The Washington herald., 1912-10-27

The president-he was Sir John Bur-
roughs, round-faced and good-natured
lifted his head from his writing in
mild surprise.
Il did not hear what he said" he
replied blandly.
Peggy smiled on her irate counsel
"Never mind, Mr. Macarthur" she said
sweetly. Il don't mind Sir Robert"
He was an old friend of her hus-
bands and Peggy had many times been
his hostess at Admission house.
Il am sure We shall get On very
WELL" he said, in kindly, confident
way. as Mr.. Macarthur dropped vio-
lenfly into his seat Now, Mrs. Ad-
maston. | suppose you were very much
annoyed at finding yourself on the
wrong train?"
Il was annoyed. | suppose. but not
very seriously. You see," she explain
ed pleasantly, 1T didn', really matter
very much
HIM! ] suppose not" he comment
ed.
WAS it your fault?"
Il don't think it was anybody's fault
except the fussy customs officer she
replied
And this fussiness could have been
avoided by registering the baggage
through, eh?"
Il suppose
Can you suggest any reason why It
was not registered" he inquired.
Il believe it was the mistake of .
porter at the Charing Cross Station"
The mistake OF the porter, the fussi-
ness of the customs officer-quite a
chapter of accidents growled Sir
Robert with a frown. Peggy quite un-
derstood the meaning of the frown.
"Yes, wasn't it?' she agreed bright
ly The sophisticated Uttered. Sir
Roberts frown gave VIZ to momen-
tary glance of surprise. The woman
must be an actress of consummate abil-
ity, he decided, as he prepared to press
the examination more closely.
Was your luggage with Mr.. Col
lingwood's at Charing Cross Station?'
he asked.
All the luggage was together when
l saw it." replied Peggy. Sir Robert
leaned forward slightly with a faint
gleam in his eyes.
All" he repeated. THE luggage
of the whole party
HouoSu l SSSS.
WAS it labeled? l mean, apart form
the railway labels?"
Mine wasn't"
gage when you go abroad"
Il always do"
Then why didn't you do so this
time?"
well. Mr.. Collingwood, who is a
great traveller, chaffed ME about being
such an old maid,' explained Peggy.
with a smile. He said it was quite
unnecessary"
oh" exclaimed Sir Robert,
Strengthening back. "Mr Collingwood
said that, did he?"
"Yes. 1t was lucky, wasn't it" COM
mented Peggy, with grave innocence.
Even Sir John was startled at this re-
mark.
Lucky" he inquired. bending to-
ward the girl.
Peggy turned to him brightly. Eyes,
otherwise l should have reached Paris
without any Clothes" explained Peggy.
with an amused smile.
Yes. l see." nodded Sir John "The
luggage fortunately made the same
mistake you did"
"Yes, Sir John," laughed Peggy.
. very lucky" said Sir Robert, GRIM
ly, as Peggy faced him once more.
'And did Mr.. Collingwood's luggage
make the same mistaken"
YES" replied Peggy, unsuspecting.
"But the luggage belonging to Lord
Ellerdine and Lady Attwill had the in
telligence to go straight to Chalons"
concluded Sir Robert with fine irony.
A family troubled look crept into the
girls face. For the first time she felt
that all was not going we'll" /
"Yes," she replied doubtfully.
Didn't it strike you as rather odd
that your luggage should not be regis
tered"
"No, don't think so. 1t struck my
maid as odd, l remember" she added
sOhr said Sir Robert, drawing out
the long sound. ut struck your maid
as odd?"
The troubled look disappeared from
"Yes, maids who are devoted to US
are often more suspicious than we are
Don't you think so, Sir Robert?" she
asked naively.
Again the puzzled expression passed
over the oounsels heavy face, but he
smiled, almost in spite of himself
Il am afraid l am not here to say
what / think" he replied, with a half
bow. Peggy gave him the sweet,
smile of a child