Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1920-05-06

retreat. ! resolved not to tell him
the real cause of the servants appre-
tensions, knowing his disposition to
magnify tribes and fearing he might
send the police to investigate. he
lived only FIVE miles from Barton, q
fact to which he now referred.
Hadn't heard of any tramps over
my way" he said frowning. "These
old lunatics your uncle left here are
simply hipped; that's all. It's a
wonder you didn't think Of upsetting
his will on the ground of mental I'M
sOundneSs."
"Oh, chuck 1t! They're well-mean-
ing helpless people, and it's bully that
uncle Bash provided home for them.
There's nobody else to use the place"
His cigar had proved soothing, hut
my last remark caused him to sit up
straight in his chair.
'By George! my hold-up almost
made me forget what came for.
have news for you, Singleton; good
u Oou, uS SOu may InhS ~ A V
Bashford is in America.
"Mrs. Bashford." l repeated family
"where do you get these pleasant
tidingsT
This" he answered, producing
telegram, as all / know about It,"
He seemed to sense my discontinue
The message read:
"PIttsfeld, Mass, Sept. 20.
u. B. Terrence,
"Bainbridge Trust Co., New York.
LANDED at Seattle a week ago
and have been motoring east from
Chicago to see the country. Will
reach Barton in four or five days,
Please wire me at the Washington
inn, Lenox, whether house is In order
for occupancy.
"Allce Bashford."
"Well, what do you say to thatf" he
demanded.
81 say it's taking unfair advantage"
l answered savagely. "I've got ia
clear out; that's the first thing"
mot necessarily. Your right to the
garage is settled; she couldn't Dust
you If she wanted to. You've got tO
stay here anyhow till she comes
there's no ducking that. There are
many little courtesies she would nat
urally expect from you"
SIM delighted that you see my duty
so clearly! II you hadn't assured me
that she was safe at the end Of the
world wouldn't have set foot here,
"The house Is in order. judge,
he remarked, glancing about the room
"Tve got to wire her that we're ready
for her."
"You most certainly havel You
might add that she's causing serious
inconvenience to her late husbands
only nephew"
"You really don't mean thatT ha
inquired anxiously.
"Oh, thunder, mol"
had forgotten how trying Torrenct
could be. He now suggested that we
summon Antoine and take a look al
the house. Terrence is conscientious
fellow with an exact and orderly mind
and there was no corner of the place
from cellar to garnet that we didn't
explore. 1t was highly creditable ia
the old birmingham servants that the
house was thoroughly habitable.
AS we were on our way downstairs
the old fellow detained me moment
Have you told him about the
partiesT
l shook my head In angry rejection
of the idea that should tell Terrence
about "the parties" and dismissed
him as socn as we reached the hall.
II suggest" said Terrence, "that
when she comes you have flowers in
all the rooms; the conservatory will
supply enough. And it occurs to me
that the more inconspicuous you
make this bunch of lazy dependents
the more agreeable 1t will be for Mrs
Bashford,"
"You don't expect much Of me! II
was never in the contract that
should become the patriarch Of these
venerable relics. But I'll warn them
to conceal themselves as much as pos.
slble. l fully expect to leave the
reservation for good just one hour
after the lady arrives"
'Thats your affair, Of course. As
she's motoring, we can't just time hel
arrival. but when get wire that
she's on the way TIL telephone you
And, Of course, after she gets here
I'll come at once to pay my respects
A.