New Britain herald., 1922-07-10
The Reason the ru,,lins Stranger
 Doubly perpleNel Madge.

Douhly PerpleNel Madge.
 That the people who had just en- tered the Easthamrton shop were im- portant, st least In the eyes of the owners and sslespeopls was very patent And it whs also clear that in the eyes Of the entering group. the foremost figure, that of the man l had recognized was one to whom all de- ference was due.
 Marion came back to me, excite. ment in her eyes
 "Oh Auntie MsdRs :" she whis- pered Do you see the stunning looking man He looks like King or something in that cloak"
 looked through the rack of drap- cries behind which l was standing st the man she had designated, and ac- knovledged the truth Of her com ment. He did indeed deserve the ad- jective so often misaprled even when used Tn connection with the men who are born to it. And every detail of his appearance was exactly the same ss it had been when upon the train stalled under the East river he had introduced himself to me. saying that he was an old associate Of my father from South America.
 Who Is He?
 The hours had been so strenuously filled since my fathers return that never had I had the time or oppor- tunity 10 tell him of that odd meeting ana the bizarre figure of the man whose appearance and actions. and slight slips of speech, had made me believe he was some one I had once known and was not the distin guished stranger he appeared 10 be.
 I summoned my memory to my aid mentally iotted down for reference the unusual height and breadth of shoulders of the man receiving the ssulation-it was the only word-of the people around him. also noted the inconeruity of his ruddy color, his frnness of flesh. his appearance of middle-aged muscular strength as contrasted with his abundant snow white hair brushed into a military pompadour, his white. carefully-curled nustaehe. and his Tandyke beard.
 He wore the same military cape topcoat as when l had first seen him. and with careful punctiliousness car ried his hat in his hand as he talked to the ultra a-tashionahle women and the pompou5 man who accompanied him. and who had every appearance of being possessed of unlimited means, but exceedingly circumscribed intelll- eerce And over his eyes were the same thick k-lensed glasses.
 I waited tenselv for the first speech from his lips And when he did speak I found that accents and infections were exactly as they had sounded in | the train Either I had been 1nis- taken. and he really was as foreign as he looked, or else he was past master of the art of keeping up his disguise.
 If you will give me the gr-great pleasure of looking at somewhat do you call them in English-oh yes, the handkerchiefs.'
 Mother Graham Comments.
 .'Of course, Don Ramon, the younger woman of the party said sushinklv You will not find any thing like your own exquisite belong inss here. But it is the best place around, In ldCl, the oll4S Pia|O' 9itiN that shop at Southampton did not have what you wished"
 "oh but those things in that other shop were poss-i-heel." He drawled the syllables fascinatingly. "Ah ,-these are much better. Will you give me two dozen?"
 He put his hand in his breast pocket brought it back empty, | laughed lightly.
 T am the most forsetful person he said T have left my bill-book Tn my room. I am sorry to have given you the trouble of showing them. The next time I come I will
 There were impassioned protests be- fore the words had left his mouth.
 Nonsense Of course shall be your banker the ponlpous man an- nounced.
 That will not be necessary the suave proprietor Of the shop said we ehall he only to glad to have Don Don
 Ramon Alrotrez," supplied the younger woman with a languishlng glance toward the picturesque figure of the foreigner.
 Don Alnirez open an account with us"
 "Ha Ha, This is very good" Don Ramon appeared vastly amused T did not expect to open an account, As YOU saw when l left your home today" He swept a courtly DO" to the two women. T shall be very glad to accept your courtesy, nodding af- fshly to the shopkeeper.
 'Is there not something else we can show you?" the proprietor asked Some shirts