Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-03-28


regarded them. as If WELL satisfied
with the accuracy of his eye, the sure.
ness of his nerves. then leaned on his
cue.
His shapely, yet muscular fingers
showing slightly the scratches from
his vain endeavor to break through
the hedge back Of Mr.. Woods place
held briefly his attention. He regard.
ed the marks with an intentness thai
told he was thinking deeply. At the
same time his expression seemed one
Of alertness, that Of some woodland
creature intent upon an unexpected
sound, or interruption, real or fancied
in his forest fastness. A faint inden-
tation appeared on his brow; he look
ed out through the screened door, to
where, afar. a dark fringe marked
the outline of the forest on the green
hillside.
Some one passed on the lawn below
a person with a dark face; viewed
profile wise, it might have seemed the
lean Indian. From Bruce's point OF
view. the slant eyes were hardly dis
cernible This person, like the work.
man who had gone down a short time
before, carried a bundle. He went by
like a shadow, with characteristic
gliding motion, around a corner Of the
house. and few moments later, from
presumably kitchenward (the big
house had a half-open summer kitch-
en) came a grudging voice that greet
ed this last-comer.
1t was better late than never-the
speaker was the housekeeper, no
doubt-though things had come to a
pretty pass when one was glad to get
even heather for servants In the coun-
try. There were Irish gardeners, an
English coachman, German and Swed-
ish housemaids, and this latest arrival
constituted a second Oriental for the
kitchen, or to serve the guests. The
house might soon he compared to the
tower of Babel Did he know how to
wait OH people.
The answer was not discernible to
Bruce: he seemed in nowise amused.
The tones died away, silence ensued.
Apparently the belated one had merg-
ed quietly into his place, after the
deft way of his kind henceforth there
would be no ruffling Of the surface on
his account. He was now but cog
that moved without friction.
Bruce had started to turn once more
to the billiard table when from down
the road came rattling Of wheels.
A vehicle drew near, drove in the
grounds and stopped. 1t was one of
the antiquated hacks" from the sta
ton. but the gay garments Of her
within frightened it. She sprang out
with a futtering Of skirts, asked a
question of the driver, and ran hur-
riedly up the steps.
How do you do, Miss Burke?'
Chatfeld Bruce had stepped out
through a long French window on to
the balcony. AS he stood there, cue In
hand, his glance, for the first few Sec
onds, seemed to dart incisively upon
her.
Mr.. Bruce!" faint flush came to
the creamy cheek, an instant's pertur-
baton to the greenish eyes. Il didn't
expect"
Don't say it," he laughed.
Then l WON'T" She Strengthened;
bit her lip as If momentarily annoyed,
then laughed too. "Of couse I should
have expected you here, If I had given
the matter any thought"
quite so!" he said easily, almost
too easily. And then-"Pardon mel
reaching before her to touch the bell
Of the front door.
"Thanks!" She suddenly as If by
an irresistible impulse looked at him;
had he been watchful now, he might
have seen in that glance something
might have been likened to the casual
light on a gun that betrays to the OBJ
servant scout the hostile outpost in the
deep cleaning. But Mr.. Bruce had
not seen; his manner had relaxed, be-
come careless, unmindful.
The front door Of the house opened;
he heard skipping girlsh steps with
in. and, a moment later, the sound of
Miss Flossie's ardent kisses.
(To be Continued.)