Evening star., 1921-02-20
An Entry From Topsfield

T was the last thing I'd ever rH-
/ pect to have sprung on M. TOO
But then. with Sadie traliin
around wiki these smart settlers
I mover know what's going to be slip
PEI, over on iii" next. Course, V"
heard her and Ms. Purdy-Pell buzzin
$50 excited over gettin' this grand
opera star dated UP Weekend visit
TO the Purdy-Pell country house. but
l hadn't worked up any thrill over
it myself Hardly. | was countin o."
duckin' the whole show and probably
eatin' solo dinner At home the night
of the big arrival Couldn't see where
I'd figure in an affair of that kind
Could you?
And then here 81 urday afternoon
as slips home quiet by the side dooi
/ hears this lively phone debate beng
carried on by Sadie.
Now isn't that too bad" shes say
In. Certainly he shouldn't meet her
under those circumstances. lie musn
expose himself. for one thing: and
opera singers have to he about their
throats She might think il was
catching. Pinckney will go. though:
1 suppose? Why. how stupid of him.
Never on hahd Wnth ne > re"4i! "'o"
ed. Then we'll just have to send
shorty, To be sure he will. He'll be
delighted All right. Have the car
pick him up here about 6:l3. Oh ne II
be ready | shall see to that. And
she hangs up just as nj hiaNlns
sleuthy exit upstairs
"Oh. there You are now. says she
But l verX nearly wasn't. says !.
"Say, what's all this you've got
framed up for me
Why. nothing at all shorty, says
She givin' me one Of her QulZZln
smiles that she always uses when she
wants to bring me to the mark. fhat
is. you are merely to drive down TO
the 6:22 and meet, Madam Beuiah n
Shane"
why pick on me-"
At which she explains how Purdy-
Pell has a touch of ionsiiitis. and
Pinckney can'tsbe located Besides. !
adds Sadie. patuh. me on the shoul-
der sooshin'' "yer would do it so we'i'
Huh saws Where do you ge;
that stuff? What do l know about
handlin' these fancy song birds? Why.
/ don't even know the lady by sight,
and if she don't know me how. the
blue blazes am to
But surely. shorty" goes on Sadie.
'you couldn't mistake such a promi-
nent parsonage as Madam Beuiah
sand pictures of her. And then, know
ing almost every one who is liable to
get off at our station. it would be SO
easy to pick her out. She's large and
distinguished looking. you know.
Why. most men would jump at such
an honor. Just think. you will have
the pleasure or talking to her all the
way up"
about Choo-pang and Pew-cheney.
eh.- ! asks. Say. amt she the one
that's had four hubhies? Suppose she
starts vampin' zme?"
Well you see how trustful 7 am"
says Sadie. Now run along and get
into your evening clothes. I'll put in
the studs and cuff links.
So we struck the usual compromise.
went.
And when the late commuters ex
press pulled into Rock hurst station
I was standing at the door of the
Purdy-Pells' rollin' bcudoir stretchin
a watchful eye. l was -tryin' to re-
member, too, some of the PICTURES I'd
seen of this Madame Shane but about
the only one / could think of was
four-shee in front of the Metropoli-
tan which showed her in white
~i~btie effect with belt of rubes
- iped around her waist and gilt
own on her head. 1t wasn't likely
though. she'd use that as a travelin
costume.
Not until nearly the whole Rock
hurst delegation had streamed past
did I spot this high-chested party in
the fur-trimmed wrap and the smash
ing bid lid with all the plumes on it
The brakeman has just helped her
out and set her black leather suit