Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1934-03-16

word and Sui was lett in curious
state Of mini Interest. puzzlement.
pity; all wfre mingled She would
have liked 70 sit down and devote her.
self to tbp case to the exclusion Of all
others. jof sudden. tombstone Mes.
bit outFeighed everything. which was
easily explained since he came to her
from Lovelylea. A place. BY the way,
which he had said lie proposed to buy.
She stiffened at that memory. She
was going TO buv, Lovelyiea herself.
No one in the world, however pathetic.
could be allowed 70 come between her
and the home Of her ancestors.
1t was obvious 10 her, now. that
Miss Mercedes must own Roekmoss.
the old Stuart plantation II Mr.. Mes
bit were fond Of that country the best
thing for him to do was ) marry her
tsuitaoly reduced) and live there.
Inns held out happy sol ION Of sew
eral difficulties and she dec led IL was
the conclusion she must work for
since. married to Mercy. no ie would
ot aAluHtu 10 De lonely
with her thoughts still birilnr
chaotically around Lovelylea. s ten
ant and his neighhor. Sniff fof A her
self to abandon her proftIess $ ecula-
tlons ard resume The business n the
day.
Tie trouble Of Susan's friend WAS
disposed of quickly. It boiled dom to
a query IS TO what should be lone
when ones son and the wrong girlifell
in love. Sniff suggested a plan nj ac-
ton so simple that there was no r.sk
of ahtagonizing the boy. and the anx-
ious mother went away cemforted. ac-
companied by haaming Susan, very
proud Of her resourcefu1 Nprotegee.
Somehow the other business engage
ments Of the day were gone though
with credit including the visit to Doc.
ton Blanton
| AT Pierre's she found that Laura
had added herself to the party. for
which Lucy. with her usual efficiency.
had secured table in the quietest
corner No gaiety emanated from it,
"Glad you didn't wait for me- Smif
said. as she seated herself in the va
cant chair. i've had a terribly busy
dry and I'm afraid I'm a little late.
Tea and lemon for me. No sugar and
no cinnamon toast. Nothing else
either I'm going to reduce. More
over. I'm going to be paid for do
ing it," e
None of them appeared to relish
her account of Miss Mercedes pre-
eautionary measure. although she told
of It with a full appreciation of Its
amusing aspect; and when one or
two other good stories fell fiat Smit
decided to face the issue and open
hostilities herself. She lifted her cup
and when she set It down empty. shot
a swift glance around the circle 81
don't appear to be your favorite enter
tainer this afternoon" she remarked.
Suppose one of you others try to
tighten the gloom"
you're the only one who can do
that. Sniff dear, by giving up this dan
| ScAVuS UuSinGsS, IuuiSt TedCueu OuL
and pressed Smif's hand, 80 far as
I'm concerned, I'm only thinking of
you, darling; but can't shut my eyes
to the risks you are running. with all
sorts of people free to rush in upon
you"
Men like that creature with the
emeralds going in and out of the build
ing" Laura said 81 told the girls
about him"
"As dangerous as the Head Hunters
of Borneo,n Louise murmured dis
tractedly.
Sniff grinned. but not having heard
of the Head-Hunters before from
Louise, ignored them as irrelevant
You don't get certificate of char
acter with every one you pass, even on
Park avenue, Laura. However, the
man with the emerald horseshoe did
turn up at my place after you left
yesterday"
Laura emitted a well-bred little
scream. =
"How frightfrli How alarming