Omaha daily bee., 1922-05-14

! have uothing further 10 n.y.,
She paused abruptly. Tor they bad smergsA
com the park aAA had come suddenly upoa
nrsch. Who vas standing beside the roaA
Evidently he was on his way 10 Kent housA
and had stepped out Of the road to let thsm
pAa. lie looked at than nxsdly. and -
liftsd his cap but his face was like grsnits
and his eyes like steel. Marie saw how ho
looked at the man beside her. cutting stare
that travelled over him.
Marie smiled hurriediy at Brcck. fearing
he might wonder At hsr duahsd and angry
appearance. Perhaps he had heard what she
had aaid. II was most unfortunate that shs
ioSt her temper 10 easily he might think that
she had been rude TO guest Of Kant housa.
She felt anxious and miserable.
The young man beside her studied her
dropping lips and her wsstfui expression
Then he said without trace OF his previous
fAcstiousnesa, THAT'S Breck punbarton-
Kent. poor fellow. He had q dreadful IL.
perience during the war. It's made lonely
sort Of him. What he needs II sympathy-
some one TO talk to. He's standofish, even
voth his family. but there are few men who
won't melt II woman's really kind TO them.
It's . pity about him."
Marie was 90 interested by this informar
ton that she forgot to be severe. do you
wish to stop At the farm7" she asked.
mo. thanks-just drive slowly by. I'm
thinking OF buying property out here. and
Mrs. DunbartonKent offered TO have ms
driven about I want to take . look At the
country club. too"
They passed the farm in silence. appar-
emily the man engrosscd In looking about
him and Marie thinking Of what he had told
her. She wished he would tell her moro.
but not for anything would she have asked
q single question.
q Until they reached the highroad her com
panion was silent. but when they could ~
the roof Of Colfax hall he spoke again
That's Allen Collars place." he remarked
Hes let II run down. still It's valuable
piece of property. His land runs from this
road clear through to the sound. and he
owns half tho field that's between Kent
house and the sound, too. There's been
trouble between Mrs Dunbarton-Kent and
Colfax over that feld-Colfax could build
on his part Of II or sell It 90 some one who'd
build and shut of all the view Kent house
has. Still, Aliens not such q bad sort.
though the Dunbarton Kents and society in
general are down on him. What he needs y
q sensible wife to keep him straight. A nice
girl. II she took him In hand. could do won
ders with him and with Colfax hall. The
Colfax family L. one Of the Oldest on the
north shore"
The man continued to talk. his observsnt
eyes on Marie. Its too bad Allen sold Of
that strip next to Kent house park to Mrs.
Smith. She's queer woman. They say not
q single woman out here has called on her.
but she seems to be satisfied with only her
piano for company. She's gay enough when
she's away from here. though"
This information also Marie treated with
silence. "This person is gossip" she said
to herself with firm disapproval.
As they went on he commented on tho
places that they passed. wealthy owners who
were absent for the winter. or families who
lived the year round In their north shore
houses. He talked for some time Of a Mrs.
Brant- Olwin whose imposing house was near
the country club. She had grown up in q
mining camp. he told Marie. but. because
she had immense wealth, she had worked her
way into society: she was noted for her won.
derful jewels and her lavish entertainments.
When they left the country club he told of
tho parties given there in the summer. It's
millionaire's playground! he declared
Though she looked a. expressionless as pos.
sible, Marie was interested. 1t was enter.
tanning to hear about these people. But why
should he care to tell her about them? He
looked at her too much. and paused too often
as II expecting answers. She maintained q
determined silence.
But he puzzled her most by what he said
when abe brought the car to stop at Kent
house. 1--WE enjoyed my ride immensely"
he declared and now I'm going to tell you
something, Mim Angouleme: liked best OF
all the way you sat down on my joshing.
You have plenty Of good sense, and If can
ever be Of any assistance to you just let me
know. This II my card My name is Walter
J. Greene, and can always be reached at
nm. hl~~ <lv>sv ,rv@A
the corner for almost everybody and, in case
you run up against It, please remember you
have friend in me and make use Of me-"
Marie looked at the card. 1T Il most
kind" she said reservedly.
And shake hands?" he asked
with pleasure. mondeur." she returned
politely.
Her unsmiling aspect did not seem to lessen
his cordiality: he gave her hand close clasp
and lifted his hat Z second time when sho
drove OF to the garage. Az she circled to
tho back Of the house she saw him still
standing in the porte cochere. looking after
her.
Maries cheeks grew hot. II did not
think him two face, talking and acting
for purpose, should call him an imbecile! !"
she said to herself with decision. Then she
sighed. Each person meet hero IL moro
strange than the last-I do not understand
It"
In the days that followed Marie sighed
often to herself. She did her best, but things
were not at all a. they should be. She was
certain that Mr.. Walter J. Greene had COM
planned of her, for tho next time she saw
Mrs. Dunbarton-Kent she behaved SO
strangely. Marie drove her about every day.
but Mrs. Dunbarton-Kent would not talk
to her and she gave her orders curtly.
When the garage supplies arrived Marie
asked her what disposition she should mako
Of them, and she answered impatiently: !"
don't want to be bothered about the garage
Angoulema. Brsck will look after tho ga
rage. He'll give you my orders and you
can report to him, 30 don't come to me
about anything have too many other
things to attend to-" Then she relapsed
into grim silence.
So Breck appeared in the garage and In
spected the cars. Marie explained the short
age Of tires and tools and showed him the
supplies she had unpacked. Hoping for =
word Of praise, she told him: :" The condi-
ton within these cars was abomnable. but
now every inch Is clean-as you see.'
Breck looked. but said nothing. Without
. word he carried the useless tires into the
storeroom and helped Marie put tho new