The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-08-12
CHAPTER V

CHAPTER V
 The Hardness suitcases turnbled from Kinks arms. For a moment he stared blankly at Sally. Then he shook his head.
 Lady" he said, you're all wet. You're not going to marry some blemished named Wilton"
 wFor your information" said Sally, coldly, Wilton Ames is not a blemish. He's in the bank here and doing very well, too"
 "Okay, okay. I dian't impugn his financial status. I merely said that you weren't going to marry him"
 And just who are you to decide that?"
 "Me?" said Kinks. Don't you know me? I'm the guy you are going to marry"
 She looked at him as if he were an escaped lunatic.
 Stop babbling," she said, And take those bags upstairs. The Harknesses will want their things"
 Kinks retrieved the fallen lug gage.
 Look here" he said. This car buncle Wilton Ames must be something to the gent at the bank. You know, the one who holds the mortgage on this place."
 He's his son" said Sally. 50 what?"
 50 if this Wilton thinks enough of you to want to marry you, he ought to be able to get his old man to extend the time of the in- terest payment"
 Sally shook her head doubtfully. q don't think he could. You don't t know Spencer Ames. He's as hard as nails. And I well, I think he's got some sort of interest in this place."
 What makes you think that?" Kinks asked quickly
 well, it's only a hunch. But just after your aunt died, Spencer ArIaes came out here. There was dIlUtllCl IlldIl WlDll fllld LIItJ seemed to be looking the place over"
 What reason did Ames give for couing?"
 oh, he made a great show of wanting to know how I was get tin8 on and whether I was all right. And while he was doing n background. But when we'd fin ished talking, they didn't leave right away. I saw them through the window. And they-they went snooping around the grounds"
 "Snooped, did they?" said Kinks. "And you want to marry guy who's father is professional snoop- er?"
 Don't be silly. Wilton is very different from MT. Ames."
 Like father, like son." quoted Kinks.
 Please take those bags up," said Sally. Now that you've brought those people to the house, you'll have to pay some attention to them"
 When Kinks came back there was concerned look on his face.
 We're going to have to watch old Hardness" he said "or we'll all be electrocuted. He's got a couple of suitcases full of electrical gadgets. And he's already begun to tamper with the wiring in his room"
 Well, I don't know what we can do about it," said Sally. "The customer is always right isn't he?'
 Guess so," said Kinks. Well come on, beautiful. You're driv- ing me to the station"
 "Station? What on earth for| "I'm going to New York" Kinks announced. I'll check out of the place live, get some things and be back bright and early tomorrow. suppose we can both live under this roof. There seem to be plenty oi chaperones."
 You would do Something like that" walled Sally. You saddle me with two strangers and then leave me to cope with the situa- tion."
 Kinks addressed the elks' head
 "The modern girl can't take It. he said. This young woman great-great-grandmother probably resided in covered wagon ano docged tomahaWks while scram- bling eggs And here's her de- scendant all unstuck by couple of extra guests for dinner.
 "Oh, shut up," said Sally Penn lngton.
 Kinks did not quite make gooc his threat to get back to the Pres ton place bright and early the fol' lowing day. True, he returned tt Winstock on a morning train. Bu' upon arriving he spent seVera hours in the village. His ambition was some form of advertisement which would announce the exist snce of the Pennington Parker Restatorium and he finally Ter reted out a man of many accom-