The Connecticut labor press., 1920-04-24
CHAPTER I-Continued.

As I went about my unpacking ]
was sorry that 1 had discouraged
Antoine's condolences. That these
old hotel servants, flung upon farm
with little to do, should fall to quar-
reling was not surprising, but what he
had said as t. the inquiries for Mrs.
Bashford had reused my curiosity.
In spite Of NY legal right to live on
the farm. 1 had no intention of re-
naming if my uncle's widow turned
up. She could hardly fail to regard
me as an intrutling poor relation, no
matfer how strictly I kept to my own
quarters.
I 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 caught
sight of a man sitting dejectedly on
a stone bench near fountain whose
Jet tossed and caught a ball with
languid iteration. I had identified
him as an old birmingham bell-hop.
known Familiarity as Dutch, before he
heard my step and sprang to his feet,
grabbing q pitchfork whose prongs
he presented threateningly.
"Oh. it's you, SIR" he faltered,
cropping the implement Excuse
me, sir"
whats your trouble, Dutch ?
You're not expecting burglars, are
your"
"Well. no, SIR but things on the
place amt what they wuz. It's my
name, which amt my name, not
regular, 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,
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-
ingly. "What is your name, anyhow"
Augustus Schortemeier, and 1 say
1t amt no worse'n Longfellow," he
protested.
The point was delicate and not one
that felt myself qualified to discuss.
I Eade him cheer up and passed on.
AS reached the house 1 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
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 a dozen of them, and the
captain I recognized as Scotty, a
hop who had long worn the birmingham
livery. 1 waved my hand to them
and turned to find Antoine awaiting
me at the Coor.
"It's the troops. SIR" he explained.
Elsie-she's tie wife of that Flynn
In proper order, sir"
Troops" was large term for the
awkward squad of retired walters
and bell-hops. and it was with diff
Guilty that l Kept my face straight.
"It's most unfortunate. but we was
forced to 1t. Dinner is served. sir"
From rhe dining table in the long
iining-room I caught glimpses through
the gathering dusk of Scotty's battal-
Ion at its evolutions.
"Antoiner" I said sharply, what
TO 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. SpeciA-
cally. who are the persons who've
asked for ler?
'TM res the party told you about,
most pc rsistent. who's motored here
-hree tines, and another person who
aeems to he 10 king for him, sir. It's
'Hst singular"
s~'s Eipgu!srly ridiculous; that's