Pocahontas star herald., 1912-03-29


be attacked, it is me, for vat has hap
pened, and vat may yet happen, iss
Ely fault"
Carolyn resumed her seat, Lucy,
with wondering expression, took
chair, and Mr.. Medders, ncdding
gravely, also sat down. Harry lounged
on settee, and carelessly chewed an
unlit cigar.
ut iss like diss," the Count said, as
though addressing a jury. "In life
Care iss many things vich seem i'm
possible Of explanation, but vick ven
We know vat dey are, do not mean
so much"
Mr.. Medders bowed assent and Har-
ry looked at the Count with consid-
cradle admiration for his self-posses-
sion and his control of the situation.
you haff seen somding," the Count
continued, "vich excites natural sus-
picion und distrust. We haff all see2
dis. Und, as usual, ven suspicion is
aroused, id iss like a swarm of bees
it lighds varever i'd pleases. Und also
somebody geds stung"
He chuckled to himself, but his
chuckle did not raise an echo.
I'D would be easy for me-" he said,
to allow you to continue nit der i'm
bressions you han receifed But l
canlsot allow 1t. Efen at der expense
of a wrong IMPRESSION of myselluf, l
must giff you my explanauon-vich
you can belief or not belief, as you
like. Mr.. Swifton iss a man dot you
know-a man you will always know
Throughout hiss life Mel am a
strancher. | haff 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,
| cannot say vat l Wish to say" the
Count decided.
Accepting Harry's silence as con-
firmatlon of the alleged resignation,
he went, checking off his points as he
made them, upon his fingers.
First, vat do we haff? We han
Cheneral Blazes coming here in a
great rage, saying his wife is here.
He iss assured dot she iss not, und he
goes away"
Verify, l told him she had not
been here. l saw not her nor any
other woman-not even that one who
-"
Lucy's father patted her hand and
ceased speaking. The Count bowed to
her and went on:
Later, Cheneral Blazes returns. He
iss sure hiss wife iss here. He has
heard from der milliner store dot
she iss supposed to haff called up
from here on der telumphones. Der
rest you all know-or think you know.
He demands his wife. He iss again
convinced she iss not here, und as he
starts oud, he hears sneeze. Such
a sneeze is Won dot iss echoed in hiss
heart. He beliefs 1t iss hiss own vife's
sneeze Der door iss opened, und In
stead off hiss wife, oud comes der
milliner Amazement!"
With a sense of the dramatic uni
tics, the Count paused, The others
nodded mutely in confirmation of his
summing up of the evidence.
well, den," he resumed. vat iss
der natural deductions you draw.
Darefore, und consequently, our first
conclusion iss dot things look plack
for Mr.. Swifton. Iss 1t not so?"
They agreed, silently.
But Wy should it be so?" the Count
asked, pleasantly. 'Iss Mr.. Swifton
der only man in der house? Iss he
der only man In der world dot hirtsY
May ask Wy l, poor, unknown, un-
noticed Cherman-though i'd iss not
so in my own country, assure you!
-iss dare any reason Wy | should be
neglected in your suspicions?"
Lucy and Carolyn looked at each
other triumphantly. Here was a ray
OF hope for Harry, after all.
But" the Count went on, II must
beg you not to suspect me as you DO
Mr.. Swifton. l know you will not, for
PEBBLES do not giff such violent T s
picion to stranchers as dey do to their
own kind. | will tell you how dis Vom-
an happens to be In dot room. | sent
her dare"
"You did" Carolyn exclaimed.
why, l thought Harry"
"Off course, Miss swifton," the
Count interrupted her. "Ve would al
ways Gift der benefit off der doubt to
any Won but our own folks. Is It not
SO? Now, Wy did l sent her dare?
She comes here to see aboud hat