The Raymer enterprise., 1911-02-02
Although she blushed very PRETTY
thera was nothing of ruaffr ahvneaa

Although she blushed very PRETTY
there was nothing of rustic shyness
In her manner.
Wont you come in!" she sug.
gested. "Or would you rather sit out
here among the roses?"
! voted for the roses. and soon we
were chatting like old friends. / gath.
cred by dint Of courteous question.
ings that her grandfather was nearly
80 when he died; that he had fol.
lowed an adventurous career In his
youth; that he had undoubtedly made
money" In those early days, and that
his wealth had been augmented in va.
rious ways; also that the countryside
called him miser-perhaps because
he held on to his money.
An ancient crone whom Miss Pen.
dragon called "Margery," set before
US. on rustic table. some luscious
strawberries, cream and cakes-the
like OF which | never tasted before,
though, thank goodness, l get them
for seven months OF the year nova
days.
| was just about to attack these
delicacies when most infernal up
roar arose from within the cottage
a loud, raucous voice proclaiming
something that sounded like:
"Dee-Ess. Dee-Ess. Dee-Ess! Now
listen!" followed by torrent Of in.
coherent yet evidently what was
meant for coherent speech, but Of
which l could make nothing. winding
up with shrieked three cheers for
the devil" The last at least. was dis
tinct enough.
Miss Pcndragon fairly giggled-
there is no other name for the smoker
OF bubbling laughter that came from
her lips, as she gasped:
That's Capt. Bob-the parrot, you
know-of whom | wrote. That's the
way he goes on all the time. He was
grandfather's pet. and they were al.
most cronies. Nobody knows how old
he is--but grandfather. with almost
his dying breath, charged me to be
very careful OF Capt. Bob. and always
mind what he said. 1t sounds too stu
pid for anything-don't you think SO
Mr.. Keppel?'
The girls fresh loyeliness and al
together artless manner had 80 be
witched mel was rather young and
.impressionable In those days-that fol-
the moment l lost my tongue. Then
remembered In time that was al
Tintagel Priory on business. and
pulled myself together, answering
with due gravity:
In my profession. Miss Pendragon
We learn never to scoff at triaes. Per
haps that queer old bird may help III
TO solve the mystery OF your grand
fathers property. May have look
at him."
Certainly she replied. Come this
way" leading me into a wide, low
ceilinged and diamond latticed cham
ber which was at once dining room
living room. and the girls sewing
room.
On tall perch by the window
strutted Capt. Bob-the most disrep
utable and battered gray parrot evel
saw.
Don't be surprised II he should
swear" continued Miss Pendragon
Sometimes. particularly at the sigh,
OF strangers, he goes on dreadfully.
Scarcely were the words out OF hel
pretty mouth than Capt. Bob dit
swear-a perfect torrent of Ian
guage" gathered from sailors foe les
most OF which was luckily beyond hel
comprehension. Then, without break
he chanted the refrain | had already
overheard:
"Dee-Ess! Dee.Ess! Dee-Ess! Now
listen." and then string OF gibber
.ish. too rapid for analysis. growing
faster and faster toward the end, ant
rising into a shrek.
Does the gentleman never vary his
tune?" | Inquired.
Never" was the answer. Poo,
grandfather taught him every word
oh. don't mean the bad words" she
FASTENED TO put In with becoming
blush-"but all that sing.song patter
for hours at time grandfather used
to keep Capt. Bob In his room, going
over and over that rigmarole until tht
bird got 1t by heart"
While she was speaking | had beer
doing some thinking. and as a resul
said aloud
That rigmarole. as you call 1t, Mis-!
Pendragon. probably contains the cev
TO your grandfather's secret"
She looked at me with wide.oper
eyes, answering under her breath:
do you really think so? Why?"
Because from what was outlined
In your letter and from all that yor
have told me yourself, infer tha
your respected relative had a secre
which he was-pardon me-too timor
Gus. or too cunning to put to paper
and so he coniided 1t to that clever
bicd. or course. the bird might have
died and carried the secret with him
That was risk, certainly. Equally
OF course. as It sounds It's all Glib
berish-not even an expert stepog