The citizen., 1919-07-24
CHAPTER VI.
Charity Begins Far From Home. and
a Stroll In the Wildwood Follows.

0 Stroll In the WILDWOOD y FOLLOWS.
Mr.. Ruskcroft was furious when he
arose at eleven o'clock on the morning
after the double murder, having slept
like top through all Of the commQ-
tlon. He doomed all over the place.
vocal castigations falling right and
left on the guilty and the innocent
without distinction.
IL don't see how you managed to
sleep through IT," Barnes broke In.
"You must have an unusually clear
conscience. Mr.. Rushcroft."
Il haven't any conscience nj all. sir"
roared the star. II had an unusually
full stomach, that's what was the mat
tcr with me. 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"
II gather from that remark that you
omitted breakfast this morning"
breakfast, sir1 In Godrs name.
implore you not to refer 90 anything
So disgusting Us stewed prunes and
bacon at a time like this. My mind
is"
slow about luncheon1 VIII you
Join me at twelve-thirtyf"
That's quite another matter" said
Mr.. Rushcroft readily. Luncheon Is
an esthetic tribute to the physical In
telligence Of man. II you know what
mean. shall be delighted to Join you.
''Twelve-thirty. did you sayr"
"It would give me great pleasure II
your daughter would also grace the
fesinl board. think II is too bad that
she has 20 go about In the gown she
wears. Mr.. Rushcroft." said Barnes.
'She's much too splendid for that
have a proposition I'd like 10 make to
you later on. I cannot make II. how
ever. without consulting Miss Thack-
cray's feelings"
"My dear fellowi' beamed Rush
croft SELLING the others hand. "0ne
frequently reads In books about II
coming like this. at first sight. but,
damme. never dreamed that II ever
really happened. Count on mel She
child. No more fitted to II than an
Easter lily. Her place Is In the home,
the"
Good Lord, I am not thinking Of"
And Barnes, aghast stopped before
hurting out the words that leaped to
his lips. II mean TO say this Is prop
osltion that may also affect your ex-
cellent COMPANIONS. Bacon and Dilllng-
ford, as well as yourself"
At twelve-thlrty sharp Barnes came
down from his room freshly shaved
and brushed. 10 find not only Mr.. Rush
croft and Miss Thackeray awaiting
him IN the office. but the Messrs. Dil-
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 10 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 lodgers. 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-
strictlons that had been applied 10
Barnes. They were not to leave the
county until the authorities gave the
word. One would have thought, to
hear the stars indignant lamentations,
that he and his party were In a posi-
tlon to depart when they pleased. II
would have been difficult to Imagine
that he was not actually rolling In
money instead OF being absolutely
pennlless-