The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1916-05-10

ming he had slouched there like
the worst OF his kind. II was
neither precept nor rcprimnnd
which had straightened his back
and hts look and all about him.
lie was what John Dollar had al
ways wanted-the unconscious pa.
tent whose history none knew
who himself little dreamed that II
was all known TO tho man who
treated him almost like a brother
The boy had been In prison for
dishonesty. he was being Eedulously
trusted. and 30 taught 10 trust him.
self lie had come ia March. a
sulky aud suspicious ciod. and nov
in June he could talk cricket and
sixpenny editions from the liouns
low tramlines 20 the vide white
gate opening into a drive thru a
Berkshire wood. with n house Turk
ing behind II In a mask OF ivy. out
OF tho sun.
hut in the drive Gen. Dypone
stepped back into the Doctors life.
and. on being directed to the
stables. n. who had filled II for the
last hour drove out OF II for the
next 20.
Il wanted you 10 hear something
az once from me" his host Wits.
pered under the whispering trees.
Test u should be mentioned and
take you aback before tho others.
We've had another little tragedy
not a horror Ike tho laat--yet IN
one way almost worse. Ny wife
shot her own dog dead last night"
Dollar put a curb upon his part.
Ing lips.
In the night7" he stood still to
ask.
We'll, between ~ and II"
In her own room. or where"
"out OF doors. Don't ask me how
a happened. nobody seems TO know.
and don't you know anything II she
speaks Of II herself"
His fine face was streaming with
Precipitation: yet he seemed to have
been waiting quietly under the
trees. he was not short OF breath.
and he a big elderly man. Dollar
asked no questions at all: they
dropped the subject there in the
drive. Tho the sun was up some.
where out OF sight, II was already
late in the long June afternoon. and
the guest was taken straight to his
room.
II vas n corner room with one
ivy.darkened easement overlooking
shadowy lawn. the other facing a
forest OF frs and chestnuts
Dollar found his things laid out
and his shirt studded. and n cory
on the brass hotwater can. with as
much satisfaction as tho he had
never stayed in n country house be-
fore. Could there be so very much
amlss in a household where they
knew Just what 90 do for one. and
just what TO leave undone7
And Il was the same with all the
other creature comforts. they
mean good servants. however short
their service: and good servants do
not often mean the mistress or the
hostess whom Dollar had come pre-
pared 10 meet. He dressed In pleas.
urable doubt and enhanced excite
ment-and those were his happiest
moments at valsugsna.
Mrs. Dysone was n middle-aged
woman who looked almost old.
whereas the general was elderly,
with all the appearance OF early
middle age. Tho contrast was even
more complete In moro invidious
| particulars: but Dollar took little
heed OF the poor lady's face, as a
lady's face.
Her skin and eyes were enough
for him; both were brown. with
that almost ultra-Indlan tinge OF 80
many Anglo-Indians. He was sen.
sible at once OF an Oriental i'm
penetrabllity.
With her conversation he could
not quarrel: what there was Of IL
was crisp, unstudied. understanding.
And the little dinner did her the
kind OF credit for which he was
now prepared; but she only once
took charge OF the talk, and that
was rather sharply to change a sub.
ject into which she had been the
first to enter.
How It had cropped up. Dollar
could never think. especially ms his
former profession and rank duly
obtained thruout his visit. lie had
even warned his chauffeur that he
was not the doctor there: II could
not have been he himself who
started t., but somebody did. as
somebody always does when there
is one topic to avoid
It was probably the nice young
nephew who made the first well.
meaning remark upon the general