Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1919-07-18
CHAPTER TX.

OF1AF Ell INs
The First Wayfarer, the Second Way
sfarer and the Spirit of chivalry
Ascendant.
The wide green door, set far back
in q recess not unlike a kiosk, was
opened by a man servant who might
easily have been mistaken for a waiter
from Delmonico's or Sherry's.
"Say to Mrs. Collier, Nicholas, that
MI. Barnes is here for dinner said
De Soto. st will make the cocktails
this evening"
Much to Barnes surprise-and dis
appointment-the interior of the house
failed to sustain the bewildering effect
produced by the exterior. The en-
trance hall and the living Dol into
which he was conducted by the two
men were singularly like others that
he had seen. The latter. for example.
was of ordinary dimensions, furnished
with a thought for comfort rather than
elegance or even good taste. The
couches and chairs were low and deep
and comfortable, as If intended for
men only, and they were covered with
rich. gay materials; the hang1ngs at
the windows were of deep blue and
gold; the walls an unobtrusive cream
color, almost literally matched with
etchings.
The stairs were thickly carpeted. At
the top his guide turned to the left
and led the way down a long corridor.
They passed at least four doors be-
fore O'Dowd stopped and threw open
the fifth on that side of the hall. There
were still two more doors beyond.
Suggests a hotel, doesn't it?' said
the Irishman, standing aside for
Barnes to enter. Gall of the sleeping
apartments are on this floor, and the
baths and boudoirs and what not. The
garrett is above, and that's where we
deposit our family skeletons, intern
our grievances, store our stock of
s~pitefulness and hide all the little
devils that must come sneaking up
from the city with us whether we will
or no. Dabson," addressing the man
who had quietly entered the room
through the door behind them, do Mr..
i Barnes, will We, and fetch me from
Mr.. De Soto's room when you've fin
ished. / leave you to Dabson's tender
mercies. The saints preserve US
Look cat the mans boots! Dabson,
get out your brush and dauber first of
all. He's been flo%undering in a bog
The jovial Irishman retired, leaving
Barnes to be ''done" by the silent,
swift-moving valet. Dabson was young
and vigorous and exceedingly well
trained. He made short work Of "do-
ing" the visitor; barely fifteen min
utes elapsed before O'Dowd's return.
Presently they went downstairs to-
gether. Lamps had been lighted, many
Of them. throughout the house. A fire
cracked in the cavernous fireplace at
the end of the living room and grouped
about its cheerful, grateful blaze were
the ladies Of Green Fancy.
The girl of his thoughts was there,
standing slightly aloof from the 9TH
ers, but evidently amused by the tale
with which De Soto was RECALLING
them. She was smiling; Barnes saw
the sapphire lights sparkling in her
eyes and experienced a sensation that
was wofully akin to confusion.
But everything went off quite natu-
rally. He favored Miss Cameron with
an uncommonly self-possessed smile as
she gave her hand to him, and she in
turn responded with one family sug-
gestive of tolerance, although it GER
tainly would have been recorded by a
less sensitive person than Barnes as
ripping"
In reply to his perfunctory delight
ed, I'm sure, etc." she said quite clear
~ ooh, now I remember. / was sure
/ had seer you before, Mr.. Barnes.
You are the magic gentleman who
sprang like a mushroom out of the
earth early yesterday afternoon"
"And frightened you" he said:
"whereupon you vanished like the
mushroom that is gobbled up by the
predatory glutton."
He had thrilled at the sound Of her
voice. 1t was the low, deliberate voice
of the woman of the crossroads, and,
as before, he caught the almost i'm
p~erceptible accent. The red CLEAN
from the blazing logs fell upon her
shining hair; 1t glistened like gold.
She wore a simple evening gown of
white, softened over the shoulders and
neck with a fall Of rare valenciennes
Iooo Thoro woc M iouuoIrv-no% wv
a ring on her slender, tapering fingers.
Mrs. Collier, the hostess, was an ell
DERBY, heavy-featured woman, decid-