The enterprise. [volume] (Harlem, Mont.) 1899-1926, 1915-05-27
CHAPTER XIX.
I Meet Mrs. Titus.

monia?"
CHAPTER XIX.
Meet Mrs. Titus.
YH1LE we We're crossing the
"" muddy stream my secre-
tary, his teeth chattering
with cold and excitement
combined, related the story of the
night.
1--WE were just starting off for the
penthouse up the river, according to
plans. Max and Rudolph and l with
the two boats. when the countess came
down in macintosh and pair of
gum boots and insisted upon going
along with us. She said it wasn't fair
to make you do all the work and all
that sort of thing. While we were ar
guing with her-and it was getting so
late that | feared we wouldn't be in
time to meet you've heard some one
shouting on the opposite side Of the
river. The voice sounded something
like Britton's. and the countess insist
ed that there had been an accident and
that you were hurt, Mr.. Smart, and
nothing would do but we must send
Max and Rudolph over to see what the
trouble was. 1t was raining cats and
dogs. and l realized that it would be
impossible for you to get boatman
on that side at that hour Of the night
1T was nearly $50 ! sent the two
Schmicks across. I've never seen a
night as dark as it was. The two lit
tie lanterns bobbing in the boat could
hardly be seen through the torrents of
rain. and it was next to impossible to
see the lights on the opposite landing
stage-just a dull, misty glow.
ITO make the story short. Mrs. Titus
and her sons were over there. with
absolutely no means of crossing the
river. 1t took two trips over to fetch
the whole party across. Raining pitch
forks all the time. you understand.
Mrs. Titus was .foaming at the mouth
because you don't own yacht or at
least launch with a canopy top or
limousine body or something OF the
sort.
IL didn't have much of q chance to
converse with her. The countess tried
to get her upstairs in the east wing.
but she wouldn't climb another step.
| forgot to mention that the windlass
was out Of order and she had to climb
the hill in mud six inches deep. The
Schmicks carried her the last half OF
the distance. She insisted on sleeping
in the hall or the study-anywhere but
upstairs. | assumed the responsibility
of putting her in your bed. sir. 1t was
either that orr
broke in sarcastically, "You couldn't
have put her into your bed, suppose"
mot very handily, Mr.. Smart" he
said in an injured voice. Zone of her
sons occupied my bed. OF course it
was all right, because | didn't intend
to go to bed. as it happened. The old
err son went upstairs with the countess.
She gave up her bed to him. and then
she and | sat up all night in the
study waiting for a telephone message
from you. The younger son explained
a good many things to. us that his
mother absolutely refused to discuss.
she was so mad when she got here. 1t
seems she took it into her head at the
last minute to charter a special train,
but forgot to notify us of the switch
in the plans. She travelled by the reg
ular train from Paris to some place
along the line, where she got out and
waited for the special which was fol-
lowing along behind, straight from
Paris too. A woeful waste of money,
it seemed to me. Her idea was to
Ia r,f Ioir nj off
the track, and, by George, sir, she sue
ceeded. They thought she was chang
ing from a train to some place in
Switzerland and went off to watch the
other station. Then she sneaked
aboard the special which was charter
ed clear through to Vienna. See how
clever she is? If they followed on the
next train or telegraphed 1t Would nat
urally be to Vienna. She got off at this
place, and-well. we have her with us,
sir, as snug as bug in rug"
What is she like Fred?" inquired.
| confess that hung on his reply.
II have never seen a wet hen, but l
should say on Il guess that she's good
bit like one. Perhaps when she's thor
oughly dried out she may not be so
bad, but'-he drew long, deep
breath-"but upon my word of honor
she was the limit last night. OF course
one couldn't expect her to be exactly
gracious. with her hair plastered over
her face and her hat spoiled and her
clothes soaked, but there was really no
excuse for some Of the things she said
to me. shall overlook them for your
sake and for the countess" He was
painfully red in the face.
1.-The conditions, Fred" said, were
scarcely conducive to polite persiflage."
but, hang it all, was as wet as she
) was." he exploded SO violently that l
knew his soul must have been tried to
the utmost.
I'VE must try to make the best of it, /"