The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-08-02
The Adventure Of the Copper Beeches
ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE
with he Newspaper Syndicate.


"'No, no, not the sole, not the sole,
my dear young lady, he cried. Your
duty would be, as l am sure your
good sense would suggest, to obey any
little commands my wife might give,
provided always that they were such
commands as a lady might with pro-
priety obey. You see no difficulty
HEIR
81 should be happy to make my
self useful
"Quite so. In dress now, for ex-
ample. We are faddy people, you
know-faddy but kind-hearted. If you
were asked to wear any dress which
we might give you, you would not OBJ
ject to our little whim. Heh?'
mo said |, considerably aston
ished at his words.
Cor to sit here, or sit there, that
would not be offensive to your
"'Oh, no.
"'Or to cut your hair quite short
| before you come to us?'
| Il could hardly believe my ears. AS
you may observe, Mr.. Holmes, my
| hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of
| peculiar tint of chestnut. 1t has beer
/ considered artistic. l could not dream
of sacrificing it in this off-hant
fashion.
9 i am afraid that that is quite i'm
possible, said l. He had been watch
ing me eagerly out of his small eyes
and | could see a shadow pass ovei
his face as | spoke.
81 am afraid that it is quite es
sential,' said he. 1T is a little fame.
of my wife's and ladies fancies, yol
know, madam, ladies' fancies must b
consulted. And so you won't GU
your hair?'
No. sir, really could not I ans
wered firmly.
], All, very we'll; then that quit
settles the matter 1t is a pity, BIZ
cause in other respects you woul
, really have done very nicely In tha
: case, Miss STOPPER, l had best inspec
: a few more of your young ladies'
r The manageress had sat all thi
t while busy with her papers withor
: a word to either of US. but she glance
a at me now with SO much annoyanc
v upon her face that ! could not hel
r suspecting that she had lost a han,
some commission through my refusa
l. Do you desire your name to t
# kept upon the books she asked.
t If you please, Miss STOPPER
S "'Well, really. it seems rather US
less, since you refuse the most e
cellent offers in this fashion, said ST
sharply You can hardly expect
to exert ourselves to find another sue
opening for you. Good-day to 70
A Miss Hunter She struck a gor
4 upon the table, and was shown O
by the page.
Well. Mr.. Holmes, when | got bat
: to my lodgings and found little enous
- in the cupboard. and two or three bill
- upon the table, l began to ask myse
= whether had not done a very fooli
: thing. After all, if these people hi
strange fads. and expected obedien
"a on the most extraordinary matter
- they were at least ready to pay I
: their eccentricity. Very few govel
y esses in England are getting e100
- year. Besides, what use was my b.
- to me? Many people are improved
:, wearing it short, and perhaps / sho,
- be among the number. Next day
was inclined to think that | had ma
a mistake, and by the day after
was sure of it. | had almost ov
~ come my pride, so far as to go ba
~ ~ to the agency and inquire whett
he the place was still open, when |
ceived this letter from the gentlem
himself. l have it here, and / v
. read it to you:
The Copper Beeches,
Near Winchester
Dear Miss Hunter-Miss StoI
as has very kindly given me your addr,
nit and | write from here to ask J
nil whether you have reconsidered W
all decision. My wife is very anxious Il
you should come, for she has be
by much attracted by my description
of you. We are willing to give 6 81
I'M quarter, or f120 year, so as to
ne ompense you for any little inconve
i'm ence which our fads may cause y
They are not very axacting after
My wife is fond of a particular sh.
of electric blue, and would like you
lsh wear such dress indoors in
ar morning. You need not. however.
oil to the expense of purchasing one,
,ss- we have one belonging to my d
r., Z daughter Alice (now in philadeInb