Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1931-07-31
!. Mystery, Of Hermit
of Appledore' ,i.l''i
BY cLARIssA MAcKIE u
(@ by Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate.l
(WNIJ Seryice)

ST ANcY" exclaimed young g, Mrs MRS.
y Peterby to her husband, 81 have
heard the strangest thing, Dick-but
perhaps you'd rather not hear It."
"Guess can stand It," and Mr..
Peterby smiled at their guest, an old
{ college friend of Mile Peterby's,
Grace Chame. Cant scare us, eh, Miss
ChameT "a,
swell, you know that old camp up
on the side of the mountain2" began
Mrs Peterby. "Well, man is living
there-and people say that he is a
hermit, but Mrs Wellminder told me
yesterday. in confidence. that he is not
a hermit-and not only that, but that
he is a well-known author who Is
living there. writing book. He lives
that way so as to be by himself
81 met him yesterday" Mrs. Peter
by continued, "and although he did
not see mel am sure that he did not
II recognized Him at once as some
one used to know In Kerryville."
THAT'S a very pretty story, my
dear. but don't dare try to get ac-
quainted with this beautiful youth"
"Want to go nuttlng today, Grace"
asked Mrs. Peterby.
"Yes--it will be heaps of fun
haven't been for years."
"We will have to climb the hill first
1t is on the land of the old Porter
estate-rather wild up there"
1--WE might take Don along-he is a
big dog and such a protection,
It was after eleven o'clock when
the two girls started out with the big
dog. They had had an early lunch
and were carefree. Mrs. Peterby's lit
tie car carried them part way up the
side Of the mountain, and they left 1t
at small cottage.
The two girls kept on the upward
inclining road for another mile, and
they stopped breathlessly and sat
down to rest outside the gate Of the
old Porter residence. Don ran hither
and thither, stirring up a rabbit or
frightening the birds, but after awhile
he disappeared.
They wandered along the mountain
road, picking up nuts from under the
broad chestnut trees and from under
a black walnut tree that grew near
the Porter place. In the distance
they heard Don's glad bark.
SIS he calling for us to come along"
asked Grace Chame.
81 am not sure" admitted Mrs.
Peterby, "that sounds just like his
family bark, doesn't 1t? He is your
dog, Grace. you ought to know his
speechw
Grace listened intently. "Why," she
spoke in surprise, at sounds just as
though he had met some one that he
knew"
"Perhaps he is acquainted with the
hermit" said Mrs. Peterby carelessly.
'What is his name?" asked Grace.
Mrs. Peterby was silent, then she
admitted with foolish smile. "To tell
the truth, I haven't the least idea r.
They could not hear Don barking
now. and in the mountain stiffness,
there was only the music of the wind
in the trees, and the song of be-
lated bird. Their baskets were filled
with nuts. so they resolved to follow
the dog. and learn his whereabouts.
They had not gone very far when
Miss Chame spoke rapidly. "Wait here,
sIollic, behind these bushes-look
straight ahead-isn't that darllngT
They could see. spreading knoll
where there were scattered birches
and oaks-there was a flame of col
or from every trce-but It was not
he scenery that mattered much, ex-
cepting that huge log on which lay
Don, the great dog, his happy eyes
lifted toward the artist who painted
him
Good dog!" said the big man be-
hind the easel "Just five minutes
longer Don, old man, and then you
may lead me TO the lovellest lady in
the whole world"
Don barked ecstatically.
IAN artist?" whispered Mrs. Peter
by to Grace Chame. "Why-why--he
might he the young man whom you
quarreled with, Grace"
at Isl" exclaimed Grace
"Are you no longer in love with
him?"
Grace was so silent that her hostess
guessed the answer. Just at that
moment the PAINTER smoke to Don.
"Now Don, we will go and find our
sweetheart and lust then Mrs. Pc
terby stepped forward and Grace
Chame slowly followed .frF
"Ab Don ~ colIed Mrs petorhv
"a tbe dop came boundlnr She nod.
dod ar tho bondsoma vouno man who