The Fayette falcon. (Somerville, Tenn.) 190?-current, 1920-04-30

ed OF the weather to cover Antoine's
retreat. i resolved not to tell him
the real cause OF the servants appre-
tensions knowing his disposition to
magnify trifes and fearing he might
send the police to investigate. He
lived only five miles from Barton, a
fact to which he now referred.
Hadn't heard Of any tramps over
my way he said frownlng. "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 un-
soundneSs."
"0k, chuck III 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, but
my last remark caused him TO sit up
straight in his chair.
by George! my hold-up almost
made me forget what l came for. l
have news for you. Singleton; good
or bad, as you may take 1t; Mrs.
Bashford is in America.
"Mrs. Bashford," | repeated family,
where do you get these pleasant
tidingsr
This" he answered producing a
telegram SIS all l know about It,"
He seemed to sense my discontinue
The message read:
"Pittsfield, Mass, Sept. 90
~. B. Terrence,
'Bainbridge Trust Co., New York.
LANDED at Seattle a week ago
and have been motoring east fron
Chicago to see the country. VIII
reach Barton in four or five days,
Please wire me at the Washington
inn, Lenox, whether house Is in order
for occupancy.
"Alice Bashford."
swell, what do you say to thatf" he
demanded.
II say it's taking unfair advantage"
I answered savagely. "Pve got ia
clear out; that's the first thing"
mot necessarily Your right to the
garage Is settled; she couldn't GUST
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"
"I'm 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
1--WE 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 husbandt
only nephew"
you really don't mean that?" he
inquired anxiously.
"0h, thunder, mol"
had forgotten how trying Terrence
could be. He now suggested that we
summon Antoine and take 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. II was highly creditable to
the old Tyringham servants that the
house was thoroughly habitabie.
AS we were on our way downstairs
the old fellow detained me a moment.
Have you told him about the
partiesT'
/ 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. shat
when she comes you have flowers in
all the rooms; the conservatory will
supply enough. And II occurs to me
that the more inconspicuous you
make this bunch of lazy dependents
the more agreeable II win be for Mrs.
Bashford."
"You don't expect much Of mel II
was never In the contract that l
should become the patriarch Of these
venerable relics. But I'll warn them
10 conceal themselves as much as pos
sible. l fully expect to leave the
reservation for good Just one hour
after the sdy arrives"
that's your affair. Of course. As
she's motoring. we can't just time her
arrival. but when I get q wire that
she's on the way III telephone you.
And, of course. after she gets here
I'll come at once to pay my respects"
You can't come too soonl-
answered spitefully.
n