Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1929-09-26

her mount, then vaulted into the sad
die and followed through the woods.
".
But next morning brought its change.
She had arisen late from a restless bed;
dressing carefully for her ride up the
bride path, she saw herself in her
glass and asked if this could be the
woman who had come to Lady Lake
SIX weeks ago.
Finally, in her habit. she vas out on
the veranda. A groom was leading up
her horse when q very old negro left
a rickety blackboard at a respectful
distance. He was the man who had
served their luncheon under the trees
at Castle Glen. Good mawnin', Mis-
Whitman" He was bowling his ton
sure of white wool and holding out
an envelope. de baron, he done tole
me-"
Before she could open it the old man
was limping back to his rig. The yell
lowiSh, slightly soiled paper bore a
fine crest whit a Russian motto. my
dear"-in the penmanship she could
hear Igor t~alking-"that man with the
real estate must see me. / shall go
to him overnight. and when l come
back l think I can say something Won
derful. This is a hurry, but I am re-
Numbering you"
At first blush it hurt her to think
that he had taken this move with
out consulting her. yesterday they had
been like partners; today he had with
drawn again into his mystery.
For hours she followed bride paths,
up hill and down. At last, by the
familiar slant of oaks and the turns
of a brook, she felt her nearness to
Castle Glen.
The bride path took her up among
thick shrubs back of the cabins. She
could hear a wOman'S tittering laugh,
and a mans deep belling baSso. Seated
high, Joan could peer through a little
hole in the shrubbery. Beside Igor's
cabin a table was spread where she
had lunched with him yesterday; a
huge man with a black beard was pass
ing a bottle to Igor, who was hand
somely dressed in a suit of gray fan
nels. A little man with a blond goatee
sat slipping, and a young woman with
yellow hair and narrow eyes leaned
forward as M listening carefully to
secret talk.
Joan turned her horses head uphill.
She wa no spy. but what was this?
Igor had taken such pains to inform
her of his absence, yet there he sat, be-
side his WI door, drinking and plot
ting. With Russians. undoubtedly. And
one of them a Then, later,
locked in her room, lunch forgotten,
she came to a Enthusiastically reasonable
conclusion. She thought of the Grand
Duchess Anastasia, lurking in America
with a claim on the Russian throne.
Miss Henrietta Wiley, always probing,
had once limited to Igor as a dis
guised cOnSpiratOr. And why not? This
theory placed him still higher in her
regard. A martyr to his caste, he had
turned upon his tOrmentors.
Next morning Joan neglected her
horse and loafed On the veranda, pre-
tending to read. AS it neared noon
the creaky blackboard drove up, and
beside the old negro sat Igor in his
new gray flannels. When he came up
to her with his adoring smile she for
got everything but her desire to pour
her life blood at his feet.
Il must get the twelve-six for New
York." he began, breathlessly. But l
thought to stop and tell you my luck.
/ have seen that business man and got
a surprise, he WaS so cheap" Growing
with delight, like a boy who has spun
a new top.
I'm SO glad" said Joan. and hoped
her voice didn't sound dead. What
will he sell it for?" Bluntly.
ut is complicated to tell. And 1
must catch that train. He is in a lum-
Der business, this man, SO he also
makes contracts. He will build all those
houses over, bring back gardens, walks,
everything-also two hundred acres Of
land. Fifty thousand dollars.
But, Igor, you haven't GOT
"Jawn, there I surprise you. This
real estate man will take twenty thou
sand dollars first payment. He only
must have it Thursday because this
hotel wants also to buy that property.
But I know how to get that money.
at New York and a rich Russian friend
promises to take it over"
THE n who came to see you yes
terday?" involuntarily.
How do you know that?" He turned
slowly toward her. and she guessed
again at an imperialiStic plot.
Il went by your cottage yesterday.
I thought you we're awav. I saw friends
there, SO T didn't come in"
"It was just as we'll" His brow
clouded. Then, lowering his voice:
please do not speak of that to any
body. We Russians have many things
to arrange. But this man is very rich,
and to give me money for my valu-
ables in storage will be nothing"
"Igor!" she broke in. Don't sacri-
flee your beautiful things. You don't
need to go to New York. I've more
money than I know what to do with.
Igor, T want to be in on your PLAN
"Jawn, you are so sweet" Sudden
ly he kissed her hand. "But I must
love you not because you pay me-
Then, leaping to his feet, my Scott!
See how late that clock says. The
train is getting restless. When I come
back Thursday we shall own that
Castle Glen. You see." A pause.
"Then I shall be brave and ask vou.'
He hurried across the lawn toward
the station; for days she did not see
him again. Dear idealist! That was
how she thought of him all the time.
Wednesday morning brought a
vaguely disturbing telegram:
FIXED everything with Bee ask
your blessing. Stop. What's the
big idea, Question. Don't do any,
thing till you see me. Coming
down Saturday. Much love. John
ME-"
Again it was like Johnnie, and like