The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1919-07-03

why does he continue to i've In
this out-of-the-worid spot1 He n an
old man. I take It, and Ill"
You wouldn't be WONDERING Il you
knew the man. said O,Dowd. *He n
Z scholar, q dreamer, q sufferer. He's
not I very old man at that, Not moro
than dxty-dve."
He certainly has a fancfful streak
u 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 deaed exclusion
from his minds eye He had not r .
covered from the thrall Into which the
vision Of ~ioveliness plunged him. He
was still q tribe dazed and distraught.
"Right you are" agreed ODowd;
the Queerest streak in the world It's
his notion Of simplicity"
'Green Fancy. Is that the name he
gave the place or does 1t spring
from"
"Twas christened by me own els
ter, Nj. Barnes. the first time she was
here, two years ago. I'll walk with
you to the fence beyond II 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
ODowd 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 signihed something
deep and imperative In the presence
not only Of ODowd but the iack,in-
he-box gardener a few minutes ear
lier.
His mind was still full Of the lovely
stranger about whom O'Dowd had 60
~manifestly lied over the telephone.
II must ask you to apologize to the
young lady on whom I blundered q
few moments ago, Mr.. O'Dovd. she
must have been startled. Pray con-
vey to her my solicitude and ex-
cuses."
Consider 1t done, my dear SIR" said
the Irishman. "Our 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-
illness Is almost equivalent to being
struck by a bolt Of lightning. More
than n 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, Z friend Of Mrs. Van Dyke.
We have quite an enchanting house
party, MI. Barnes. If you consider no
more than the feminine side Of 1t.
By ~, way, have you heard when the
coroner is to hold his i~nquests7"
Nothing d finite. He may wait a
week." said Barnes.
II suppose you'll stick around until
It's over" ventured O'Dowd. Barnes
thought he detected q slight harshness
In his voice. j.
II have quito made up my mind to
stay until the mystery is entirely
cleared up" he said. 1.-The case is SO
interesting that I don't want to miss q
shred Of It" 49,.
II don't blame ye."' said ODowd
heartily. "Td like nothing better me
self than to mix up In 1t. The next
time you plan to pay us q visit, tele-
phone in advance. I 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
Green Fancy. Good day to w." and
he shook hands with the departing
trespasser.
'eTakin' q walkf' was the landlords
greeting az Barnes mounted tho tavern
steps at dusk.
'Going sver the grounds Of laa
nights affair."" responded Barnes.
pausing
As he entered the door hs vas
acutely aware OF On intense stare lev
eled at him from behind BY the land
lord Of Harris Tavern. Half way up
the stairway he stopped short and
With difficulty repressed the 0darmr
ton that rose 10 his Iip6
He had recalled . agninant inct.
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
. number IN Z loud. brisk voice but
the subsequent conversation was car
r1ed On IN subdued tones attended By
haste and occasional furt1ve g1ancss
n the direction Of the taproom.
Upon reaching A6 room Barnes per.
United the suppressed emotion to
escape his lips II the shape Il ! soft
whistle which II Il could have been
translated1 ntO words would have aad:
BY Cad. Why haven't I thought q &
befoFei He sent ont tho warning that
Room and Paul wers O. tn vayi And
"a hkS 70 bet my laa doIlar DIT
someone q Green Yancyhaa ~ otna
end Of tho vfrAs Ss.