Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1920-04-29


worked in the linen-room at the
Tyringham! This had caused some
trouble, and there 10 a pantry girl,
Gretchen, who was III for a long time
before the master left, and he sent
her here for the country air. She Is
a little devil with her dear Father
land"
laughed at the old fellows graV.
ity and earnestness. That the war
should be making itself felt on the
quiet acres at Barton-on-the-Sound
was absurd
l was bordering the recrudescence
of race hatreds due to the upheavaI
in Europe when he startled me by q
statement uttered close to my ear:
''There have been inquiries for the
widow; these have caused me much
anxiety. It seems that there are per-
sons anxious to see her. There have
been inquiries, One-twO-three
times"
Probably some Of her American
friends anxious to pay their respects,
or some Of the neighbors making calls
of courtesy" l suggested.
"A foreign gentleman who acts very
queerly," Antoine persisted.
My uncle's widow was q vague, I'M.
known being whom l had never ex-
pected to cross my horizons. If she
meditated a descent upon Barton-On-
the-Sound, the trust company would
certainly have had some hint of her
approach, but Terrence clearly had
had no tidings of her beyond her last
communication from Bangkok. Still,
1t was wholly possible that globe
trotting widow would have friends I'M
many parts of the world, and l could
see nothing disturbing in the fact that
inquiries had been made for her.
said as much. Antoine's answer was
another shrug and jerk Of his head
toward Flynn, as though even the en-
ployment of an alien tongue might not
conceal our conversation from the big
Irishman. When we had reached the
farm and were running through the
grounds Antoine spoke again.
"We thought we would put you
up at the house, Mr.. Singleton, and
not in the garage" he said inquir-
ingly.
"NOt at all, Antoine" I answered
quickly. "We must stick close to the
law In such matters"
"Very good, sir. Stop at the garage,
Flynn"
To the casual observer the garage
was charming twO-story house fol-
lowing the general lines Of the plaster
and timber residence, from which 1t
was separated by strip Of woodland
and a formal garden. The garage
and quarters for the chauffeur were
at one end and at the other were a
downstairs living-room, with a broad
fireplace, and three chambers above
so planned as to afford a charming
view Of the Sound, whose shore curved
In deeply at this point. On the
chaufreur's side was a small kitchen
from which l had been served with
my meals when I lodged there.
"The house is In order. You Will
have your meals at the residence,
suppose, sir" Antoine suggested.
debated this moment and when
he limited that dinner could be more
conveniently served there than in my
own quarters. 1 said that for the
present the Flynns might give me
breakfast and luncheon at the garage,
but that l would dine at the house.
1t was FIVE o'clock when reached
the garage, and Antoine left me after
opening my bags, with the suggestion
that l could summon Zimmerman,
former valet Of the birmingham, for
any service l might require. i knew
Zimmerman very well and said
would call him when occasion re-
quired.
"He is Of that race" said Antoine
plaintively in the French which now
seemed to come readily enough to his
lips.
"Race? Botheration! You mustn't
trouble yourself about race questions
out here, Antoine. Zimmerman is a
good old chap, who's probably for
gotten the very name Of the German
town he was born In"
'They do not forget" Antoine re-
piled with emphasis. "There has
been much dlscussion-much-"
Forget it, Antoine! supposed
you were all living here like happy
family. Please tell them at the
residence that I'll dine at seven"
"Very good, sir" he said in his
pompOus manner, but l saw that he
was miffed by my Indifference.
Flynn, having disposed Of the car,
came to ask If there was anything
he could do for me.
'Tony's against the wife and me-"
he said mournfully. "It's the war,
sorr, and she and me that lie, SORT,
the American flag floats from the
garage every day. And If heart can
be lille, Elsie's as true to America as