Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1927-01-08

| order that she may make cc.cc-
ton. And send a couple of tailor3
along to make any necessary
changes.
what? Maybe they're not tailors;
but anyhow you send EN-, Fave en-
bring their own scissors and Rms
and all the customary tools. This IS
rush job. but it has to be dore.
right.
"How's that? Oh, bunk, You call
as many automobiles as you need and
put 'em on the bill. Get these gowns
here: that's all. What? Oh! Con
slider all apologies made-in French.
Sure. Merci, madame. You are
neutrality-suspicious.! All to the
good! How's that? All right? Sur.
est thing you know; we be great
friends in no time. Only get those
gowns here, Hortense"
Constance had collapsed into
chair.
&c. E." she gasped, you are the
limit"
well, that's the only way to talk
to those gay Parisiennes, my dear. l
bet you those gowns will be here in:
half an hour. Why, that kid ia
hustling 'em into the boxes now"'
kid! She's fifty II shes q Gay.
and she's fat"
Never mind. She's human She's
so curious to see what talked to her
that she's bringing the gowns up
herself
There was more than mere sound
of revelry in the Brooke mansion:
there was a pandemonium. H. Hedge
had at last given party that cX'
ceeded anything within the memory
Of Constance or Billy. What II cost.
the young Brookes had not the least
idea, although the probable magni.
tude Of the expense stunned and n
little startled Constance.
AS for Hedge, he had no more no.
ton Of the cost than they. and did
not care. Perhaps he had wiped out
all the savings effected by scientific
management; he rather hoped he
had. He was certain he would never
exactly know, because the records OF
his administration were in ashes.
There had never been so much and
such beautiful music, 1t seemed to
the guests of the Brookes. There
had never been such supper. AS
for flowers. the house seemed literal.j
ly to be built out Of themS And. TOW
add the last touch Of magnificence,
particularly in the eyes Of H. Hedge.
Constance wore the kind Of gown
that only comes once in lifetime.
It was nearly midnight when
commotion In the front hall sent
Hedge scurrying out to investigate.
He returned In Ave minutes, grin.
ming. Constance questioned him
with her eyes.
"Just an old gentleman who is
slightly out Of his head" he ex.
planned. HE managed to make his
way past the man at the door, and
he won't 60. He seems to have an
Idea he belongs here. and he becnme.
rather noisy when they tried to eject
him."
THE poor thins!" said Constance
sympAtheticaliy. "What did you
do?"n
'Telephoned for the police. It's
tie only right thing to do. They'll
take care of him: probably send him
down to Bellevue for observation" y
"Whera IA he now?"
"A couple Of men are holding him
out in the vestibule. He's making a
rather embarrassing racket. The
funny part Is. he keeps on saying he
owns the house." a {
Constance looked at II. Hedge. and
her eyes slowly widened. ~
What does he look like. e. E. Z
she asked in a whisper. A. go 81
"Oh, he's about medium height1 /
with a short gray beard. He's chunk
lily built and has a deep voice. With
a funny way Of making gestures
with his hands" = IL
Constance turned white and rossi
unsteadily to her feet.
"oh. e. E." she gasped. do you
know who that man Isl" e-a {
You mean the old tad who's tryl
ing to break inT; s4as~p.Ss.ss.r.-sas,a4
"It's fatherw To- ''a''3
Constance rushed from the room.l
leaving H. Hedge paralyzed In his,
tracks. It was far shead OF the day
set by John W. Brooke for his horne
coming. He propped his shoulders
against the wall for few seconds n
order to steady himself while realt,a.l
ton became complete g, %. .ss..s,sys
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