Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1920-06-23

disclosed nothing incrimlnatlng. He
had three hundred dollars In currency
(this was 10 cover Elsie's bribe money.
l eonjectured). a handkerchief. cigar
cite case. and box II matches. | d.
rected that he be well fed and given
all the reading matter he wanted. and
hurried on TO catch my train.
took room at the Thackeray club
and pondercd carefully whether. in
spite OF my miSglvings. hadn't better
see Terrence and tell him all that had
happened since his call on Mrs. Bash
ford. If there was any chance of do
ing the wrong thing In any matter not
prescribed Ia the laws governing the
administration OF estates. he would
be sure ~ do Il: but I was far from
satisfied with the results OF my own
management OF affairs az Barton. I
finally called up the trust company
and learned that Terrence was In Al
bany attending the trial OF will case
I and might not be In town for n couple
~ days. His secretary said he had
instructions 20 wire my daily report to
I Albany. I told him there had been no
developments az Barton and went out
and walked. Inquiries az hotels large
AMI small ocl .pied me until seven
O'Clock. No one had heard Of a Mrs
I BaShfOrd or n Mrs. FarnswOrth. My
I inspection OF the occupants Of several
thousand automobiles proved equally
I fruiuess. I ate lonely dinner at the
ola nd raN
Ing about theater doors. staring az the
crowd. Is not a dlgnified occupation.
ana by nine o'clock. having seen the
most belated theatergoers vanish.
was tired and fOOtsOre. The flaming
sign OF Searles' "WhO Killed Cock
Robin2" over the door Of the "As You
Like II" caught my eye. / sought a
/ seattle last in the rack-and
squeezed into my place in the middle
OF the last row. AS l had seen the
piece az least a dozen times. its nov
city was gone for me, but the laughter
OF the delighted audience was cheer
ing The first act was reaching its
elimination. and | watched IL with
glow OF pride in Searles and his skill
ful craftsmanship.
As the curtain fell and the lights
went up amid murmurs OF pleasure
and expectancy. I glanced across the
rows OF heads. The half-turned face
OF a man three rows In front OF me
suddenly caught my attention. There
was something curlously familiar in
his outlines and the gesture with
which. az the moment. he was drawing
his handkerchief across his forehead.
II was Montani-beyond any question
Montani-and I instinctiyely shrank In
my seat and lifted my program as
he turned round and swiftly surveyed
the rows behind him.
I watched his black head intently
until I remembered the superstition
that by staring at person In pub
Tic place you can make him look at
you. Montana knew a great many
things wanted to know. but must
have time TO adjust myself to the
shock Of his propinqulty.
The house now took note OF stir
ring In the boxes. There was an ex-
cited buzz as the tall form and IN
mistakable features OF Cecil Arrow
smith. the English actor. were recog-
nized. I had read that day OF his
arrival I'm New York. With him were
two women. Ny breath came hard and
I clutched the iron frame OF the seat
In front OF me 50 violently that its
occupant turned and glared.
The trio settled into their places
quickly. but not before had satisfied
myself that Arrowsmith's companions
were Alice and Mrs. Farnsworth. AZ
they fell into animated talk saw that
Alice was In her gayest humor. The
distinguished tragedian seemed greatly
amused by what she was saying 10
him.
"Afust be members OF Arrowsmith's
company" one OF my neighbors re-
marked. "They open in two weeks
in Shakespearian repertoire"
Montani had half risen. the better
10 focus an opera-glasS on the box.
The gong solemnly announced the sec
Ond act. and Alice moved her chair
20 face the stage. once more Mon
tanl scanned the party with his glass.
As the lights faded Alice, with the
pretty languOrous gesture / SO well re-
membered. opened her fan-the fan
OF ostrich plumes. that became a blur
OF white that held my eye through the
dusk after the curtain rose.
Alice. Montana. and the fan! To this
combination / had now to add the new
element introduced into the situation
by the apparent familiar acquaintance
~ Alice and Mrs. FarnSw0rth with
Cecil Arrowsmith. And yet. as the
play proceeded on its swift-moving
course. I reasoned that there was moth
Ing extraordinary in their knowing the
eminent actor. lie had long beec
a parsonage in England and had late
Is been knlghted. Their appearances
with him at the theater really dis
posed u the idea that they might be