The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1919-05-23
CHAPTER TX.
The First Wayfarer, the Second Way
farer and the Spirit of ChivaIry
Ascendant

rarer ana the spirit or ChiVairy
Ascendant.
The wide green door. set far back
in Il recess not unlike a kiosk, was
opened by a man servant who might
easily have been mistaken for waiter
from Demonico's or Sherry's.
Say to Mrs. Collier, Nicholas, that
Mr.. Barnes is here for dinner said
De Soto. Il will make the cocktails
this evening"
Much to Barnes surprise-and dis
appointment-the interior of the house
failed to sustain the bewidering effect
produced by the exterior. The en-
trance hall and the living room into
which he was conducted by the two
men were singularly like others that
he had seen The latter. for example
was of ordinary dimensions, furnished
with thought for comfort rather than
elegance or even good taste. The
| touches and chairs We're low and deep
and comfortable. as if intended for
men only. and they were covered with
rich, gay materials; the hangings at
| the windows were of deep blue and
! gold the walls an unobtruSive cream
color, almost literally matched with
etchings.
The stairs were thickly carpeted At
the top his guide turned to the left
| and led the way down d long corridor.
| They passed at least four doors be-
! fore ODowd stopped and threw open
| the fifth on that side of the hall. There
were still two more doors beyond.
| Suggests a hotel, doesn't it," said
| the IriShman standing aside for
Barnes to enter. "Al of the sleeping
! apartments are on this floor, and the
| baths and boudoirs and what not The
| garnet is above, and that's where we
deposit our family skeletons, intern
! our grievances, store our stock of
devils that must come sneaking up
! from the city with us whether we will
or no. Dabson," addressing the man
who had quietly entered the room
| through the door behind them, do Mr..
Barnes, will We, and fetch me from
] WI. I't ENolO - iOOIli wien YOU We III
ished. leave you to Dabsons tender
mercies. The saints preserve US,
Look at the mans boots. Dabson,
get out your brush and dauber first of
all. He's been floundering in bog"
The jovial Irishman retired. leaving
Barnes to he done" by the silent.
swift-moving valet Dabson was young
and vigorous and exceedingly well
trained. He made short work of do
ing" the visitor; barely fifteen min
uJeS elapsed before ODOwd's return.
Presently they went downstairs to-
gether Lamps had been lighted. many
of them. throughout the house. A fire
cracked in the cavernous fireplace at
the end of the living room and grouped
about its cheerful. grateful blaze We're
the ladies of Green Fancy.
The girl of his thoughts was there,
standing slightly aloof from the 9th
ers. but evidently amused by the tale
with which De Soto was RECALLING
them. She was smiling Barnes saw
the sapphire lights sparkling in her
eyes and experienced a sensation that
was wofully akin to confusion.
But everything went off quite natp-
rally. He favored Miss Cameron with
an uncOmmonly self-possessed smile as
she gave her hand to him, and she In
| turn responded with one family sug-
gestive of tolerance. although it GER
| tainly would have been recorded by Il
| less sensitive person than Barnes as
ripping
In reply to his perfunctory delight
ed, I'm sure, ETC." she said quite clear
! ly: "Oh, now | remember. | was sure
| had seen you before, Mr.. Barnes.
| You are the magic gentleman who
sprang like a mushroom out of the
earth early yesterday afternoon"
"And frightened you" he said :;
"whereupon you vanished like the
mushroom that is gobbled up by the
predatory glutton."
He had thrilled at the sound of her
voice. 1t was the low, deliberate voice
of the woman of the crossroads, and
as before, he caught the almost i'm
perceptible accent. The red CLEAN
from the blazing logs fell upon her
shining hair; it glistened like gold
She wore a simple evening gown of
white, softened over the shoulders and
neck with fall of rare valenciennes
lace. There was no jewelry-not even
ring on her slender. tapering fingers
Mrs. Collier. the hostess. was an ell
derby, heavyfeatured woman, decid-