Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1932-06-13

i from a shelf near the door
hurricane lantern and cau-
tiously opened the front door of his
little bungalow and peered out.
The scene that met his eyes was
typical of the English countryside as
depicted on Christmas cards and IN Old
fashioned melodramaS. Everywhere was
snow. deep drifts of it-no mere pow
dering an inch or two thick. Snow had
fallen all over England for the last four
days, and up here on the fringe OF
Dartmoor it had attained a depth OF
several feet. All over England house
holders we're groaning over burst pipes,
and to have plumber friend COR even
a plumbers helper) was the most COW
eted of all distinctions.
Up here, in the tiny village of Sit
taford, at all times remote from the
world, and now almost completely cut
off. the rigorS of Winter were very
real problem.
Mai. Burnaby, however, was a hardy
soul He snorted twice, grunted once
and marched resolutely out into the
snow.
His destination was not far away. A
few PAGES along winding lane, then In
at gate, and SO up a drive partially
swept clear of snow to house Of some
considerable size built of granite.
The door was opened by neatly-clad
parlormaid. The major was Invested
of his overcoat, his overShoes and his
aged scarf.
A door was flung open and he passed
through it into room which conveyed
all the illusion of transformation
scene
Although it was only half past three
the curtains had been drawn, the electric
lights were on and a huge fire blazed
cheerfully Tn the hearth. Two women
in afternoon frockS rose to greet the
stanch old warrior.
Splendid of you to turn out, Maj.
Burnaby," said the elder of the two.
Not at ALL Mrs. Willett, not at all.
Very good of you to ask me-" He shook
hands with them both.
Mr. Garfield is coming went on
Mrs Willett, land Mr.. Duke, and Mr..
Rycroft said he would come-but one
can hardly expect him at his age In
such weather. Really, it is too dreadful.
One feels one must do something to
keep oneself cheerful. Violet, put an
other log on the fire
The major rose CALAMITY to perform
this task.
Allow me. Miss Violet
He put the log eXpertly in the right
place and returned once more to the
armchair his hostess had indicated.
Trying not to appear as though he
were doing SO, he cast SurreptltlouS
glanceS around the room. Amazing how
a couple of women could alter the Whole
character of a room-and without do
ing anything very outstanding that you
could put your finger on.
Sittaford House had been built 10
years ago by Capt. Joseph Trevelyan,
r. N, on the occasion of his retire
ment from the navy. He was man
of substance, and he had always had
a great laundering to live on DartmOOr.
He had placed his choice on the tiny
hamlet of Sittaford. 1t was not in a
valley like most of the villages and
farms, but perched right on the Shout
der of the moor under the shadow OF
Sittaford Beacon. He had purchased
q large tract of ground, had built d
comfortable house with its own electric
light plant and an electric pump to
save labor in pumping water. Then, as
a speculation, he had built six small
bungalows, each in its quarter acre OF
ground, along the lane.
The first of these, the one at his very
gates, had been allotted to his old
friend and crony, John Burnaby-the
others had by degrees been sold, there
being still a few people who from choice
or necessity like to live right out of the
world. The village itself consisted OF
three picturesque, but dilapidated cot
Iages, a forge and a combined post
office and sweet shop. The nearest town
vas champion, six miles away, a
steady descent which necessitated the
bign, Motorists engage your lowest
gear" so familiar on the DartVoor
roads.
Capt. Trevelyan, as has been said, was
man of substance. In spite OF this
or perhaps because of it-he was man
who was Unfortunately fond of money
At the end of October a house agent III
champion wrote to him asking II he
would consider letting Sittaford House
A tenant had made inquiries concerning
it, wishing to rent it Tor the Winter.
Capt. Trevelyans first impulse was
to refuse, his second to demand further
information. The tenant in question
proved to be a Mrs. Willett, a widow
with one daughter. She had recently
arrived from South Africa and wanted
house in Dartmoor for the Winter.
Damn it all, the woman must be
mad" said Capt. Trevelyan. Eth, Burn
ably, don't you think SOP"
Burnaby did think 80, and said so Al
forcbly as his friend had done.
Anyway, you don't want to let" hi
said. Let the fool woman go some
where else If she wants to freeze. Com
ing from South Africa, tool
LUZ az tlilo POAllI SoFt. AANfNAy diA
money complex asserted itself. Not once
in a hundred time would you get 6
chance of letting your house in mid
winter. He demanded what rent the
tenant was willing to pay.
An offer OF II guineaS week
clinched matters. Capt. Trevelyan went
into champion, rented a small house
on the outskirts at two guineas a week
and handed over Sittaford House tC
Mrs. Willett, half the rent to be paid in
advance.
"A fool and her money are soor
parted" he groWled.
But Burnaby was thinking this after
noon as he scanned Mrs. Willett cov-
ertly, that she did not look like fool
She was tall woman with rather
silly manner-but her physiognomy was
shrewd rather than foolish She was
inclined to overdreSs, had a distinct
colonial accent and seemed perfectly
content with the transaction. She was
clearly very well off and that-as Burn
ably had reflected more than once, really
made the whole affair more odd She
was not the kind of woman one would
credit with passion for solitude.
As neighbor she had proved almost
embarraSsingly friendly, Invitations &c