Middletown transcript., 1920-05-08
CHAPTER Il-Continued.

Antoine departed with resentful
twist of the shoulders, and decided
to meet squarely the matter OF the
visitors who had so troubled him.
"Please don't be frightened" said
as lightly as possible, "but these old
follows haven't enough to do, and they
are full Of apprehensions. They have
been alarmed by an agent OF some
sort who wants to welcome you to
America by selling you a piano on
easy payments"
Antoine had been lowering inside.
and my remark brought him to the
door.
BEG pardon, Mr.. Singleton, but
that party is not an agent, but quite
different, sir. He came to the house,
quite like a gentleman, several times,
and asked if Mrs. Bashford had ar
rived. He came in big car, and
seemed disappointed, madame, that
you were not here and not expected.
A very well-spoken gentleman, and
we'd have thought nothing Of it except
that q few days later caught man
I was sure was the same party, but
dressed in rough clothes, sneaking
across the veranda right there where
you're sitting. When called to him
he ran as hard as he could, and
Grayes-he's the vegetable gardener
saw him leaving the property by the
back way"
"It's hardly possible that a man
who impressed you as a gentleman
when you saw him at the door should
have returned in disguise and tried to
break into the house."
"Oh." exclaimed Mrs. Farnsworth,
at would be so much more delightful
IF that were true! Any one in dis
euise is bound to be interesting. A
disguise suggests most beautiful pos
sibilities."
could not be sure in the dim light
of the veranda, but thought detect
ed a white slipper cautiously reach
out and touch black one. At any
rate, Mrs. Farnsworth lapsed into ST.
lence.
i
said Alice. 1T is very proper for you
te tell me anything Of any stranger
on the property. but I see nothing
here to be alarmed about. If the
same gentleman calls again, let me
know instantly"
"Very good, madame" And then
turning as though comforting upon me
a part of his responsibility for the Sc
curity of the premises: Its party
with limp; just trifling limp, sir
you'd hardly notice it. A smallisf
man, rather dark, with little mus
tache turned up at the ends
Il have noted all these details. An
toine," 1 replied; and again I thought
there was Geographic exchange be
tween the ladies though this time {
black slipper was the means Of com
munication.
Terrence arrived in d moment, ant
nothing has ever given me keener 10!
than his shock of surprise ut beholdinl
Mrs. Bashford. was devoutly crate
full that he had not been present a
the dinner-table, for my own efforts t.
interest Terrence in anything but tn
most practical matters had Away
been highly unsuccessful, and the dis
cussion Of ghosts and witches woul'
hardly have amused him. AS Mrs
Farnsworth and took up the recen
movements on the western front
overheard Terrence putting all tn
machinery Of the trust company q
Mrs. Bashford's disposal. 1t SCENE
almost blasphemy to be talking Q
income and like matters to a woma
like Alice Bashford!
They continued their conference 70
some time, but I got nothing out q
Mrs. Farnsworth that shed any ligh
On my aunt's history beyond what sh
had told me herself, which was PRE-
cious little. Mrs. Farnsworth's tai
was that Of q cultivated woman. He
voice interested me unaccountably
the tones had all manner Of shading
and infections; 1t was curiOusly mi
steal, but in speaking Of the great wa
q passionate note crept into it tbs
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