Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1919-05-10

was uSs Nnu ntiu u cAidut III HIS HSuu
and eyed him inimieally. Without an
other glance in his direction the first
and more pleasing vision turned on
her heel and continued her stroll,
sauntering off to the right, her fair
head once more bent in study her
back eloquently Indifferent to the gaze
that followed her.
"WhO do you want to sect" inquired
the man with the spade.
Before Barnes could reply hearty
voice accosted him from behind. He
whirled and saw 0'DOwd approaching,
not twenty yards away. The Irish
mans face was aglow with pleasure.
81 knew 1 couldn't be mistaken in
the shape of you," he cried, advancing
with outstretched hand. you've got
the breadth of a dockhand in your
shoulders and the trlmness Of a prize
fighter in your waist"
They shook hands. II fear l am
trespassing." said Barnes. His glance
went over his shoulder as he spoke.
The man with the spade had been swal-
lowed up by the earthl He could not
have vanished more quickly in any
other way. on among the trees were
intermittent flashes of blue and white.
81 am quite sure you are" said
ODowd promptly but without trace
Of unfriendliness In his manner. "Be.
dad, loving him as 1 do, l can't help
saying that Curtis is a bally old crank.
Mind We, I'd say 1t to his face-I often
do, for the matter of that. OF course"
he went on seriously, she is q sick
man, poor devil. You see I've known
him for a dozen years and more, and
he likes me, though God knows why,
unless 1t may be that once did his
son a good turn in London"
Sufficient excuse for reparation,
should say" smiled Barnes
II introduced the lad to me only sis
ter" said 0'Dowd, "and she kept him
happy for the next ten years No
doubt l also provided Mr.. Curtis with
three grandchildren he might never
have had but for my graciousness."
A look Of distress came into his merry
eyes. "By Jove, I'd like nothing bet
ter than to ask you in to have dish
Of tea--lts teatlme, I'm sure--but I'd
no more think of doing 1t than I'd con-
slider cutting off me head. He doesn't
like strangers. He"
my dear fellow, don't distress your
SELF" cried Barnes heartily. "There
isn't the least reason in the world
why"
'You see, the poor old chap asks
us up here once or twice a year--that
is to say, De Soto and me--to keep
his sister from filling the house up
with men he can't endure. SO long
as we occupy the only available rooms,
he argues, she can't stuff them full
Of objectlonables. Twice a year she
comes for month, in the late fall
and early spring."
"Why does he continue to live in
this out-of-the-world spot? He is an
old man, take II, and ILL.,"
"You wouldn't be wondering If you
knew the man." said O'Dowd. "He IS
a scholar, a dreamer, a sufferer. He's
not a very old man at that. Not more
than slxty-fve."
HE certainly has a fanciful streak
/ in him, building a place like that" said
/ Barnes, looking not at the house but
into the thlcket above. There was no
sign Of the blue and white and the
spun gold that still defed exclusion
from his minds eye. He had not re-
covered from the thrall into which the
vision Of lOveliness plunged him. He
was still trlhe dazed and dstraught.
"Right you are" agreed O'Dowd
'the queerest streak in the world. It's
his notion of simplicity"
"Green 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 genlally, and
linked his arm through that of Barnes
The latter was at once subtly aware
Of the fact that he was being delib.
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.
plonage as this signifed something
deep and imperative in the presence
not only of O'DOwd but the jaek-in.
the-box gardener a few minutes ear.
lier.
His mind was still full of the lovely
stranger about whom O'D0wd had 50
manifestly lied over the telephone.
II must ask you to apologize to ths
young lady on whom l blundered 9
few moments ago. Mr.. oDOwd. She
must have been startled. Pray con
Yey to her my solicitude and ex
cuses."
Consider 1t done. my dear sir" said
the Irishman.- aQ1< -mnst Charming