The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1912-11-08
PECULIAR CONDUCT OF
P0LlY'S QUEER VISITOR
BY cLAUpING sIssoN.

All night long Polly Witham had
shlvered under the sheets and at 4
o'clock when the eastern sky was q
faint yellow and the birds were sing
ing in the tall locusts she turned her
face to the wall and slept for ten de-
licious minutes.
The screeching Of the pump chain
at the back door brought her trem'
bling to the floor and she tiptoed To
the window and looked out, her eyes
heavy with WEAKNESS.
Before the pump stood tall youno
man clad in spotless white yachting
clothes. His fair hair was guiltless OF
covering. He was drinking water from
a bright tin dipper.
Polly watched him with bated
breath-as one watches an apparition,
expecting 1t to vanish in thin air. But
he did not vanish.
Polly raised the window q few eau
tious inches and spoke gruffiy.
do you want anything?" she in
quired inhospitably.
The stranger turned pair Of very
blue eyes toward her. It was evident
that he could not see her, but he
stared at the shutter.
"Yes," he replied deliberately, you
may bring me half cup Of tea. hak
q cup OF coffee and few wafiies."
rs that all?" murmured Polly meeb
ly.
And make haste. please" he added.
waving a sun.burned hand toward her.
Polly locked the window and hasten.
ed to the kitchen which was a dark
and deserted as any kitchen would
be at 1880 on q June morning with
mistress and maids away from home.
Polly made q hot fire of pine kind
lings, set on the waflie iron to heat.
filled the tea kettle. and ran upstairs
to dress. Her sonly thought was to
feed and get rid of the queerly be-
haved stranger on the front porch.
Presently she CROPPED her way
through the smoke filled kitchen with
tray containing crisp wafles and
butter. a cup Of tea and cup Of cof-
fee with the necessary sugar and
cream. Cautiously she opened the
back door and placed the tray on the
bench outside. Then she re-locked
the door and fastened to the front
window.
your breakfast 10 ready on the
back porch" announced Polly through
q crack OF the window.
Thank YOU" he said alertly. and
hurried down the steps.
He stopped short at sight Of the
breakfast tray and shook his head.
Then he grasped the coffee cup and
poured half its contents upon the
ground. He repeated the operation
with the tea cup. Then he sat down
on the steps and PROCEEDED to con-
sumo the waflies, drinking FIRST
swallow Of tea and then swallow Of
coffee. Suddenly he leaped to his
feet, swept his cap OF and addressed
the kitchen door:
Farewell. fair wafner!" he ejaculat-
ed. and stalked away.
Polly Witham watched until his tall
form had disappeared down . wooded
road that led to the village. Then she
sat down on the floor and alternately
laughed and cried.
Later in the morning she drove her
little car down to the postofiice. As
she passed the livery stable she no
ticed that the newly washed carriages
we're ranged along the curbstone.
On the front seat Of homeless
surrey sat her visitor of the morn
ing, rose in his lapel. A laprobs
was carefully spread over his knees
and he was sitting very straight and
staring right over the heads Of the
indignant liveryman and the village
constable.
The constable rubbed his ear with
polished stick Of authority. Come
down outer there, young feller." he
rasped.
The stranger smiled patronizingly.
my. good man. be good enough to
bring me half Q cup of tea and half a
cup of coffee" he said.
As the words died on his lips, the
strangers face grew pale and gaunt.
His head dropped and he crumpled
down on the seat
| "Ah!". cried impulsive Polly. as the
little crowd of onlookers held back
from assisting the stricken man,
Cant you see that he IL III? Help
him into my car. constable-he's .
friend of ours" she lied.
In q few moments Polly was racing
toward home with the constable sup
porting the unconscious man in the
seat beside her.
Late that afternoon little party Of
yachtsmen called ut the Witham
home and inquired for Polly's invalid
who had regained consciousness only
Eto sink into deep slumber. They ex-
planned to Polly that the stranger was
Paul Amory. owner Of the yacht Sea-
drift. anchored in the bay below. Mr..
Amory had been suffering from sun
stroke and had eluded his watchers
and left the vessel in the night.
Two weeks later. long after Mr.. and
Mrs. Witham had returned home.
Paul Amory. quite recovered from his
illness, took his departure.