The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1930-03-11

(P Nv AN
sive a of his own, Bonnie Dundee
betook himself and his suitcase, by
means of a taxi, to Hillcrest, the 30
acre estate of Hamilton's richest man
facturer.
The house was a huge three STORY
affair of rough-hewn white stone,
with gables and turrets and even a
respectfully imposing tower at me
corner. Portions of the walls were
mantled with ivy. Encircling the roll
ing acres was a high, wrought-iron
fence, with formidable spikes de-
signed to keep out intruders, but the
pair of stately gates was not locked
nor had the Berkeleys yet achieved
the dignity of a gatekeeper.
AS his taxi swept around the curved
drive Dundee caught a glimpse of the
lake, which lay to the east of the
house. The setting sun turned it in
to q broad pool of molten gold, and
for the first time since he had e
ceived the urgent, impulsive invita-
ton from young Dick Berkeley to
stand by, old man, or I'll not be able
to bear up under all the la-de-da,"
Dundee felt q thrill of anticipation.
The place, at least, was good to look
upon, with its Handicapped lawn, its
flower gardens, its golden lake. its
big, gracious house. Certainly it
would offer q welcome change from
the clamor and friendly familiarity of
the boarding house. And he had not
played for RATHER too long, consider
ing how young he was and how much
he liked to play.
Maybe there would be a pretty girl.
Or would it be just his luck to fall in
love with Clorinda, who was already
engaged to be married, If the little
bird" was to be relied upon? His last
lc7e. Norma Paige, was now Mrs.
Walter Styles, and though she and
her husband were still members of the
Rhodes House family, he was asham-
ed to confess that he no longer tsuf-
fered we q pang of what he had
once felt sure would be a lifelong
grief.
And then he remembered Mrs.
Rhodes bitter remarks about "Abbie"
Berkeley. If Clorinda were at all like
her mother, his heart would not be
in danger. His taxi driver was hold
ing open the door. Dundee hesitated
before descending. Had Mrs. Rhodes
frightened him? That was absured,
Of course. He was not here to in
gratiate himself with Mrs. George
Berkeley. He was here to make a
keen, close study Of MI. Seymour
Crosby, for certain sinister reasons.
-. Besides-and he tipped the driv-
err generously-if Mrs. Berkeley high
hated him, he was armed with a
weapon against her. And he chuck
led.
But such tactics as Mrs. Rhodes
had suggested proved to be uncalled
for. Indeed. the young detective,
whose official connection with the
homicide squad of the police depart
ment of Hamilton was known to q
very limited number of trusted peo-
pie, found himself embarrassed by the
effusiveness Of his welcome.
Dear Mr.. Dundee!" the magnifi-
Gently proportioned, demonstrated
Mrs. Berkeley cried, when, with young
Dick, he made his first appearance
in the drawing room at the dinner
hour that Friday evening. "You
don't know how delighted I am that
my darling Dick has found a con-
genial spirit in this CHASTITY provin-
cial little town! The poor boy has
been simply starved for intellectual
companionShip. Dick tells me that
since you graduated from Yale you
have been studying in Europe. Don't
you find America frightfully crude
bourgeois, somehow metallic, If you
know what I mean?"
Jaw, lay off, Mother!" Dick begged
his weakly handsome young face red
| with embarrassment. "Dundee's reg.
ular, not a parlor Bolshevist-Oh
hello, Dad! Want you to meet MI
| Dundee, q friend of mine at Yale"
And then Bonnie Dundee shool
hands with the sternest and hand
soonest middle-aged man he had ever
set eyes upon. If Clorinda Berkeley
by the grace of God or the Mendeliar
law, resembled this tall, dark, dour
kindly man. instead of her gushing
dyed-haired mother, then HEAVIER
protect him, for he was due to fall If
love. -.
Mighty glad to meet you, MI. Dun
dee" said George Berkeley, and thu
commonplace, provincial words die
not matter at all, for they were ut
tered in q deep baritone that woult
have been the envy Of q ~shakespear'
can actor. But the smile which f1ex'
ed the stern mouth did not extend t,
the breeding black eyes with which
the multimillionaire keenly searches
his young guests face.
"Iae's got his back up about some
thing" Dundee unused. "And I rathe
think I know what that something
is. Ordinarily. I'd wager, MI. Georg
Berkeley is q very amiable though
not loquacious gentleman. And
mean gentleman!"
.'Oh, dear! Wicket is hoverinl
and looking stern!" Mrs. Berkele,
fluttered, with q self-conscious tril
of laughter as she cut her eyes to
ward the butler who had appeared TO