The Adair County news., 1913-11-19
His Blundel
By GREGORY GIBSON

Miss Martindale and did lot Of spoon
ing, with the usual result However,
the affair was not brought to a finish,
and Woolcott was obliged to take a
thousand mile trip for the purpose of
making a proposition. He was pre-
pairing to do so when the lady wrote
him that she would be at NJ. short
ly and would be happy to receive him
there. Since NJ. was some 900 miles
nearer than her residence, Woolcott
concluded to see her there instead.
Miss Martindale wrote that she
would be at the Cliffs, meaning that
she would visit family Of that name.
Woolcott took this to mean that she
would stop at hotel. On alighting at
the station he asked a man who was
in a hurry where he could find tho
Cliffs. The man pointed to a hand
some house on a hill near by. He
found the baggage agent and. pointing
to the house, told him to send his
trunk there; then he set off to walk the
distance. On arriving he opened the
front door, entered a spacious hallway
and saw a gentleman reading a news
paper before an open fireplace.
1.-THE Cliffs, l believe" said Woolcott
The gentleman looked up at him
over a pair Of glasses, somewhat sur
prised, and replied in the affirmative.
Are you the landlord" asked Wool.
colt.
A twinkle came into the gentleman's
eye, and he replied that he was the
proprietor.
Il would like a room in your house
for a few days." continued the travel.
er. "Have you a young lady staying
with you Of the name Of Martindale?'
A light seemed to break in upon the
gentleman's brain. Miss Florence
Martindale? Certainly. She arrived
Q few days ago. But she's out in an
auto just now; She will not return till
late tonight Be seated and I'll call
servant to show you to room"
Howard Cliff, banker, entertaining
few friends at bis country residence,
! had sent them off In his car, remaining
at home himself. He went himself for
the butler, instead Of ringing for him,
to tell him to show a gentleman to his
room who supposed he was in 4 no
| tel and who was not to be told he was
! in a private house. Then Mr.. Cliff re
! turned to the guest, followed by The
butler, who took him upstairs. While
! Woolcott was making a toilet his bas
gage arrived and was sent up to hin
! When he came downstairs he founL
/ Mr.. Cliff in the library.
I'VE have very few guests at pres
ent," said the supposed landlord. You
! see, ours is a summer house, and we
/ shall close up for the winter within a
few days or week. 1t depends upon
how long | can keep those who are
now with me. You will have to dine
alone. for all have gone on the auto
party"
Il don't like that" said WoolcOtt
If you are alone may we not dine
together?"
Certainly"
What wine have your
Mr. Cliff mentioned several kinds OF
wine, and his guest selected cham
/ payne. He asked for a wine card. but
the host told him it was unnecessary
Woolcott RECALLED his host with one bot
tie and called for another. The dinner
was delightfully."- served, and altogether
Woolcott found the landlord a very
agreeable companion. Judging by the
number of foreign places he was fl
miliar with. Woolcott thought that he
must have kept hotels all over the
world Mr.. Cliff suggested that, since
the auto party would not return till
late. perhaps WOolcOtt would not SIT
cd for them. Since the latter did MOI
relish meeting with the lady to whom
he had come to propose before Others
he said he thought he would go to bed
When he went down to breakfast in
the morning he met a genial party
every one of whom had been coached
with regard to his reception. Mis-
Martindale had been Mortified at The
blunder he had made. She had eX
pected him to stop at a hotel and cal
upon her at her friends. But Mr.. Cliff
| DlodUou WIFI ueI " peIIlllI hSl illChN
to remain in ignorance of the situation
temporarily and continue to be enter
tanned by the Cliff family.
Miss Martindale advanced with 4
smile. not unmingled with embarraSs
raent. but RETAINED from mentionin.
the mistake. All sat down together Il
breakfast, and Woolcott thought wha
a charming place it would be for him t
make his proposal
He had ample opportunity, for TIN
, members of the family kept out of tn
couples way, having some suspicion o
the young mans errand. During th
afternoon the two took a long walk
and when they came back Woolcot
looked very proud Of himself. At din
ner he remarked to Mrs. Cliff that b
had never before stopped at so charm
ing hotel.
l. "Hotelw exclaimed the lady, feigr
J. ing surprise.
"Mr. Woolcott," said the host, II hav