Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-08-14
INSTALLMENT Nj.
Two Friends at the Inn.

and a peculiar sense Of excitement hao
taken IFS place. He was so little glver
n self-snalvsis that he easily evadeC
embarrassing introSpection. He ever
allowed himself 10 revlSuallze Lazy
Blanche in her close fitting gray fell
hat with the green quill, her gray GOA
and skirt, the charm Of her SLOW
xoeech. the provocativeneSS Of heI
smile. which from its faint touch 81
klir,erciliouSneSS had once angered nm
To Iaurita he scarcely gave thought
EXCEPT to wonder Of what nauonaIltY
she might be. There was a book, ne
remembered vaguely which told one
such things. He must consult II as
soon as he got back 70 London.
The Ardringtou Arms. which was
easily found was a small Inn O! AZ
tractive appearance. Martin drove MS
car into the ward and presently made
his way into the sitting room leading
out of the bar. an apartment Whlcn
seemed TO do duty both as coffee room
Sn6 lounge. Upon the threshold ne
ktonped short Two men we're there.
seated side by side. apparently deep IN
q conversation. which, for some rea-
son or other. they we're carrying on in
an undertone. although they were the
sole occupants OF the place. Both
looked up at his entrance and the
recognition at once became mutual, 1t
struck Martin during those first few
seconds that his own chilled dismay
at their presence was reflected in their
nnalevolent glance cast upon him by
the taller OF the two men.
Our benefactor!" the latter re-
marked with 3 faint sheer. The res
cuer of pedestrians in distress
They looked at him with scant
friendliness They had almost the air
Of conspirators whose solitude had
been broken in upon. The shorter OF
the two. 1ovever-the man with the
smooth, round cheeks and light-col-
cred eyes-did his best TO summon his
oishgiring smile.
We had cause 10 be greatly obliged
u YOU Yesterday. sir he acknowledged
Il was very glad TO be of service"
Martin said. II could scarcely leave
you there sitting by the roadside
There was a somewhat awkward
pause. A asant-looking. elderly
woman appeared behind the bar 10
whom Martin turned with some relief.
He ordered q glass OF sherry and
some lunch to follow presently. The
two men, silent now. listened coyerty
to his conversation with the landlady.
Presently Martin lit cigarette and
took q chair IN their vicinity.
Il wanted to have a look at Ard
Yington Hall" he remarked. 1T seems
rather a quaint idea TO keep it locked
up as though il were a prison"
The woman who q moment before,
had been loouacious enough, was sud-
denly reticent.
His lordship has his reasons" she
conf7ded. and good ones they may be. "
The taller and darker of the two
men ct1irled in. His voice was smooth,
almost silky in quality. but utterly de-
void Of expression. He gave one the
Idea of a marionette speaking with the
aid Of some wonderful machinery.
1T is surely very unlike the English
sristocracy." he said, TO be so churl-
fsh. Back and front the place is
guarded as though 1t were royal
residence Is Lord Ardrington eccen-
tric?"
We've all been his tenants for many
years the woman replied. and we
haven't found him 50. A great gentle
man like him has right TO keep him.
self to himself IL he chooses. It's no
business Of strangers as / can see,
she added. with a stealthy glance, al
most Of disfavor. al the two visitors.
Gene. GOMEZ" the shorter man re-
rnongrated. No offenSe meant-not
even criticism We've always under
stood that the house was full OF treas
ures and being IN the neighOOrhood. 1t
seemed natural TO expect that. say. on
one day a week strangers might be al
snitted TO see them. My friend and /
are very interested n objects G art and
pictures, are We not. Victor?"
We are, indeed his friend s4sentsd
gently. we are disappo.ntec-indeeo,
ve are very greatly disappointed. And
now there's our young friend mere N
There's no call as I can see the
woman declared, ito open your house
TO strangers Just because you have
fine show Of pictures ard such IKE.
There's some as does IL and some Is
doesn't It's well 70 be understood that
his Iordship, having been nigh N
death. isn't wanting 70 rave strangers
frapesing about the place. II you gen
tIernen will go through that door. she
added. pointing. you viii find luncheon
upon the table. You might ha}e
rrsnred in on a day when we had q
hot Joint. but fridays mostly al IN
usual day for cooking There's a good
piece Of cold beef. though, and the
salads fresh from the garden. II
there's anything you might be wanting
20 drink, you've only 70 say the WORD
The two strangers rose 10 their feet
with some apparent reluctance. They
fingered looking out through the inI
window u where, across the lane, ms
huge. bulk Of the great house turned
almost an insOlent back 10 travellers
q mass Of gray stone, yelioweo little
with age, Sna peiess, yet imposing, Il
from It's size alone
These English country houses" thf
taller and darker man observed, "nolc
beyond a doubt q great collection o.
treasures Fancy, Solomon, there ar
no Jess than four Van Dykes and tyr
Corots behind those walls, which w
may not SEE %
What there may be there is nom
Of cur affairs" the woman interVenec
almost curly II you gentlemen VII
and change the plates when your
ready"
Sne disappeared closing the door
The man u whom she he'd been talkini
shrugged his shoulders IS he folloTe'
his companion and Martin ard tool
his place a. The table.
'"rhese relics Of feudal devotion h
ynurmured, ARE one NJ the most inter
eating features of English country lie.
The taller, saturnine~ looking ma
took the seat at the end III the tabl
end politely inquired aS 70 Martin
y1referenceg ~ ne carved. He areme
10 nave become more resigned 70 hi
presence.
Chance having brought us t0gethe
again. sir he said you VII peThaI
allow me 70 introduce myself ano m
friend My name is PoFic-EcI
Porle-and my friends name IL Solo
mon Craunt
Mine is Barnes" Martin confdeo
MARTIN Barnes.
nv friend and l." Mr. Victor Por
continued. have spent many yea
abroad. I started life IN England, nov
ever. Is = private tutor / vas tutor
eeyeral men who have since become al
tinguished subsequently necanls
scl9oojrnssfsr Then alas the love
fvsgel caught me In its grip. We ta'
been In strange counties together, So