Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1919-05-22
CHAPTER VI.

Charity Begins Far From Home, and
q Stroll In the wildwood Fellows.
Mr.. Rushcroft was furious when he
arose &C eleven O'Clock on the morning
after the double murder. having slept
like a top through all OF the cOmmO-
ton. He doomed all over the place,
vocal castigations falling right and
left on the guilty and the innocent
without distinction.
81 don't see how you managed to
sleep through g." Barnes broke in.
''You must have an unusually clear
conscience. Mr.. Rushcroft."
II haven't any conscience at all. SIR"
resred the star. Il had an unusually
full stomach. that's what was the mat
ter with me, l take oath now, sir,
never to eat again as long as ! live.
A man who cannot govern his beastly
appetite ought to defy II. II nothing
else"
81 gather from that remark that you
omitted breakfast this morning."
breakfast. sirf In Gods nave, /
implore you not to refer TO anything
so disgusting as stewed prunes and
bacon at q time like this. My mind
is"
"How about luncheonf WIN you
Join me at twelve-thirtyf" ar.
That's quite another matter" said
Mr. Rushcroft readily. Luncheon L.
an esthetic tribute to the physical I'M
telligence Of man. II you know what /
mean. ] shall be delighted to join you.
"Twelvethlrty, did you sayr
ut would give me great pleasure II
sour daughter would also grace the
festal board. think Il is too bad that
she has TO go about In the gown she
wears. Dir. Rushcroft," said Barnes.
She's much too splendid for that.
nave a proposition I'd like to make to
sou later on. / cannot make II, how
ever. without consulting Miss Thack-
trays feelings"
my dear fellowF beamed Rush
croft. seizing the others hand. Zone
frequently reads In books about ID
coming like this, at first sight. but.
3amme, never dreamed that Il ever
really happened. Count on mel She
ought to leave the stage, the dear
child. No more fitted 70 1t than an
Easter lily. Her place Is In the home.
the"
Good Lord. I am not thinking Of"
And Barnes, aghast. stopped before
0lurting out the words that leaped to
his lips. IT mean to say this il prop
osition that may also affect your ex-
.ellent companions. Bacon and Dilling-
ford, as well as yourself"
At twelve-thirty sharp Barnes came
Town from his room freshly shaved
and brushed. to find not only Mr.. Rush.
croft and Miss Thackeray awaiting
him In the offce, but the Messrs. Dil-
Iingford and Bacon as well.
~ took the liberty. old fellow" said
Rushcroft. addressing Barnes, sof ask
Ing my excellent co-workers to Join us
In our repast."
Delighted to have you with us. gen.
tlemen," said Barnes affably.
The sole topic of conversation for
the first half hour was the mysterious
Staying Of their fellow dodgers. Mr..
Rushcroft complained bitterly Of the
outrageous. high-handed action OF the
coroner and sheriff In imposing upon
him and his company the same re
strictions that had been applied TO
Barnes. They were not to leave the
county until the authorities gave the.
word. One would have thought. 90
hear the stars indignant lamentations.
that he and his party were I'm a posi-
ton to depart when they pleased. II
would have been difficult to imagine
that he was not actually rolling IN
money instead OF being absolutely
penniless.
Barnes had been immersed In his
own thoughts for some time. A sigh,
frOwn, as OF reflection. darkeued his
eyes. Suddenly-perhaps impolitely-
he interrupted Mfr. Rushcroft's low of
elcquence, 81 -, --.-s-.- -.
"HAve you any o6jection, Mr.. Rush.
croft. TO more or isss personal cues.
ton concerning your own private.-es-
misfOrtunesi" he asked. leaning for
ward. -. ~. ...-.---.-
For q moment one could have heard
q pin drop. Mr.. 'Rusheroft evidently
held his breath. There cou,d be 10
mistake about that.
ITS rather delicate, but would you
mind telling me lust how much ! en-
were stuck up for by the-sr-was IL
q writ Of attachmentT"
at was."T said the star. ls'AQ writ
OF inquisitlQp, yoa might IS well sub.
stitute. The act OF q polluted, impe-
cGniOus. parsimonsous-what shall ]
sayi WeiL WIN be as simple as pos,
sible-hotel keeper. Ninety seven dol,
lars and forty cents. For that pififnl
amount he subjected me to- h71s 3 :
Wei. that isn't 50 bad" said
Barnes. vastly relieved. (. lie was Gov
ertly watching Miss Thackeray's half
aSerted face as he ventured upon the
opposition he had decided To NUT he