The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1916-12-21

Acquaintance OF yours. believe
Miss Fiske."
Miss Fiskei" There was unfeigned
amazement In the echo.
Anything wonderful about that?"
inquired Whitaker. sharply. 81 fancied
from what she said that you two were
rather good friends"
Just surprised-thats ALL" said
Ember, recovering. "You see, 1 didn't
think the Flske place was open this
year"
He stared suspiciously at Whitaker.
but the latter was transparently in
genuous.
"She expressed an unaccountable
desire 20 see yOu-told me TO tell YOU"
"Oh? Such being the case, one
would think she might've waited"
"She had just started home when
you drove In" Whitaker explained with
elaborate ease. "She'd merely run
over for moment TO Inquire after
my ankle, and couldn't wait. 1 say,
who are the Fiskes. anywayT
well the Fiskes are the
people who own the next cottage"
II know. but"
"Oh, l never troubled TO inquire:
have hazy notion Fiske does some
thing In Wall street" Ember passed
smoothly over this flaw In his profes-
sional omniscience. "How did you
happen TO meet herr"
"Oh. mere accident. over on the
beach this morning. / slipped and
hurt my ankle. She-ah-happened
along and brought me home in her
motor boat"
"You haven't seen Drummond-or
any signs Of him, have your"
"Eh-what?" Whitaker sat up,
| startled. mo, 1 er !.
how should II"
Il merely wondered. You see, 9.
Well, TO tell the truth. took the lib
/ erty of camping on his trail. while I'm
town. But couldn't find any trace OF
him."
"oh, I sayw Whitaker expostulated.
touched by this evidence OF disinterest-
ed thoughtfulness. "You persuade
yourself too much, old man. You set
up an inference and idolize IL as nm
immortal truth. Why, you had me
! going for a while. Only last night
there was a fellow skulking round
here, and / was just dippy enough,
thanks to your influence, TO think he
resembled DrummOnd. But this morn
Ing got good look at him. and he's
no more Drummond than you are"
Ember sat up. eyes swapping. "Who
was he, then? Tell me about him
everything"
Whitaker resignedly delivered him
self OF the tale OF the mare's-nest-aa
he still regarded II. When he had coma
TO the lame conclusion thereof, Ember
/ yawned and rose.
What are you going 70 do about itT'
Whitaker inquired with irony.
"Wash and make myself az TO eat
food, was the response. II may pos
slbly think little. It's an exhIlarat-
Ing exercise which don't hesitate TO
recommend 10 your distinguished con-
siderauon."
He was out of earshot within the
bungalow, before Whitaker could think
/ up an adequately insolent refort. He
could, however, do no less than smile
increduiousiy 40 the beautiful world
80 much. az least, he owed TO his self
respect
in the deepening twilight a mental
shadow came Co cloud the brightness
of Whiiaker's confident contentmaut.
Neither good food nor good company
seemed able 90 mitigate his sudden
seizure of desponGcucy Tie sat gloom
ing over his plate and glass. the bur
deu of his conversation yea. yea and
nhT, nay Ills host diagnosed his com.
pinlnt from beneath sbrowd eyebrowa
Whitaker" BE- said at length. "a
pessimlst has been defined as dog
that won't scratch"
-WcIif said the other sauriy.
Come on. ~ a sport Have q good
scratch on me-"
Wh'nker sriunsd reluctantly and
briefly.
where's ny wifer De demanded
abruptly
elbow in biaros-w
There sou nrew Wmfater conn
Y planned -f1u mate great prefensiaua.
I tn4 tet 500 fan down fsf n1 Frrr foot
isl face three umes n frn fhan na
mang hours Iou foaf know who fha
tIateF are. yonee iost traces ~ sour
Dee mg'h. uwmmanf aaI roa danr
anoH where . cam lad my aifea
"My deer man. 7 mrseif am beefn.
uIns fD daubf Der existence.
aunt Eee uhg he dickens she
I doesn't go ahead nIfh fhnae divorce
+ rroceea.nFs" Wt.fater remarked mo-
roee'g
HT. .