The Fayette falcon. (Somerville, Tenn.) 190?-current, 1920-05-21

THIS girl.
Il tell you it won't do" he insIstsd.
IF either Of those women at the house
is Raymond Bashford's widow, it's the
one who calls herself FarnswOrth.
They're playing a game of some kind,
and It's no laughing matter. but II
won't take long to find out what
they're up to-"
you'll hardly go the length OF hav-
ing them arrested as imposters, Tor
rence-not without some data to work
oni"
Certainly not. You seem to be hIt-
ting 1t Off with both Of them, but / ad.
wise you to be on guard Are you sure
your uncle never sent you his wife's
photograph? That would have been a
perfectly natural thing to do"
IF I'd got photograph, should
have headed for Japan, not for
France" l laughed, but was thinking
deeply. His line Of reasoning as to the
incongruity of the marriage was not
SO different from my own that / could
sheer at his suspicious. l shrank from
telling him that ! didn't care a hang
whether the widow was fraud or not.
If the two women who had settled
themselves on the Barton estate were
imposters, they were extraordinarily
daring and clever.
We were nearing gateway where
his car waited, and l saw several OF
the guard hanging about at 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
pretty girl pull the wool over your
eyes," He lowered his voice and added
tensely: "Those women are under sus-
piclon 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 a
secret service man, you understand, or
anything Of that kind, but an impor-
tant man in the state department"
"0f course you knew nothing to
TELL" suggested.
II took a chance at lying to him
about her expected arrival. thought
1t only decent to have look at the
woman first. 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 mustacheI" /
asked, suddenly interested. Such a
person has been hanging about here,
so the boys tell me?"
"Not at all may as well tell you
1t was Raynor-you probably remem.
Der him. He's a specialist in interna.
tional law, and they took him into the
state department just after the Lusi-
tania business. He's gentleman and
a 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"
confess that / was trifle dis.
mayed by this. Raynor knew slight
ly. Professionally and socially he
stood high, and even without the pres.
tige OF his official position he was not
a chap to sneeze at; but didn't want
Terrence 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" / 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"
81 don't like the business" he de-
clared stubbornly.
Lets do nothing foolish" insisted.
IF Raynor has reason to suspect
either or both of these women. we'll
hear further from him."
"Pve 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.. l undertake
to keep them under surveillance; you
can put the whole responsibility on
me. II 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 he
left on my promise to report TO him
daily at a given hour and instantly II
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 1t. sirf" be asked hoarse-
IL, falling into step.
III you mean what do think Of
Mrs. Bashford." / replied sharply. 4
think she's quite charming and de-
llghtful and all any one could ask in
every way"