Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1919-05-03
CHAPTER VI.
Charity ssslns Far From Hsn'e' ana
a strell in the wildwood Fellows

I Charity Beslns Far treth 1,s''e' 'N
a strell in the wildwood Fslls"s'
/ Mr.. RushcrOft was furious wAen ne
arose at eleven o'clock on the Hora'as
after the double murder, having slept
/ like a top through all Of the comui"'
ton. He doomed all over the place,
vocal csstlgatlons falling right sad
left on the guilty aud the inzOeeet
without distinction.
II don't see how yOu managed 10
sleep through it, Barnes broke h'
''You must have an unusually clear
conscience, Mr.. Rushcrott."
'I haven't any conscience at all, sir
rosred the star. al had an unusually
full stomach, that's what was the nat
ter with me. | take osth sew, SIR,
never to eat again as long as live.
A man who cannot govern his besstly
appetite ought to defy it, II nothing
else"
al gather from that remark that you
omitted breakfast this morning.
Breakfast, sirY In Gods name, |
implOre you not to refer 70 anything
so disgusting as stewed prunes and
bacon at a time like this. My mind
is
"How about luncheonl WIN you
Join me at twelyc-thirty?
That's quite another matter said
Mr.. RuShcroft readily Luncheon Is
an esthetic tribute to the physical In
telllgence of man, il you know what |
mean. | shall be delighted TO Join you.
"Tweve-thirty, did you Sayf'
1T would give me great pleasure II
your daughter would also grace the
festal board. think II Is too bad that
she has 10 go about in the gown she
wears, Mr.. Rushcroft," said Barnes.
"She's much too splendid for that, l
have a proposition I'd like to make to
YOU later on. cannot make II, how
ever, without consulting Miss Thack-
cray's feelings"
my dear felloww beamed Rush.
croft, selzing the others hand. zone
frequently reads in books about 1t
coming like this, at first sight, but,
damme I never dreamed that It ever
really happened, Count on me- She
ought to leave the stage, the dear
child. No more fitted to II than an
Easter lily. Her place is In the home,
the"
"Good Lord / am not thinking Of
And Barnes, aghast. stopped before
blurting out the words that leaped to
his lips. 81 mean to say this is prop
osltion that may also affect your ex-
cellent companions, Bacon and Dllllng-
ford, as we'll as yourself"
At twelve-thlrty sharp Barnes came
down from his room freshly shaved
and brushed, to find not only Mr.. Rush
croft and Miss Thaekeray awaiting
him in the Office, but the Messrs. Dill
llngford and Bacon as well.
81 took the liberty, old fellow" said
RushcrOft, addressing Barnes, "of 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 fol
the first half hour was the mysterious
Staying of their fellow dodgers. Mr.
Rushcroft complained bitterly Of the
outrageous, high-handed action Of tht
coroner and sheriff in imposing upor
him and his company the same re
strictlons that had been applied {,
Barnes, They were not to leave th'
county until the authorities gave thu
word. One would have thought, Il
hear the stars indignant lamentations
that he and his party were in a posi-
tion to depart when they pleased.
would have been difficult to imagiu,
that he was not actually rolling II
money instead Of being absolutel.
pennlless.
Barnes had been immersed In hi
own thoughts for some time. A sllgh
frown, as Of reflection, darkened hi
eyes. Suddenly-perhaps impOlltely-
he Interrupted Mr.. Rushcroft's flow o
eloquence.
Have you any objection, Mr.. Rush
croft, to a more or less personal ques
tlon concerning your own prlvate-er-
mlsfortunes2" he asked, leaning fol-
ward.
For a moment one could have hear
a pin drop. Mr.. Rushcroft evldentl
held his breath. There could be n
mistake about that.
ITS rather delicate, but would yo
mind telling me just how much 80
were stuck Up for by the-er-was
awrlt Of attaehmentf
ut was" said the star. "A wrI
OF inquisltiOn, you might as well sui
stltute. The act Of a polluted, lmpe
cunlous, parsimonious-what shall
sayF Well, | VIII be as simple as DO,
siDle-hotel keeper. Ninety-seven do
iars and forty cents. For that pltlfr
amount he subjected me to-"
We'll, that isn't so bad" sal
Barnes, vastly relieved. He was co,
eftly watching Miss Thackeray's hal
aVerted face as he ventured upon tn
proposition he had decided to put b,
iore them. II am prepared and wi
ing TO advance this amount, Mr.. Rusl
croft, and TO take vour nareonai ,ot