEtled
| frivolous air after him and moved
! over 10 the abandoned point Of van
tage.
A bit of something eiinging to the
| watt attracted htR attention. He stop
ped and picked 1t off the silver. He
started at it In wild amaxement A
great light broke upon him. He
and shaking hts trophy to the
| heavens, whistled wildly as he started
| down the street, Ele shook with
/ secret JOY when no discovered that
Mr.. Somerset was eiossted with Ham
| ilton all afternoon. He whistled mar
| rily again when Marion telephoned
him that papa had been called out of
| town for d few days, He knew that
/ he had never come cut OF HsmiltaHs
! office and that his meals were being
served 10 him there
| All, you old flint heart" he cried
within himself. 81 have You now"
/ Ii was the morning af the third day
I that Mr., Somerset arrived home from
T, his "trip" looking spruce, we'll
groomed ard handsome. In the even
I ing he wae called from the presence
Of his daughter, who was listening
| with rapt attention. to the pleasing
| incidents OF his trip" re- an Inter
view in the parlnr with. as he dis
, eavsrsd after he entered the rasRt,
RaheFt Armstrong He locked Al the
young man frig,dly.
II have hit Of sonr property that
yen lost In the little shower of few
! days age" said Robert, dropping o
+ sf-7 n market tttran the tai ie and turn
ing epnEiderately To- ieek at the pie
turss on the wall. The silence was
OF the variety whose thickness is
dense enough TO cut. A laugh was
| heard out in the haiti. Robert turned
quickly. Mr.. Somerset met his s2es
| aRpeAlingly.
ssEhe shaH never knew" said Roh-
Ter, axFuringiy, The door epsned and
Marion ran into the Boom.
Robert looked aeress at her reas-
suringiy, but she turned from him %
her father In startled anszement. His
face was bent and his hands behind
him.
Hoher. stepped toward Marion,
holding his arms In the manner made
reliable through long years of sdpan-
tAeerus use by lerers the @orld over,
and Mr.. Somerset swallowing hard
upon the chunk Of resistance that
pushsa ITSELF inta his throat, patti
her gently upon the shoulder and
pushed her toward him.
lie looked Tor an instant upon the
tao, already obliviaus Of him. and
left the room softly. eisspiag in his
hand q taupee 81 auburn hair, which
had adorned the top of his head until
! saturdays rain had soaked IL loose
and given II to the hands Of the
enerny.