The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1911-09-07
CHAPTER TX.

dumfounded Lucy gives way to tears.
CHAPTER TX.
The group stood in dead silence,
broken only by the stif1ed sobs of
Lucy and Carolyn, while the heavy
tramp of General Blazes died away in
his slamming of the outer door.
Harry shook his head doubtfuiiy,
as the Count continued to assure him
In dumb show that he could clear
things up for MIN.
Come, daughter" Mr.. Medders
said, thee must quiet myself. Then
we will go home
Aren't you going to give me a
chance to explain?'' Harry asked.
"Explain!" Carolyn blazed forth,
looking up at them with her eyes red
and her cheeks stained with tears.
Explain! How can you explain? Oh.
dearl l never should have gone away
to school. l should have stayed at
home and done my duty by my broth
err"
Nonsense, Carolyn" Harry reproved
her. You simply make things look
worse for me by such talk as that"
How could they be any worse for
you!" Carolyn demanded. "Oh, men
are wretchest l suppose they are
all alike. l thought | could trust my
own brother. I-I-even doubt
Pigeon, now!"
The Count smiled grimly &C Harry
and shrugged his shoulders. Harry
looked at him in mute appeal, as
though asking him to come to the
front now with his plan of squaring
things. But the Count was a man of
experience. For all his f1ippancy and
gaiety, he was man of experience
enough to knoW that when you are
going to defend anything or any po-
sition which is being attacked you are
better off if you wait until the attack
Ing party has exhausted its ammuni-
ton and arguments.
So he bided his time, while Carolyn
gradually relieved her mind by means
Of tears and recriminations, and while
Lucy. who was completely mystifed,
but who felt that something was ire
mendously wrong, slowly arrived at a
state of calm on the haven of her IA
TIERS shoulder.
Shrewd old Amos Medders, being
by birth and training a patient man,
said nothing beyond few soothing
words to Lucy. He had concluded to
end their visit and take her home,
yet he was fair man and he would
give Harry chance to come from
under the cloud, if he could.
We'll. Carolyn" Harry said at last,
IF you have finished all you have to
say, we will get at the real truth OF
the matter Count Won Fitz. think,
can tell us something that will at
least interest us"
The Count Strengthened his shout
ders and took a deep breath. lie
twisted his mustache thoughtfully,
and then fecked an imaginary piece
Of dust from his lapel.
sIff you will all sit down. he OBJ
served. Il can talk bedder. Dare ISIS
no occasion for weepings, nor for at
lacking Mr.. Swifton. IF anybody shall
be attacked, it is me, for vat has hap
pened, and vat may yet happen. iss
my fault"
Carolyn resumed her seat, Lucy
with wondering expression, took q
chair, and Mr.. Medders, nodding
gravely, also sat down. Harry lounged
on a settee, and carelessly chewed an
unlit cigar
ct iss like diss," the Count said, as
though addressing jury. In life
dare iss many things vich seem i'm
possible of explanation, but vich ven
We know vat dey are, do not mean
20 much"
SIR. Medders bowed assent and Har
nv looked at the Count with consid
erable admiration for his self-posses
sion anu his control of the situation.
"You half seen sounding" the Count
continued, "vich excites natural sus
picion und distrust We half all seer
dis. Und, as usual, ven suspicion i:
aroused, id iss like a swarm of bees
1t lighds varever i'd pleases. IND alst
somebody geds sting
He chuckled to himself, but al:
chuckle did not raise an echo.
I'D would be easy for me" he said
Ito allow you to continue NIT der i'm
bressions you half receifed. But
cannot allow it. Efen at der expense
of a wrong IMPRESSION of myselluf.
must gift you my explanation-vicf
you can belief or not belief, as yol
like. Mr.. Swifton iss man dot yol
know man you will always know
throughout hiss life. Mel am {
strancher. | half been teaching Mr.
Swifton some Cherman-but | resign
now as his tutor"
mo, no! won't have that" Harry
bluffed.
Unless you accept my resignation
I cannot say vat wish to say" thu
Count decided.
Accepting BArry's silence as a con
firmation Of the alleged resignation
he Went, checking off his points as h'
made them. upon his fingers.
First, vat do we nafl? We hat
Cheneral Rjazes coming here in