The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1919-06-05

the breadth of dockhand in yor'
shoulders and the trimness Of a prize
fighter in your waist.
They shook hands. 81 fear I an
trespassing," said Barnes. His glance
went over his shoulder as he spoke
The man with the spade had been swal,
lowed up by the earth He could not
have vanished more quickly in auy
other way. OFF among the trees were
intermittent flashes Of blue and white
81 am quite sure you are" said
! ODowd promptly but without trace
OF unfrendliness in his manner. BE
! dad. loving him as / do, I'can't help
saying that Curtis is bally old crank.
Mind ye. I'd say it to his face-I often
do, for the matter of that. OF course
he went on seriously che is SICK
man, poor devil. You see I've known
him for a dozen years and moe, and
he likes me, though God knows why,
unless il may be that / once did his
son good turn in London"
Sufficient excuse for reparation. l
SnOulu say, Slnieu Barnes.
81 Introduced the lad To me only sis
ter" said ODowd, "and she kept him
happy for the next ten years. No
doubt | also provided Mr.. Curtis with
three grandchildren he might never
have had but for my graclousness."
A look of distress came into his merry
eyes. "By Jove, I'd like nothing bet
ter than to ask you in TO have n dish
of tea--it's teatlme, I'm sure-but Ia
no more think of doing it than I'd con-
slider cutting off me head. He doesn't
like strangers. He"
'My dear fellow, don't distress your
SELF" cried Barnes heartily. There
isn't the least reason in the world
why"
"YOu see, the poor old chap asks
US up here once or twice a year-that
Is to say, De Soto and me--to keep
his sister from filling the house up
with men he can't endure. So long
as we occupy the only available rooms,
he argues, she can't stuff them full
of obiectiOnables. Twice a year she
comes for month, in the late fall
and early spring"
"Why does he continue to live In
this out-of-the-world spot? He Is an
old man, take 1t, and ILL.,"
You wouldn't be wondering If you
knew the man." said O'Dowd. "He is
O scholar, a dreamer, sufferer. He's
not very old man at that. Not more
than sixty-five."
He certainly has fanciful streak
In him, building place like that" said
Barnes, looking not at the house but
into the thicket above. There was no
sign OF the blue and white and the
spun gold that still defed exclusion
from his minds eye. He had not re-
covered from the thrall into which the
vision OF lOveliness plunged him. He
was still trlfle daZed and distraught.
Right you are" agreed O'Dowd; !;
the queerest streak in the world. It's
his notion of simplicity"
Green Fancy. Is that the name he
gave the place or does 1t spring
from"
Twas christened by me own sis
ter, Mr.. Barnes, the first time she was
here, two years ago. I'll walk with
you to the fence beyond if you've no
objections" said O'Dowd genially, and
linked his arm through that of Barnes.
The latter was at once subtly aware
OF the fact that he was being DELHI
erately conducted from the grounds.
Moreover, he was now convinced that
ODowd had been close upon his heels
from the instant he entered them.
There was something uncanny in the
feeling that possessed him. Such es-
pionage as this s.snlfied something
deep and imperative In the presence
not only of O'Dowd but the jack-in-
the-box gardener few minutes ear
lier.
His mind was still full Of the lovely
stranger about whom O'Dowd had SO
manifesly lied over the telephone.
Il must ask you to apologize to the
young lady on whom / blundered a
few moments ago, Mr.. O'Dowd. She
must have been startled. Pray con-
vey to her my solicitude and ex-
cuses"
Consider 1t done, my dear sir" said
the Irishman. "Our most charming
and seductive guest" he went on
"Bedad, Of the two Of you, I'll stake
me head you were startled the most
Coming suddenly upon such rare love
liness is alc.ost equivalent to being
struck by bolt Of lightning. More
than one painter of portraits has said
that she Is the most beautiful woman
In the world, Mayhap you have heard
OF her. She Is Miss Cameron of New
Orleans. a friend Of Mrs. Van Dyke.
We have quite an enchanting house
party, Dir. Barnes. IL you consider no
more than the feminine side Of IT,
BY - way, have you heard when the
coroner Is to hold his inQuestsf"
Nothing d anite. He may wait q
week." said Barnes.
Il suppose you'll stick around until
It's Over.v Yentured OsDowd. Barnes