The Bolivar County Democrat., 1920-05-01

udrlnS anu clever.
We were nearing a gateway where
his car waited, and l saw several Of
the guard hanging about at a discreet
distance. Look here, Singleton" he
said angrily, "you don't seem to take
this business very seriously. You don't
want to make the mistake of letting>a
pretty girl pull the wool over your
eyes, He lowered his voice and added
tensely: "Those women are under sus-
picion of something more serious than
an attempt to rob an estate An agent
of the state department called on me
yesterday and asked embarrassing.
questions about Mrs. Bashford. Not
secret service man, you understand, or
anything Of that kind, but an inpor-
tant man in the state department"
"Of course you knew nothing to
tell" 1 suggested.
Il took a chance at lying to him
about her expected arrival l thought
it only decent to have a look at the
woman firs.. He told me nothing ex-
cept that the British embassy had
made inquiries and that the matter
was delicate and must be handled
carefully"
WAS this inquirer lame-a small
dark man with black mustache?" I
asked, suddenly interested. "Suoh
person has been hanging about here,
so the boys tell me?"
"Not at all! may as we'll tell you
1t was Raynor-you probably remem-
ber him. He's specialist in interna-
state department just after the Lusi-
tania business. He's a gentleman and
good fellow-Pve played golf with
him a good deal-and hated to lie to
him, but thought I'd see this woman
before telling him she had reached
America"
I confess that I was trif1e dis
mayed by this. Raynor knew slight
ly. Professionally and socially hs
stood high, and even without the pres
tige Of his official position he was not
chap to sneeze at; but didn't want
florence to know had any doubts as
to the perfect authenticity Of my un-
cle's widow.
"Oh, every transcontinental pilgrim
is probably scrutinized closely these
days." l remarked carelessly. 'Mrs.
Bashford has lost brother in the
war, and l haven't heard anyone talk
more bitterly against Germany. And
her companion certainly has no illu-
sions about the kaiser"
II don't like the business" he de-
clared stubbornly.
Lets do nothing foolish" I insisted
"If Raynor has reason to suspect
either or both Of these women, we'u
hear further from him."
"Tve put myself in hole" he said.
angrily. "Of course I've got to advise
him Immediately that Mrs. Bashford
is here"
"Just wait few. days; I undertake
to keep them under surveillance; you
can put the whole responsibility on
me. If they attempt to leave, I'll warn
you and Raynor instantly, but they
have settled themselves as though
they expected to spend the rest Of
their lives here"
told him of Mrs. Bashford's adven.
lures in reaching the house without
convincing him that there was any,
thing funny in her experiences, and hc
left on my promise to report to him
daily at a given hour and instantly If
anything unusual occurred. was on
my way back through the grounds
when Antoine arrested me.
pardon me, but I'd like to ask what
YOU think of it, sir?" he asked hoarse-
ly, falling into step.
sIf you mean what do I think Of
Mrs. Bashford," i replied sharply. Il
think she's quite charming and de-
lightful and all any one could ask in
every way"