Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1920-07-31
CHAFT ER l-Continued.

As | went about my unpucklng ]
was sorry that had discouraged
AntOine's condolences. That these
old hotel servants, flung upon q farm
with little 10 do, should fall 10 quar-
reIing was not surprising hut what he
had said as t. the inquiries for Mrs.
BaShfOrd had reused my curiosity.
In spite of hy legal right TO live on
the farm. ] had no intention of re-
naming if my uncie's widow turned
up. She could hardly fail to regard
me rs an fntruding poor relation. no
matter how strictly kept to my own
quarters.
| whiStied myself into good humOr
as / dressed and started for the house
along the driveway. which followed
the shore, vepring off for look at the
sunken garden. one of the few fea-
lures of the place that had ever inter
ested my uncle.
As / paused on the steps I caught
sight OF a man sitting dejectedly on
stone bench near a fountain whose
Jet tossed and caught a ball with
languid iteration. | had identified
him as an old birmingham beii-hop.
known familiarly as Dutch. before he
heard my step and sprang to his feet.
grabbing pitchfork whose prongs
lie presented threateningIy.
"Oh. it's You, sir" he faltered.
Popping the implement. Excuse
me, sir"
"What's your trouble, Dutch ?
You're not expecting burglars, are
you?"
"Vcli. no, sir. but things on the
place amt what they wuz. It's nv
name, which amt my name, not
regular, IN I'm campin' in the tool.
house. An mo born right there in
New York an American clean
through. Ny crandpap came across
when he WIZ a kid, but it amt my
faul, he wuz Goiman. Mr.. Singleton.
don't know no Goiman except
Pretzet saUerkraut, wiener wurst. and
them kinds O. wOids."
Those Seltng to the universal
language. Dutch" l answered consol-
ingly. what is your name. anyhow ~
augustus SchOrtemeier. and | say
fl amt no wOrse'n LongfeIlow," he
protested,
The point was delicate and not one
that | felt myself qualified to discuss.
I tade him cheer up and passed on.
As | reached the house l heard a
sharp command IN an authoritative
voice and saw at curve of the drive
way number OF men In military
formation performing evolutions in
4 most Sprightly manner. They
carried hroomSticks, and at sight of
me the commander brought his COM
pany TO 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 | recognized as Scotty. n
hop who had long worn the birmingham
livery. ! waved my hand to them
and turned To find Antoine awaiting
me ut the ,onr.
Its the troops, SIR" ne explained.
ITS to keep Dutch and Gretchen and
Elsie-she'S tie wife of that Flynn
I'm proper order. SIR"
Troops" WAS n large term for the
awkward squad of retired walters
and bell-hops. and II was with diff
Guilty that kept my face straight.
ITS most unfortunate. but we was
forced to IL. Dinner is served. sir"
From the dining table in the long
dining-room ] caught glimpSeS through
the gathering dusk Of Scotty's battai-
Ion AT it's evOlutiOns.
Antoine" ! said sharply. what
60 you mean by these hints of trouble
on the place? You're not silly
enough 10 imagine that Dutch and a
couple of women can do anything out
here To aid Americas eremiesl And
as for these inquiries about Mrs
Bashford. they couldn't possibly have
anything to dc with the war. Specifi-
cally. who are the persons whO've
asked for ier?"
There's the party told you about,
most persistent, who's motored here
three times, and another person who
seems 10 be looking for him, sir. It's
most singular"
ITS singularE ridiculous: that's