The Glenwood post., 1919-06-14

old man, I take 1t, and ILL"
"You wouldn't be wondering II you
knew the man." said O'Dowd. "He is
q scholar, a dreamer, sufferer. He's
not very old man at that. Not more
than sixty-fve."
He certainly has a fanciful streak
In him. building a 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 defied exclusion
from his minds eye. He had not re-
covered from the thrall into which the
vision Of loveliness plunged him. He
was still a trife daxed and distraught.
Fright you are" agreed O'Dowd /;
"the queerest streak In the world. It's
his notion Of simplicity"
"Gteen Fancy. Is that the name he
gave the place or does It 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
O'Dowd 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 signified 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
manifestly lied over the telephone.
II must ask you to apologize to the
young lady on whom I 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. sour 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
hneas is almost equivalent to being
struck by a 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. Mr.. Barnes. If you consider no
more than the feminine side Of it.
By ~, way, have you heard when the
coroner is to hold his inQuests?"
Nothing d fnite. BE may wait a
week." said Barnes.
81 suppose you'll stick around until
it's over" ventured O'Dowd. Barnes
thought he detected a slight harshness
in his voice.
II have quite made up my mind to
stay until the mystery is entirely
cleared up," he said. "The case is so
interesting that I don't want to miss a
shred of It,"
81 don't blame ye," said O'Dowd
heartily. "Fd like nothing better me-
self than to mix up In 1t. The next
time you plan to pay us visit, tele-
phone in advance. 1 may be able to
persuade my host that you're a de-
cent, law-abiding, educated gentleman,
and he'll consent to receive you at
Eroon Iou tn nd
he shook hands with the departing
trespasser.
"Takin' walk7" was the landlords
greeting as Barnes mounted the tavern
steps at dusk.
Going over the grounds Of last
nights affair."" responded Barnes.
pausing
AS he entered the door he was
acutely aware Of an intense stare lev
eled at him from behind by the land
lord Of Hart's Tavern. Half way up
the stairway he stopped short and
with difficulty repressed the e1clama-
tion that rose to his lips.
He had recalled a significant Incl
dent Of the night before. Almost i'm
mediately after the departure of Room
and Paul from the Tavern Putnam
Jones had made his way to the tele-
phone behind the desk and had called
a number In loud, brisk voice, but
the subsequent conversation was car
ried on in subdued tones, attended by
haste and occasional furtive glances
in the direction of the taproom.
Upon reaching his room Barnes per-
mitted the suppressed emotion to
escape his lips In the shape of soft
whistle, which II 1t could have been
translated'into words would have said
by Cad, why haven't 1 thought of It
before? He sent out the warning that
Room and Paul were on the way! And
I'd like to bet my last dollar that
someone at Green Fancy had the other
end Of the wire"
p