The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1911-02-10

won't you come in?" she sug-
gested. "Or would you rather sit out
here among the roses?"
l voted for the roses, and soon we
were chatting like old friends. l gath
cred By dint of courteous question
lngs 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 a rustic table, some luscious
strawberries, cream and cakes-the
like of which l 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 Internal up
roar arose from within the cottage
loud, raucous voice proclaiming
something that sounded like:
"Dee-Ess! Dee-Ess! Dee-Ess! Now
listen!" followed by a torrent of in
coherent, yet evidently what was
meant for coherent speech, but of
which l could make nothing, winding
up with a shrieked three cheers for
the devil" The last at least, was dis.
tinct enough.
Miss Pendragon 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 l 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 loneliness and al
together artless manner had so be-
witched mel was rather young and
impressionable in those days-that for
the moment l lost my tongue. Then
| remembered in time that l was at
Tintagel Priory on business, and
pulled myself together, answering
with due gravity:
In my profession, Miss Pendragon,
we learn never to scott at trifles. Per-
haps that queer old bird may help us
to solve the mystery of your grand
fathers property. May have a look
at him."
Certainly" she replied. Come this
way" leading me into wide, low
ceilinged and diamond latticed cham
Der, which was at once dining room,
living room, and the girls sewing
room.
On a tall perch by the window
strutted Capt. Bob-the most disrep-
utable and battered gray parrot l ever
saw.
Don't be surprised if he should
swear" continued Miss Pendragon.
Sometimes, particularly at the sight
of strangers, he goes on dreadfully."
Scarcely were the words out of her
pretty mouth than Capt. Bob did
swear--a perfect torrent of Ian
guage" gathered from sailors fo' c's'les,
most of which was luckily beyond her
comprehension. Then, without break,
he chanted the refrain I had already
overheard:
"Dee-Ess! Dee-Ess! Dee ss! Now
listen!" and then string Of gibber-
ish, too rapid for analysis, growing
faster and faster toward the end, and
rising into a shrek.
Does the gentleman never vary his
tune?" ! inquired.
Never" was the answer. poor
grandfather taught him every word
oh, I 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 uncover that rigmarole until the
bird got'it by heart"
While 'she was speaking I had been
doing sene thinking, and as a result
said ALOUD:
THAT rigmarole, as you call 1t, Miss
Pendragon, probably contains the clew
to your grandfather's secret"
She looked at me with wide-open
eyes, answering under her breath:
DO you really think so? Why?"
Because from what was outlined
In your letter and from all that you
have told me yourself, infer that
your respected relative had q secret
which he was-pardon me--too timor.
GUS, or too cunning to put to paper.
and SO he confided 1t to that clever
bird. OF course, the bird might have
died and carried the secret with him.
That was risk, certainly. Equally.
Of course, as 1t sounds it's all Glib.
berish-not even an expert stenog.
rapher could take 1t down. But I
know a way to get around that. II
you'll excuse me I'll get back to Pen.
zance and do bit of telegraphins
But on your life, be very good to Capt
Bob, for I'm convinced he holds a
valuable secret in that frazzled little
head Of his"
when shall l see you again? ?" she
inquired artlessly.
"Oh, Ill run over to-morrow-to In
quire after Capt. Bob,'I laughed as
we shook hands. I'm not vain. but
l verify believe Miss Pendragon was
loath to see me go-and who'd blame
her. living In that desoiate corner n
the realm?
My errand to Penzance consisted IN
q 49,