The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1917-08-23

returned Hodncy's nod pretty stlfIly, MS
was natural enough, since Rodney;
grin had distinctly frightened up at
sight of him.
Eleanor sald rather negllgently
Hello, Rod. We're Just dashing Off tC
the Palace to see perfectly exquisite
little dancer Bertle's discovered down
there. She comes on at half past nine
so we've got to fly. Want to come2"
mo" Rodney said. II came over tc
see jim. Is he at homer
The maid was holding out the coat
for Eleanor's arms. But Eleanor, al
Rodney's question, just stood for O
second quite still. She wasn't looking
at anybody, but the expression in her
eyes was sullen. "Yes, he's at home,
she said ut last.
BUSY, suppose" said Rodney
Her infection had dictated this reply
"Yes, he's busy" she repeated ab.
sently and In tone still more coldly
hostile, though Rodney perceived that
the hostility was not meant for him
She looked around at Bertie.
"Wait two minutes" she said, "lf
you don't mind" Then, to Rodney,
Come along" And she led the way
up the lustrous, velvety teakwood
stair.
He followed her. But, arrived at
the drawing room floor, he stopped.
Look here" he said. "If Jlm's busy
80"
"Oh, don't be too dense, Rodney -
she said. "a man has to be busy
when he's known to be In the house
and won't entertain his wifes guests.
Go up, sing out who you are, and 90
right In" She gave him a nod and
hard little smile, and went down
stairs again to Berthe.
Rodney found the door Eleanor had
indicated, knocked smartly on It, and
sang out at the same time, "Thls is
Rodney Aldrlch. May come inT"
"Come In, of course" Randolph
called. "rm glad to see you" he add
ed, coming to meet his guest, "but do
you mind telling me how you got In
here? Some poor wretch will lose
his job, you know, II Eleanor finds
out about this. When I'm In this
room. sacred to reflection and re-
search, It's a first-class crime to let
me be disturbed" 1t didn't need his
sardonic grin to point the satire of his
words.
Rodney said curtly: Eleanor sent
me up herself. didn't much want to
come, to tell the truth, when l heard
you were busy"
Eleanor" her husband repeated, 81
thought she'd gone out-wlth her poo
de-"
Rodney said, with unconcealed dis
taste: "They were on the point Of 60
Ing out when I came in. That's how
Eleanor happened to see me-"
With visible effort Randolph re-
covered more normal manner. I'm
glad 1t happened that way" he said.
"Get yourself drink. You'll find any
thing you want over there, | guess, and
something to smoke; then Wen sit
down and have an old-fashioned talk"
The source Of drinks he indicated
was a well-stocked cellarette at the
other side Of the room. But Rodney's
eye fell first on decanter and siphon
on the table, within reach of the chair
Randolph had been sitting in.
~ don't believe want anything more
to drink just now," Rodney said. And,
as he followed Rodney's glance, Ran
dolph allowed himself another sardonic
grin.
The prellminarles were gone through
rather elaborately; chairs drawn up
and adjusted, ash-trays put within
reach; cigars got going satisfactorily.
But the talk they were supposed to
prepare the way for, didn't at once be-
gin.
Randolph took another stlfilsh drink
and settled back into a dull, sullen alb
straction. Finally, for the sake of say
ing something, Rodney remarked:
"Thls is wonderful room, isn't IT."
Randolph reused himself. "Never
been in here before? he asked. swell
then, here's two more rooms you must
see"
The first one, opening from the study,
explained its purpose at a glance, with
desk and typewriter, and filing cabi-
nets around the walls. Rubber floor"
Randolph pointed out, "felt ceiling; abb
solutely sound-proof. Here's where
my stenographer sits all day, ready
like fireman. And this" he conclud-
ed, leading the way to the other room,
SIS the holy of holles."
II had rubber floor. too, and, Rod
ney supposed, a felt ceiling. But Its
only furniture was one chair and a
canvas cot.
"Sound-proof too" said Randolph.
"But sounding boards or something In
al the walls. Ipress this button, start
dictaphone, and talk in any direc-
ton, anywhere. It's all taken down.
Here's where I'm supposed to think,
make discoveries and things. tried 1t
for a while"
They went back into the study.
"Clever beasts, though-poodles," he
remarked, as he nodded Rodney to his
chair and poured himself another
drink. 'Learn their tricks very nicely.
But, good heavens, Aldrich. think Of
him as mani Think what our Amer
lean married women are up against,