Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1920-04-29
CHAPTER III.
A Fam.

A Fan.
The morning mail brought q letter
| from Searles acknowledging my con-
CALCULATIONS on his play. While my
enthusiastic praise pleased him, he
was very scornful of my suggestions.
seeming even more depressed than
when he talked to me.
TITS impossible for me to plan other
work. Lady Larkspur' ate the soul
out Of me. I'm done; finished, clean
out of the running. There's only this
to report. l had letter from Dalton
saying that some time ago he asked at
! the hotel where he sent the script of
Lady Larkspur' to know whether Miss
Dewing had sent forwarding ad-
dress. Her accumulated mail. had
| been called for by some one whose
| identity was not disclosed. OF course
this isn't much to hang rope on, but
If that play is what think it is and
Miss Violet Dewing ever reads it she's
going to jump for the telegraph Office
the moment she finishes the last act.
I have no plans for returning East;
the folks at home let me do as
please. and it's relief to be in seclu-
| sion where l hear nothing of the do
ings of Broadway. l hope your an
cient globe-trotting aunt still fingers
in the far East! Keep the ink flow
ing, son. That novel ought to be well
under way when get back"
The tale had begun seemed utter
| trash in comparison with the story of
Alice Bashford lin which, much
against my will. had become minor
character. l had rather prided myself
on my ability to see through plot in
the first chapter of the most conpli-
Gated mystery story, but there were
points in this unwritten tale that
baffied me.
l kept away from the house until
dinner-time, when was received quite
as an old friend by Alice and Mrs.
Farnsworth. The table talk was of
Celtic poetry, and proved less disturb
ing to Antoine than the previous
| nights discussion of ghosts.
Their day had been spent, they ex.
planned, in further examination of
|
taken long walk beyond the estates
boundaries and were enthusiastic
about the landscape.
| Its so beautifully peaceful all
about here" Alice murmured. II feel
| that l never want to move again.
That's real tribute to America"
| Mrs. Farnsworth remarked; "for Alice
| Cho TIL
tied taste for travel from her father.
who put some new places on the maps.
you know"
| didn't know and l wanted to ask
questions about Alice's father. but as
though anxious to Illustrate such in
| quii'ies my aunt asked how close we
were to the place made famous by Is
the British. She had read the story
and would motor to the scene. she de-
clared. 1t was quite clear that there
were chapters in her life that were not
to be opened for my perusal. No
sooner had l caught glimpse of
promising page than the book was po-
litely closed. !. curtain hung between
! INC iuAAASuldlc pISSSul " DuIlOu-Ou-
the-Sound and other scenes and Incl
dents of the girls life: and Mrs.
Farnsworth was equally detached from
any tangible background. 1t seemed
that l might meet them daily for the
rest Of my life in this same friendly
fashion without adding particle to
my knowledge of them.
became alert Immediately when. as
we rose from the table, Alice SAID, with
the air of asking an unimportant ia
vor:
I'VE were speaking last night of
man who has been asking for us here.
His visits have alarmed the servants,
but there Is nothing to fear from him.
You know''-she smiled at Mrs. Farms
worth-'it's rather he who seems to
fear us; that, at least, is our impress
sion. though we have no idea why he
should do SO. Still, it's rather good
fun to find yourself an object of spe-
cial attention and to be followed, even
pursued. We've even led him on q lit
tie, haven't we. Constance?"
1 Mrs. Farnsw0rth laughingly admit
ted that they had led the gentleman
on trifle, "but with all circumspec-
tion," she protested.
I'VE met him here and there in
Tokyo, and later were surprised to
find him crossing on our steamer. We
threw him of in the Canadian Rockies,
where we stopped for a day, and elud-
! ed him In Chicago, where he was evil
IDENTITY lying In wait for u.s."