The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-05-20

The fact that young Mr.. Titus carried
in his hands set of formidable look.
ing boxing gloves did not frighten me.
Heaven knows. if it would give him
any pleasure to slam me about with
a pair cf gloves l am not without
manliness and pluck enough to endure
physical pain and mental humiliation.
1t was diplomacy. cunning. astuteness
whatever you may choose to call it
that stood between me and a friendly
encounter with him. Two minutes
time would serve to convince him that
he was my master. and then where
would be? Where would be the
prestige | had gained? Where my
record as conqueror? Il must have
ders." | went on, making worse faces
than before as l moved the afflicted
parts experimentally.
There" she exclaimed ruefully: II
knew you would catch cold. Men al
ways do. I'm so sorry"
Its nothing" | made haste to ex-
plain-"that is. nothing serious. I'll
get rid of it in no time at ALL" | cal.
culated for a minute "A week or ten
days at the most. Good morning, Col.
ingraft.''
Morning. Hello. sis. WelI?" He
danslcd the gloves before my eyes.
My disappointment was quite pathet.
ic. Tell him. | said TO the count.
eSs.
Hes all crippled up with rheuma.
tism, Colly." she said Put those ugly
things away. We're going in to break.
fast"
He tossed the gloves into a corner of
the vestihule. | felt little ashamed
OF my subterfuge in the face of his
earnest expression of concern
Tell you what I'll do. he said
warmly. IL know how to rub fell
lows muscles
"Oh, | have treasure in Britton,"
said | hastily. Thanks. old man. He
will work it out of me. Sorry we
can't have go this morning.
The worst of it all was that he i'm.
sisted. as a matter of personal educa.
ton. on coming to my room after
breakfast to watch the expert maneu.
vers of Britton in kneading the stiff.
ness out of my muscles He was look.
ing for new ideas. he explained. |
first consulted Britton and then re-
signedly consented to the demonstra.
ton.
To my surprise. Britton was some
thing OF an expert | confess that he
almost killed me with those strong.
1ron-like hands of his. If | was not
sore when he began with me certain.
~ was when he finished Colingraft
was most enthusiastic He said he'd
never seen any one manipulate the
muscles so scientifically as Britton and
ventured the opinion that he would
not have TO repeat the operation often.
TIC myself | said that he wouldn't have
to repeat it at all.
We began laying our plans for the
14th. Communications arrived from
Italy addressed to me. but intended
for either the countess or the rather
remote Mr.. Bangs, who seemed better
qualified to efface himself than any
human being I've ever seen. These
letters Informed us that a yacht. one
OF three now cruising in the Mediter-
ranean, would call at an appointed
port on such and such day to take
her out to sea. Everything was being
arranged on the outside for her es-
cape from the continent. and precision
seemed to be the watchword
OF course | couldn't do stroke of
work on my novel. How could | be
expected to devote myself to fiction
when fact was staring me in the face
so engagingly? We led an idle. dolce
far niente life in these days. with an
underlying touch of anxiety and ex-
citement that increased as the day for
her departure drew near. confess
to sickening sense Of depression that
could not be shaken off
Half of my time was spent in play
ing with Rosemary. She became dear
er to me with each succeeding day.
knew | should miss her tremendously.
/ should even miss Jinlko. who didn't
like nae. but who no longer grcwled at
me. The castle would be very
gloomy, dreary place after they we're
out of 1t. l found myself wondering
how long | would be able to endure
the loneliness. Secretly / cherished the
idea of selling the place if could find
a lunatic in the market. l didn't sup.
pose there was anybody in the whole
world crazy eno'lgh to buy II.
An unexpected diversion came one
day when, withOul warning and fig
uratively out of clear sky. the Haz,
cards and the Billy Smiths swooped
down upon me. They had come up
The river in the power boat for final
September run and planned to stop
overnight with me.
They were the last people in the
world whom | could turn away from
my door. There might have been
chance to put them up for the night
and still avoid disclosures had not cir.
cumstance ordered that the sounteIs
and should be working In &C. garden
at the very moment that brIpg.3t them
pounding at the postern ye..g. Old
Conrad opened the gate In complets
ignorance Of our presence In the gar
den. eve happened to be In some.
what obscure nook and seated upon
stone bench. so be must be .oeid blame
less.J The quartet brushed past the