The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1927-03-01


order that she may make a selec'
ton And send a couple of tailors
along to make any necessary
changes.
"What? Maybe they're not tailors:
but anyhow you send EN-. Have EN-
bring their own scissors and pins
q nd all the customary tools. This is.
rush job, but it has to be done
right
How that? Oh. bunk You call
az many automobiles as you need and
put EN- on the bill. Get these gowns
mere; that's all What? Oh! Con
slider all apologies made-in French.
Sure Merci. madame. You are
charrning-magnifq All to the
good! How's that? All right? Sur
est thing you know; we be great
friends in no time. Only get thosH
gowns here, Hortense!"
Constance had collapsed into
chair.
"E. e. she gasped, you arc the
limit
well, that's the only way to talk
to those gay Parisiennes, my dear.
bet you those gowns win be here in
half an hour. Why. that kid is
hustling EN- into the boxes now!'
kid! She's fifty if she's day,
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 a mere sound
of revelry in the Brooke mansion;
there was a pandemonium. II. Hedge
had at last given a party that OK
ceeded anything within the memory
of Constance or Billy. What it cost.
the young Brookes had not the least
idea. although the probable magni-
tude of the expense stunned and a
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 OFT
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, it seemed to
the guests of the Brookes. There
had never been such a supper. As
for flowers, the house seemed literal.
~ to be built out Of them. And, to
add the last touch of magnificence,
particularly in the eyes of II. Hedge,
Constance wore the kind of gown
that only comes once in lifetime.
1t was nearly midnight when
commotion in the front hall sent
Hedge scurrying out to investigate.
He returned in five minutes, Grin-
ming. Constance questioned him
with her eyes.
Just an old gentleman who fs
slightly out of his head" he OK.
planned "He managed to make his
way past the man at the door, and
he won't go. He seems to have an
idea he belongs here, and he became
rather noisy when they tried to eject
him."
THE poor thing" said Constance
~ IpdJiietlCdllS " nat VI" JSH
do?"
"Telephoned for the police. It's
the only right thing TO do. They'll
take care of him; probably send him
down to Bellevue for observation"
"Where Is he now?''
"A couple of men are holding him
out in the vestibule. He's making
rather embarrassing racket, Tho
funny part is, he keeps on saying no
owns the house"
Constance looked a II, Hedge, and
her eyes slowly widencd-
What does he look like. e. E.
she asked in a whisper.
"Oh, he's about medium height
with a short gray beard. He's chunk
lily built and has deep voice. with
Il funny way of making gestures
with his hands"
Constance turned white and rose
unsteadily to her feet
oh. E. E, she gasped. do you
know who that man ISL
You mean the old tad who's try.
ing TO break IMP
IT'S fatherr
Constance rushed from the room.
leaving ii. Hedge paralyzed in his
| tracks IT was far ahead of the day
set by John, w Brooke for his horne
coming He proppcd his shoulders
against the wall for a few seconds in
order to steady himself while realiza-
/ ton became complete.
! NEXT CHAPTER: John w de-
nands nm accounting.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS llIInlilIll ll