The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1919-05-23

''That'd be a little ways out OF
East Cobb" speculated Mr.. Jones,
give or six miles,"
"Goin' over into Canada?"
"No. I shall turn west, think, and
strike for the Lake Champlain coun-
try"
"I suppose you've Travelled right
smart in Europe?"
"Quite bit. Mr.. Jones"
"Any partic'lar part?"
"No," said Barnes, suddenly divin-
Ing that he was being pumped" "One
end to the other, you might say"
"What about them countries down
around Bulgaria and Roumania? I've
been considerable interested In what's
going to become Of them If Germany
gets licked. What do they get out OF
it. either way?"
Barnes spent the next ten minutes
expatiating upon the future Of the Bal
kan states. Jones had little to say.
He was interested, and drank In all
the information that Barnes had to i'm
part. he puffed at his pipe, nodded
his head from time to time, and occa'
sionaliy put leading question. And
quite as abruptly as he introduced the
topic he changed it.
mot many automobiles up here this
time O. the year." he said. II was
a little surprised when you said q fel'
ler had given you lift. Where fromF'
'"The crossroads mile down. He
came from the direction Of Frogg's
Corner and was on his way to meet
someone at Spanish Falls. 1t ap-
years that there was misunderstood
ing. The driver didn't meet the train,
so the person he was going after
walked all the way to the forks We
happened upon each other there, Mr.
Jones, and we studied the signpost to-
gether. She was bound for a place
called Green Fancy"
did you say she!"
Eyes. I was proposing to help hei
out of her predicament when the be
lated motor came racing down the
slope"
"What for sort of looking lady was
she?"
"She wore a. VEIL" said Barnes sue
cinctly.
"YoungT
"I had that impression. By the way,
Mr.. Jones, what and where is Green
Fancy?
>"Well," began the landlord, lowering
his voice, "it's about two mile and q
half from here, up the mountain. It's
a house and people live in it, same as
any other house. That's about all
there Is to say about it."
"Why is 1t called Green Fancy%
Because it's a green house." re-
piled Jones succipctly. Screen as d
gourd. A man named Curtis built 1t
a couple o. years ago and he had a
fool idee about paintin' 1t green.
Might ha' been little crazy, for all
I know. Anyhow, after he got 1t fin
ished he settled down to live in it,
and from that day to this he's never
been off'n the place" .-~---'
aTsn't It possible that he isn't there
at a|lT 80 --'
Hes there, all right. Every nov
and then he has visltors-just like
this woman today-and sometimes
they. come down here for supper. They
don't hesitate to speak Of him, 80 he
must be there. Miss Tilly has got the
idee that he is recluse, Il you know
what that Is"
Further conversation was inter
rupted by the irregular clatter OF
horses hoofs on the macadam. On
to the left a dull red glow Of light
spread across the roadway and q
mans voice called OH, "Whoe, dang
vel"
The door. Of the smithy had been
thrown open and someone was lead
ing forth freshly shod horses.
A moment later the horses-pranc'
Ing, high-spirited animals - their
bride bits held by strapping black
smith, came into view. Barnes looked
in the direction of the steps. The two
men had disappeared. Instead Of stop
ping directly in front Of the steps the
smith led his charges quite distance
beyond and into the darkness.
Putnam Jones abruptly changed his
position. He insinuated his long Eody
between Barnes and the doorway, at
the same time rather loudly proclaim
Ing that the rain appeared to be over
Eyes. SIR" he repeated, "she seems
to have let up altogether. Ought to
have q nice day tomorrow, Mr.. Barnes
nice, cool day for walkin'."
Voices came up from the darkness.
Jones had not been able tU cover them
with his, own. Barnes caught two or
three sharp, commando. rising above
the paving Of horses hoofs, and then
a great clatter as the mounted horse.
men rode of in the direction Of the