Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1919-05-29

lowed up 10y the Cartn. lie conli nor
have vanished more quickly in any
other way. on among the trees were
Intermittent flashes of blue and white.
Il am quite sure you are" said
O"nowd promptly but without a trace
II unfriendlineSS in his manner. he,
dad, loving him as | do, | can't help
saying that Curtis is n bally old crank.
Mind We. I'd say ii III his faCc-l often
10. for the matter Of that. Of course"
he went on seriously, "he is u sick
man. poor devil. You see I've known
him for a dozen years and moe, ani
he likes me, though God knows why,
unless ii may be that | once did his
son n good turn in London"
sufficient eXcuSe for PREPARATION, l
should say" smiled Barnes.
Il introduced the lad to me only sis
ter" said O'Dowd. land she kept him
happy for the mex 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. Id like nothing bet
ter than TO ask you in to have a dish
Of tea-it's teatime. I'm sure-but I'd
no more think of doing il 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 ObjectiOnables. Twice a year she
comes for a 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 il, and ill.,"
You wouldn't be wondering if you
knew the man." said ODowd. HE is
a scholar. a dreamer, a sufferer. He's
not a very old man at that. Not more
than sixty-five."
"IIe 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 loneliness plunged him. He
was still a tritle dazed and d%istraught.
fright you are" agreed OrDowd:
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 genially, and
iIAs "a III A.'t- lIldl VI IDuIltS
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-
p!Onage AZ this signitied something
deep and imperative in the presence
not only Of O'Dowd but the jack-in-
the-box gardener a few minutes ear.
lier.
His mind was still full Of the lovely
stranger about whom O'DOwd had so
manifestly lied over the telephone.
~ must ask you to apologize to the
young lady on whom / Numbered a
few moments ago, Mr.. O'DOwd. She
must have been startled. Pray con
vey to her my solicitude and ex.
cuses."
"Consider it 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 one painter OF portraits has said
thar 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 1t.
BY way, have you heard when the
coroner is to hold his %inqucsts?'
Nothing d Unite. He may wait a
week." said Barnes.
Il suppose you'll stick around until
it's over" vcntured O'DOwd. Barnes
thought he detected a slight harshness
in his voice.
~ have quite made up my mind to
stay until the mystery is entirely
cleared up" he said. "The case Is so
Interesting that ! don't want to miss a
shred Of it,"
81 don't blame ye," said O'Dowd
heartily. "Td like nothing better me-
self than to mix up In II. The next
time you plan to pay us a visit, tele-
phone in advance. ! may be able to
persuade nay host that you're a de.
cent, l%aw-abidIng, educated gentleman,
and he'll consent to receive you at
Green Fancy. Good day to ye." and
he shook hands with the departing
trespasser.