The sun., 1919-04-20

v
tisements to answer and so my replies
varied considerably.
Robert startled me by referring to one
the morning after our return from the
New Jersey trip. I shamefully passed
peppermint to him under the table
although he was IN the midst Of eating
an egg-and having sampled II he did
me the honor of holding his tongue. II
seems he spelled few words out idly
in picking up letters I'.had asked him 10
replace. He told me this after Johna-
than had gone.
would say" said the letter that in
trigued him. that In addition TO house
and grounds We offer one large chicken
run and roosts, also chickens, fine leg
horns and Plymouth Rocks. IL same
would he Of interest
The spelling and capt. alizaton might
have been Roberts own. which fact. with
the large. sprawling handwriting and
the idea of chickens was enough to spur
Robert TO his utmost as n reader.
Roberts Interest in Chickens.
Robert has about the same interest in
chickens as the average healthy terrier,
and would tremble for the fate of these
finest of leshorns and Plymouth Rocks.
even with their yellowest and most
desire TO make their acquaintance ever
be fulfilled.
This, / may add. is not likely.
Many OF the letters OF course, were
simply short business letters making ap-
pointments. some Of which kept.
Some were more human invitations
with some little hospitality offered with
the opportunity to see the place.
One was from a nervous invalid, who
my letter a great shock since she had
had no idea that any one was thinking
Of such thing as Offering her home"
for sale. I could Imagine the poor dear
having Mysteries and upsetting a mild
and well meaning husband. whose one
i6ea had been TO do the best thing and
who was probably acting under the doc
tors orders. I really ptied him his
homecoming that night probably as
much as she longed for and Gloated
over II.
I'm glad that among my many sins
nerves are not Included.
There were some raw letters from the
nouveau richie. with red ana green and
gold trumped up coats OF arms And
there were letters In thin. fine elderly
handwriting. These were quite fiawess
In form and substance. conventional
little things. There were letters from
private secretaries and a familys man
OF buainess-and OF course from agents.
Out of these letters and from sub.
s~quent interviews I got the dimensions
Of many a nursery and cast my critical
eye upon many pantry shelf,
Mysterious Negotiations.
And from one Advertisement I was
led into an interview as cryptic and
Interesting as anything that ever hap
rened to me.
Strange enough the agent In the case
was that nice man, Harrington OF Pei
HARDWOOD
The advertisement was one Of the
original ones that Jonathan cut out
for me.
All remember about II was-A Co
loniaI Mansion.
Harrington wrote me that the case
was a little peculiar, that the young
nan was To meet at his Office was not
the owner and that he gave his name
as Smith.
Harrington inferred that he was GER
tain his name was not Smith. And my
curiosity was immensely piqued.
I kept my appointment with HarrinR-
ton and he had very little explanation
to make OF the queer advertisement
or Of the queer young man who said his
name was Smith.
Together Harrington and I waited
some time after the appointed hour.
Presently the young man in question
came up the steps In a steady, deter
mined sort OF way, but as though what
he was about TO do was not wholly con-
genial About half way up he seemed