Middletown transcript., 1920-04-17
CHAPTER l-Continued.

AS I went about my unpackfng !
was sorry that I had discouraged
AntOine's condolences. That these
old hotel servants, flung upon a farm
with little to do, should fall to quar-
reling was not surprising, but what he
had said as to the inquiries for Mrs.
Bashford had reused my curiosity.
In spite Of MY legal right to live on
the farm. I had no intention Of re-
naming if my uncle's widow turned
up. She could hardly fail to regard
me as an intruding poor relation, no
matter how strictly kept to my own
quarters. \
whistled myself into good humor
as dressed and started for the house
along the driveway, which followed
the shore, veering off for look at the
sunken garden, one Of the few fea-
lures of the place that had ever inter-
ested my uncle.
AS I paused on the steps I caught
sight of "a man sitting dejectedly on
a stone bench near fountain whose
jet tossed and caught ball with
languid iteration. I had identified
him as an old Tyringham bell-hop,
known familiarly as Dutch, before he
heard my step and sprang to his feet,
grabbing a pitchfork whose prongs
lie presented threateningly.
'Oh. it's you, SIR" he faltered,
cropping the implement. Excuse
me, sir!"
"What's your trouble, Dutch ?
You're not expecting burglars, are
you?"
"Well, no, sir, but things on the
place amt what they wuz. It's my
name, which amt my name, not
reg'lar, an I'm campin' in the tool
house. An me born right there in
New York an American clean
through. My grandpap came across
when he wuz a kid, but it amt my
fault he wuz Goiman. Mr.. Singleton,
I don't know no Goiman except
pretzel, sauerkraut, wiener wurst, and
them kinds O. woids."
"Those belong to the universal
language, Dutch" I answered consol-
fngly. "Whst is your name, anyhow
Augustus Schortemeier, and I say
It amt no worse'n Longfellow," he
protested.
The point was delicate and not one
that felt myself qualified to discuss.
I tade him cheer up and passed on.
AS l reached the house I heard q
sharp command in an authoritative
voice and saw ut curve of the drive
way a number Of men in military
formation performing evolutions In
IT,; most sprightly manner. They
carried broomsticks, and at sight OF
me the commander brought his COM
pany to a very ragged present arms !"
Their uniform was that of the Tyring-
ham bell-hops and walters, and it
dawned upon me that this was an
army Of protest representing the Allied
armies on the shores Of Connecticut.
There was dozen Of them, and the
captain I recognized as Scotty, a
hop who had long worn the Tyringham
livery. waved my hand to them
and turned to find Antoine awaiting
me at the (oor.
"It's the troops, sir" he explained.
ats to keep Dutch and Gretchen and
Elsie-she's tie wife Of that Flynn
in proper order, sir"
Troops" was large term for the
awkward squad Of retired walters
and hell-hOps. and II was with diff.
Guilty that kept my face straight.
Its most unfortunate, but we was
forced to it. Dinner is served, sir"
From the dining table in the long
dining room caught glimpses through
the gathering dusk Of Scotty's battal-
don at its evolutions.
"Antoine!" I said sharply, "what
co you mean by these hints Of trouble
on the place? You're not silly
enough to imagine that Dutch and a
couple Of women can do anything out
here to aid Americas enemies! And
as for these inquiries about Mrs.
Bashford, they couldn't possibly have
anything to dc with the war. Specif-
cally, who are the persons who've
asked for ier?"
''There's the party I told you about.
most persistent, who's motored here
three times, and another person who
seems to be looking for him, sir. It's
most singular"
ITS singularly ridiculous; that's