Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1939-03-10
CHAPTER z

describe the activities of Lady Mat
rssser's son.
Perhaps l have said more than l
ought to have done. Still. just before
the Abyssinian war I do know that
he was the first person sent for by
the permanent Foreign Secretary,
that he had appointments with Cab
met Ministers and that sort OF thing
for a fortnight and everyone consider
ed his opinion extraordinarily valuable
Master Ronald does not go about the
world with his eyes closed you know
"You are giving me new ideas a.
bout my son." she acknowledged.
81 hope to heavens am not making
pnischiefY Bemrose exclaimed. l
nm lust telling you what have heard
said. On the other hand he has never
shown the slightest signs Of any am
bition to take a governorship or any
thing of that sort SO the whole thing
seems to lead nowhere. That is why
am glad of your news that ne IS
thinking of settling down. There are
40 few of the old order" he concluded
with a sigh, "who can afford to live
ON their estates as Matresser could.
To tell you the honest truth, 1 only
kept on the County this last year be-
cause I was Mortified when l heard
who my successor was likely to be.
If Ronald will play up it will be a
great load off my mind"
"Well, as told you, have almost
a promise from him." Lady Matresser
said.
"You will have to face his marry
ing of course" her neighbor reminded
her.
envy dear Charles" she replied
don't you know me well enough to
realize that nothing in the world
would make me happier than that!
The Dover House here is a perfect
gem of a place and have refused to
let it, except yearly just hoping that
Ronnie would turn sensible. ! should
be the happiest woman in the world
there"
The conversation halted for few
moments. The Countess neighbor
on her other side leaned towards her.
LADY Alice has been telling me OF
this shocking affair in the village"
he said.
81 am so sorry for DR.. Andrews"
Lady Matresser confided. "Of course
everyone will say that he ought to
have sent a man as i'll as that to the
hospital, certainly not to have left
him alone with the housekeeper while
he shot today. daresay though
there's some further explanation"
81 heard" Bemrose observed "that
he was supposed to be down here with
letters for someone or other in the
neighborhood."
eve have heard nothing" the Coun-
tess declared.
Seems queer after our recent con-
versation," Bemrose went on. "but
Grantley, my second boy, you know,
who is in the Foreign Office had an
idea that this man came from there.
We must ask Matresser if he knows
anything about it."
Old world habits were strictly OBJ
served in the Great House and few
minutes later a fluttering little con-
course of women followed their hos
tess to the drawingrooms. Matresser
left the place and came down to the
other end of the table to where his
principal male guests were seated.
The port was reverently slipped.
"What happened to Andrews?" a
neighbor asked his host.
HE was fetched away while we
were shooting Sheddon's Woods" Mat
resser replied. "The chap he picked
up after an accident and to whom he
played the good Samaritan had the
bad taste to peg out"
"Such a careful fellow-Andrews,"
Bemrose remarked. 81 wonder he
came out at all if the man was in any
danger"
Conclusion is a queer thing" Mat
resser reflected leaning forward and
helping himself to nuts. "Is it my
fancy Rowans," he went on, address,
ing vis-a-vis, cor is this 10 getting
a little thin? I always look upon
you as a great connoisseur."
"It is one of the most perfect bot
ties of a marvellous vintage I ever
tasted" was the emphatic reply.
81 find it wonderful" Bemrose &C
guessed. "To go back to this poor
fellow though. Should you say that
Il was q little unusual Matresser for