Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1911-02-24

AACA yOu Skh Y 0O WAN uS W SSS
the cricket" continued Agatha First.
interrupting our aside by her ap-
proach, as II just realizing what Ter
hune's absence really meant. And
again felt that the interest In Arch's
goings and comings should have come
not from her. but from Agatha Sixth.
who had said nothing. And when
Agatha First added: well. II you
must go, you must. But be sure to be
back in time to show that new move
in our chess game" Then, laughing
ly, Remember, It's date!" thought
SO more than ever. Terhune. redden.
Ing slightly, muttered something and
I.left us to pack his bag. Left us, and
without so much as word to Agatha
Sixth
Frankly, didn't like the look of It.
And I know Dearest felt the same
way. We had observed with some
anxiety, not to say surprise. that dur
ing the last day or two Terhune and
Agatha First had struck up an ex-
traordinary intimacy. Extraordinary
of course in the light of the affair be-
tween Terhune and Agatha Sixth.
though of course Agatha First could
not have been aware of that. had
told Dearest when we had first OBJ
served this new stake in our match
making venture, that it was explained
by Agatha Sixth's action in delaying
her answer when Terhune had pro-
nncoI Too1ipU fhot
''up to her." as my American brought
up wife would say, the old boy had re-
solved to let matters pretty much
alone. And I couldn't blame him.
thought his friendship with Agatha
First rather judgment on Agatha
Sixth for playing with him in that
manner. But not SO Dearest! When
! had advanced this idea she had
withered me with look and had de-
clared it to be her opinion that an
attachment that couldn't stand the
fire Of little conventional coquetry.
which she thought one of the most in
alienable Of women's rights, was not
worth having, and that could not
excuse or explain Arch's conduct in
that way
However that may be, when Agatha
First and young Freer had romped out
Of sight in the direction of the garage
for the fun of telling the men them
selves to send the electric runabout
around, Agatha Sixth rose slowly from
the little rocker where she had sat
through all the talk as if she were
not at all concerned in 1t, and clench.
ing her sewing in one small hand.
walked past us III silence toward the
house.
Are you going to get ready, dear?"
ventured my wife to the small rigid
back. I'VE start right away, you
know"
There was moments silence, and
then at the door she turned the brav-
est little face toward us you ever
saw.
YES" she said sweetly. "I'm going
to get ready. You needn't think I
shall stay at home just because he's
not going" The hes was empha-
sized. I'D rather 60 without him any
way!" And she vanished into the
My wife and stared at each other.
well, what do you think Of that?"
exclaimed.
II think she's little heroine!" the
secretary-1 mean Dearest-answered.
CAS- for that mani" she stopped, but
her expression was such that | was
glad Terhune wasn't there to see it.
well, it is shame!" / conceded.
"He ought not to treat the poor little
girl SO! What can he be about, any.
way? If he doesn't take care he'll
jolly well fall between two stools!"
yes, If you mean the girls by
Stools" agreed Dearest, land serve
him right, too-the old flirt! But
Wilfred,' and she fixed me with look
that / secretly trembled before be.
cause it means an unpleasant duty to
be performed by me, "you must find
out what he's up to-" But before I
could reply we were in the midst of
hurried farewells to Terhune, who If
he were in disgrace. was also our
guest, and we had packed him of in
the little runabout to catch his train.
without word Of rebuke.
Not half an hour later we we're
standing on the steps Of the side en-
trance to the castle in our automobile
togs, with Agatha Sixth and Leslie
Freer, waiting for Agatha First. or
Miss Endicott-to use her proper
name once ina while-to join us be-
fore starting on our trip to, see the
cricket. Freer, a. pale-eyed, sandy.
haired young chap, was enveloped in
one Of the coats that 60 with the ma
chine for the convenience Of chance
guests, and was promising us that he
would be quite comfortable, though
no one seemed particularly solicitous.
II wonder why Miss Endicott
doesn't coms-she's SO SLOW" he re-
marked for the twentieth time. at
least.
I But it wasn't until had quite nm
ished fussing with the machine, a six,
cylindered touring car, having gone
over every part Of her with the chauf.
feur, and was beginning to get bit
impatient, that the young lady who
was responsible nor the delay appear.
ed In the hall entrar 3.
But to our establishment she did
not wear 80 much as a linen duster
over the white frock she had worn
that morning to indicate that she
Intended to motor with us that day.
"Good gracious, Aggie. dear!" ex-
postulated Dearest from the tom
neau where she and Agatha Sixth
were already ensconced, aren't you