The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1929-06-07
w. N. U. Service
Copyright by wyndham Martyr
CHAPTER IX--Centinued
W. N. U. Service

HuSDdHU was WaIkluS Will tTOlcSSOT
Burton, whose son was trying to inn
press Celia with the idea that col
iege boy, at twenty. stands on an
intellectual eminence not easily COM
prebensible to others. Professor Bur-
ton held chair in philosophy, but 1t
was with living things that his leis-
ure was occupied. Mrs. Burton an6
Mrs. Handy were cousins.
"No," said the professor, 1--WE long
ago given up the coleoptera in favor
of something more fascinating. I
started by way Of the reptiles. and
came logically to the BIRDS"
''Logically?" said Handy. Il don't
see that, but then I'm ignorant in these
matters. If you're interested in birds,
you've come to the right spot, Tom.
I've got about the best bird sanctu-
ary 10 the state"
On his way to it Handy poured
into Professor Burt0n's ears some of
the wisdom that had come to him
over the wire from the unknown mil
liOnaire ornithologist. Hanby's men,
Org was good. and he forgot nothing.
"You flatter me-" said the other.
when he finished. "YOu have quoted
almost verbatim from my article pub
lished in the May number of Popular
Natural History"
$50 that's where he got it from :"
Handy commented, trife ruffled.
II thought the old faker was giving
me something from his own published
dope"
Handy related the incident. Pro-
fessOr Burton shook his head.
"Yon must have made mistake
In the name. Remember. Hill, this is
my pet hobby, and know every writ
er on our birds. Fin president of my
State archaeological association, and
corresponding member of q score Of
others. I'm In touch with every
--Urnfti m mis- c0uptrs. but 4
have never heard of your million
aire. He is neither contributor to
the literature of the subject nor q
donor of funds for bird conservation.
Some of your friends have been play
ing a joke on you"
Half an hour later the professor
had changed his clothes to khaki and
puttees. He was armed with sketch
books, notebooks, and costly cam.
resented it. Every now and then it
could be seen that he despised the
amateur ornithologist. His luncheon
had been put up for him. and he
promised to be in time to dress for
dinner.
He was glad, as ne fought his way
along. that he was armed with leath-
err gauntlets and stout clothes. Ma
ture had placed about this little
sanctuary seemingly impenetrable
barrier.
He had begun to despair of reach,
Ing the distant mound when he saw
that this solid hedge came to an
end. He stepped from it to path
worn by the foot of mana path
three feet across. bearing the impress
of recent treading.
Professor Burton set out to follow
the path to its end. Presently 1t
brought him to stream, sunk at
least ten feet below the surrounding
Iround. 1t was this stream. he sup
posed. which had been diverted In
order that the twenty-acre lake half
a mile away might be fed
He resumed his silent walk along
the path. The acrid smell of a cigar
smote his nose. He knew the nOisOme
long and narrow cigars which only
native Indians enjoy. Then the odor
was waited from him. and he found
his path dropping toward the stream
level.
The professor stopped. lie had sud-
denly encountered stranger.
1t would be difficult to say which
of the two seemed the more amazed
but proportional man dressed
with conservative elegance. The
strangers face was dOrid, and his
mild blue eyes we're accentuated In
size by reason of strong lenses.
Mr.. Appleton, for his part, thought
QS utlu Iuu dCfOSS an iuquITiuS SCOUT
master laden with all the impedimen.
Ia that his position demanded. Bur
ton was tall and slight. and suggest.
ed erudition.
SLOW did you get here" Mr.. Apple.
ton began, land by whose leave have
you trespassed thus?"
"a am kin by marriage to Mr.. Han
by" said the professor. HE gave
me permission. Your status, sir, is
not SO clear"
''In order to make my position
clear" he said frankly. ~ must term
myself a sanitation expert. Mr..
Handy has heard that former ten
ants of the Gray house have suffered
from sewer-gas poisoning. he does
not wish to alarm his family and Wis
Iitors. am. therefore, making a
sort OF secret investigation. Much
water settles here. as the luxurIafit
foliage shows. I have been com.