South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-10-12
WHY MADGE FELT ALMOST
SHAKEN BY MRS. DURKEES
STORY

NAooFei alum dt the sip 4 Htl uldue.
Little Mrs. Durkee stared al me
frankly
What do YOU mean o" she asked.
reflected quickly. There was but
one thing TO be done. 70 tell the
truth. or something near it in an Off
hand manner. so she'd think moth
ing more of the incident. 1 knew
better than 70 make mystery of
anything upon which my inquisitive
little neighbor could ponder.
I'D like to hear you describe once
more that man who wishes to rent
your house" I replied. desiring 70
gain time to arrange my story.
He was a handsome. foreign.
Spanish-looking chap, with mus
tachios and pointed beard" she re-
turned. but why do you ask"
She was full of excited curiosity,
and again 1 mentally mathematical
my careless tongue.
Because 1 saw man who looked
like that the other day. and thought.
as you did, that I had seen eyes like
his before. He gave me the same
impression of having known him.
but, of course. we were both mis-
taken"
strove 10 make my voice as care
less and matter of fact as possible in
the vain hope that Mrs. Durkee
would drop the subject. But she
was like an active little ferret on the
trail Of a rat.
How perfectly thrilling" she
said. "Madge. mark my word. he's
somebody we know in disguise.
Where did you see him ?"
How perfectly ridiculous!" 1 re-
torted. a bit tartly, for her sugges-
ton startled me in a spite of it's ut
ter absurdity. I only caught
glimpse of the man on the street.
but his unusual appearance, and an
impression of recognition in his eyes
stayed I'M my memory, to be brought
out by your description. But let's
not waste time over anything so alb
surd. Tell me about your interview
with this handsome, mysterious
stranger"
Twice the Amount"
Mrs. Durkee shook her pretty
head sagely.
You'll see!" she predicted dark
". And just wait till you hear the
rest of my story. I'm sorry 1 rented
my house 10 them now, even if they
did give me twice the money I asked.
There's mischief afoOt I'll be bound.
But 1 can't get out Of it now. I've
taken the money and have signed a
lease for the season"
Twice the amount of money YOU
asked" I exclaimed, for she had
really startled me this time. Sup
pose you begin at the beginning and
tell me all about it,
well, as I told you. I went TO the
hotel they named in their letter and
found this man. He explained that
his uncle was an elderly invalid
come 10 the north in search of
health and quiet. and that they had
but one servant, a Japanese He
asked two or three questions about
the house, but seemed to take every
thing for granted. L had a queer
feeling almost as if he knew about
the place beforehand. Then he
asked my price. and when / told
him S400 furnished for the season
he bowed in a most captivating for
eign fashion. and said:
Madame. 1 am going to do an
unusual thing. / am going TO offer
YOU twice the amount you named
Il know I stared at him as if I
thought he had suddenly lost his
mind And then he smiled in an
amused sort OF way, although 1
could seen he was a bit anxious for
all his smiling. and said in a quick
sort OF a way:
81 am doing this because for
various reasons: do not wish to
give you the usual references.
Cause for Reflection.
We'll, Madge. you can imagine I
was flabbergasted. But he didn't
give me a chance 10 say anything,
just went on talking.
But / can assure you. madame.
you do not need 10 have the least
uneasiness. he said in a way that
would have made any woman be
lieve in him Ny uncle is exceed
ingly nervous. and he has many
friends who would insist on coming
10 see him If they knew he were
near New York And then there are
grave business reasons why we do
do not wish our presence known
here for some weeks al least III YOU
DO not think twice the amount YOU
named is enough 1 am prepared 10
OFFER more We are az your mercy
and he bowed aga 10.
II don't know how ne did it,
Mrs Durkee said remin,se entity
lie must have leen mighty clever.
ont do YOU know that man made me
feel that 7 would re a cruel. mer-
cenary W. en- 20 ask for references
or even more money I not only
agreed 70 rert him the place rurn-
ished without refere. re. bgt made
feeble little protest against -aEing
the sum he named"