New Britain herald., 1916-12-01
How the CosgroVc Household Re- ceived the News of the Fortune
 ill Savarin's Pictures,

ill Savarin's Pictures.
 Every one at the Cosgrove supper table trailed Dicky and me into the farmhouse parlor at MT. Cosgrove's invitation to look over the pictures which his brother-in-law had painted of the Catskill mountain scenery.
 was all agog with suppressed ex- cltement at the mystery which scented in the farm house life.
 Mrs. Cosgrove's look of fear at my assertion that I could tell her twin boys apart her tenseness of expression at the mention of pictures, and the look of furtive watchfulness which l had seen in the eyes of Mrs. Allis, all crystalyzed my impression that there was something unusual about the pie lures Which We were to see.
 A big hanging lamp in the center of the room had been lighted and cast the soft, kindly glow which only an oil lamp can give over the rather good pieces of furniture and the many paintings which the room contained.
 l was standing nearest to Dicky, and therefore first saw the look of surprise on his face as he glanced at the paintings. His air of bored list lessness had left him. He almost
 
 scrutinized it carefully. Then he made a quick inspection of the others. As he turned back to us again, his eyes were shining: ~-.
 You say your brother-in-law painted these?' he demanded of MT. Cosgrove. Then your brotherin law must be Robert Savarin."
 "You Are Quite Correct
  from Mrs. Cosgrove-a hissing, in- drawn breath, so slight that if I had not been standing next to her, would not have noticed it, from Mrs. Allis- answered Dicky's words.
 Mrs. Cosgrove's face held an emotion I could not fathom. But into Mrs. Allis' eyes, as I watched her, there leaped into life, then died again, a look of fear.
 Mr. Cosgrove strengthened himself to his full height, which must have been six feet two.
 You are quite correct" he said with dignity. Robert Savarin did paint these pictures. Did you know him ?''
 I noticed the past tense of the question. Was the hand that had wielded the brush in paintings that even to my inexperienced eyes looked rarely valuable, longer vibrant with life?
 I waited anxiously for Dicl1y's reply.
 Not personally Dicky returned. He was before my time, but I know and reverence his work, as all the men of his profession must do, and of course I l<nOw-''
 He broke eff suddenly in an abrupt fashion that I recognized It always marks Dicky's sudden realization that he is saving something indiscreet. I knew that he would not finish what he had to say. But bis sudden stop was unnoticed by the other people in the parlor. Tor at the word 'pro- fession" Mrs Allis shot a swift ques- ton at him.
 Are They Really Naluable?"
 The men of your profession ?' she oueried. with a nonchalant air that did not deceive me, for I saw the tenseness with which she awaited Diclys answer. ou are, then, an artist?'
 Ut depends upon what you mean by the word,' Dicky turned to her. sud- denly grave. "In the ordinary sense of the word I suppose I am an artist, at least I earn my living by that pro- 1cSS1On, put WOTl\ 1lkG 1l!ilC lo lloI worthy to be mentioned in the same breath with genius such as this.''
 He raised his hand and pointed reverently to the paintings which he had been examining. I had heard him talk in like eXtravagant strain be- fore of men whose work he admired, for Dicky is hero worshipper of the most ardent type.
 His words had a curiously contrast ing effect upon the two women in the room Mrs. Cosgrove's eyes lighted and a faint color as of gratifed pride came into her checks. But the creamy ivory of Mrs. AlHs face took on a grayish tinge, while at Dicky's next words I distinctly saw, in the shelter of her gown, the fingers of one hand clench the palm cruelty.
 "I suppose you know the value of these pictures?' Dicky said, turning to Mr. Cosgrove.
 "Why, yes,'' the big man replied. We've always known they were pretty valuable. I know we've been offered fifty dollars for that biggest one over there. But my wife never wanted to sell them because her brother painted them and so we've refused everybody, even Mrs. Allis here She has been crazy to buy some of them.'
 He smiled admiringly down on the little woman, who, by lightning flash of insight, I knew could have struck him dumb for his speech. But wit thout a quaver she snatched at the ingenue role and played it daringly.
 Are they really valuable?' she coOed at Dicky. "1 am so sorry, for then I can never hope to get one. They are such pretty things, so life like of the scenery about here which I love so much. I did so want to carry one home as a memento.' Dicly almost snorted at the epithet, pretty things I knew that he put