New Britain herald., 1922-07-11
The Picture the saleswoman Drew Of
 the Don's Host.


 the Don's Host.
 came reluctantly out from behind been the peremptory one which some hampton shop, where under the pre- text of examining them I had taken refuge with Junior and Marion from my mother-in-law eaptiousness in shopping, But l knew there was no possible way to safeguard the sum mons she had just given me. Were I to fail 10 answer her, she was capa- ble of bringing all business to stand still until she had found Us.
 But as I advanced toward her was miserably conscious that the eyes of the people in the front Of the store were fixed upon me in amused curi- osity. for my mother-in laws tone had been the peremtory one which some mothers invariably use toward their erring small children. And my only consolation lay in the fact that the eyes of the mysterious Don Ramon Almire2 behind their thiek-lensed glasses were carefully averted from my direction, l felt a psychic little conviction that those eyes were filled with sardonic laughter-mirth which l had seen before and would recognize could I get beneath the puzzling mask of glasses. snowy beard and mous- tache, and foreign air
 Are They Anybody"
 Where have you been?" Mother Graham demand tartly. T thought you came to help me shop"
 I choked back a smile. My mother. in-law wishes help or advice in shop ping about as much as a Turkish prince needs assistance in selecting a wife. But it is her pleasure to pre- tend that she does. and I was prop erly apologetic,
 T just stepped over to examine those draperies" l said indicating the rack behind which I had taken refuge ''They are unusually attractive"
 "Humph.' Her tone indicated that nothing in a shop far from the city could possibly have any merit. You always were tacky about curtains Look here" She beckoEed me close to her and lowered her voice to a whisper. T want you to see that tall foreigner in the front of the store they're all kowtoWing to- He's just a high-cass confidence man making a fool of them all and laughing in his sleeve. And--some way--I'm sure I've seen him before. Does he remind you of anybody"
 I was quickly vehement in my de- nial and I wondered at my own em- phasis.
 Nobody in the word" said | "But," with the swift recollection that opposition always made my mother | tn-law more determined, T dare say you're right about him. He doesn't | look quite genuine to me- l Genuine" she retorted "tEn's 6 1 genuine crook. that's all, and 50 those people will find out"
 She turned abruptly to the quiet saleswoman, who must have oyer- heard our conversation, but gave no hint of it in her perfect manner. "Who are those people 1T the front of the store ?" she demanded They are from Southampton" the 1 woman returned. The name is smythe- Hopkins"
 There was not the ghost of ar ex- pression in her monotonoIs lo~-toned i voice, but I suddenly had tl.f Smythe- , Hopkins family ticketed and showed i into third class compartment and | gave furtive, appraising look at the woman behind the counter
 She was of medium height, middle age, slender. with a not-quite- healthy ' pallor, but there was something about her features etched like cameo, her f carriage and her voice that made me think of Hawthorne's novels. That she f belonged to an old Long Island or New England family, than which there is no more inteerant tenacious aristo cracy, I was sure, So I waited with tense interest for her to speak again, But it was my mother-i who spoke.
 Spelled with a v and not e. I'll bet" she said caustically. They look like a lot of money. Are they any body?"
 What Madce Guessed
 "They are very wealthy" the color less voice behind the counter said. "But they are conn paratively new in Southampton, They have been there only since the war"
 I detected the faintest tremolo in her voice and saw the reason as | caught glimpse of a gold star in her dress.
 With a single stroke of the brush, she had given us the picture of the