The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-11-23


but madame never permits this fire
to be light" explained Fritz. Madame
she scold me very much II he get
it,"
Blows you up. does sheo ] dare say
you deserve It,
blows ma up?" almost screamed
Fritz.
%. Lord" said Brent. Il shall have
to buy you a little book, on, English
Dutch idtoms. What want to know
is. what the dickens does Mrs. San
derson have 1t laid for ii she doesn't
want it lit?"
''.Ach. for that" said Fritz, shrug-
ging his shoulders. Il cannot tell. She
likes it SO. But there is madame COM
ing" he added. glancing out OF the
window over Brent's shoulder. Per
haps she will tell you herself" And
he walked out Of the room, shutting
| the door after him.
Brent cast one puzzled look at the
CRATE. then turned to greet Mrs. San
| derson. who came in at the window,
| followed by her son Charles. She was
| a fair, plump. pleasant looking woman,
| slightly inclined to double chin, with
! a figure kept vigorously elegant and
| set Oft by smart but sober black
! satin suit. She carried q couple Of
| library books under her arm.
'Ah. Mr.. Brent she exclaimed. II
| don't think you have met my son be-
fore. have you? Charles, this is Mr..
| bathing. He is a great friend Of Mr..
and Miss Pollock
Charles SanderSon came forward
and shook hands. He. like his mother
was fair and inclined to bigncss. and
either predisposition or his work at
| the admiralty had produced in him
| something of the nnmistakable naval
aspect--a clean. hard determination of
look and 4 pleasant smile.
| Pleased to meet you, Mr.. Brent" he
| said.
so am Ito meet you. mean"
| said Brent genially. Down for long,"
Only the week lend. We are most
frightfully busy at the admiralty. you
know"
% yes, Of course you are at the ad
mil,alty." said Brent gleefully. II had
forgotten you had a billet there"
I'm the transport department" Mrs
Sanderson informed him with mater
nal pride.
She put the books neatly on a shelf
as she spoke.
"Ah." exclaimed Brent, pointing his
pipe at Charles, then you are the very
man l wanted to see. You can really
tell us the truth about those Hus-
sians."
Perhaps" said Charles Sanderson
laughing, "and-perhaps not"
"Well, now, then" went on Brer
confidentially and with beamins
smile, perhaps ! can tell you some
thing. l have an aunt at Leaning
ton, an awfully jolly old lady. Sh'
didn't see them herself, because, as :
matter of fact. she can't get out o
her chair. but her parlor maid
: young man works somewhere near tn
railway. WE'LL he has a pal who work
on the railway, a very nice younl
characterization Army and all thai
teetotaler. too. l believe--and he toll
him that he had actually seen them
the Russians, ! mean."
That, of course, proves it," sal
Mrs. Sanderson, laughing, though nc
unl<indly.
, What do you Think" persists
) Brent to Charles.
shall tell you the trutho'
Il wish you would; all these rumor
are dashed worrying
Very well then, l WILL" said Charlie
smiling broadly by now. "They didn'1
, not a solitary man jack of Rus
. sian.''
Rrest's face fell. He stood looking
the picture of disappointment. Wei
that is sickening," he said, "absolutel
sickening. On the strength of the Sal
walton Army young man l had pu
) five quid on it with Il fellow at tn
club. This is a blow. 1t will be a bio,
, for the old lady. too. It's made he
absolutely it at bennington, bein
I able to tell the story"
We'll, l must go and have a was
. ahd brush up said Charles. =
long, Mr.. Brent He opened the doc
0 for his mother and they both passe
out
Left alone, Christopher Brent strollc
: over to the fireplace and bega
! thoughtfully tapping it with his pip
Up and down, all over, he tapped it
absurdiy in the fashion of some one
Il historical place. Suddenly a hol
low sound rang from under his pip,
He tapped again to make sure. II
whistled softly, put his pipe in hi
pocket, and taking out his matchbo
deliberately scattered it's contents owe
the hearth. Then he knelt down an
producing from another pocket a. it'll
electric torch directed it's ray owe
the crate and up the chimney. !
footstep sounded in the corridor, an
slipping the lamp in his pocket AGAR
he began to take up tht matches
humming a tune as he did so.
Mrs. Lee came softly into the roor
and stood looking at his back for
. moment.
Whatever are you doing?' she sal
as she closed the door.
split box of matches--beastl
nuisance" replied he. then glancin
7 up, asked, "All alone:'
Yes"
Good He swept the matches in
to the box and iumDed IN