The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1939-10-05

Qlun get lIldt lIOIIl IIlc-
mo-" observed old Hannah, .that
she didn't. She's her own mother
over again, and there's little fault to
find with her for that"
Silence fell upon Jarvis Dean as
Hannah told of how Millicent Dean
had ridden to the hounds in the days
when the Cornwalls of Ashcroft Man
or were still famous disciples of the
chase. Autumn listened eagerly and
would have veRtured a question here
and there but that her fathers
brows grew darker and his counte-
nance clouded the more as the gar
rulous cid housekeener proceeded.
THAT viii ha eaough now, Jar
Wis Interrupted finally, in a voice
that quieted Hannah at once and
the breakfast was finished almost in
silence.
You'd better be getting away"
the Laird advised Autumn as they
got up from the table, and Autumn
felt that her father had no desire to
leave her alone with Hannah. "Get
your things together and I'll have
the car brought out for YOU"
And while Autumn was in her
room preparing for the trip to town,
she could hear her fathers voice in
stern admonishment to poor old
Hannah.
Hector Cardigan possessed hor-
ror of glaring daylight, and the rays
of the late morning sun that filtered
into his drawing room between the
heavy drapes of the windows sug-
gested to Autumn the curious fin
gers of the present prying into the
crypt of the past. She sat in one of
Hector's armchairs, a glass of iced
tea in her hand, her lids half closed
upon that searching beam of light
from the window.
Hector" she said, glancing up
at him with sudden directness, 81
came to have a talk with you. Do
you mind?"
Hector smiled at her. eve used
to get on very well with our talks, if
remember"
II was a child, then, Hector"
Yes-that's SO, that's so. real
ly hadn't considered that aspect of
our-our friendship, may say?"
Il am no longer a child, Hector" "
Every true, my dear. l recog-
nize the fact-and I am forced to
confess that / have never been a
spectacular success in conversations
with women"
"You don't have to be on this oc.
casion, Hector. / am not here for
small talk"
Hm-m-m-well; of course
II want to ask you some ques-
tons"
Il cannot promise-ah, definitely,
you know-to answer any ques lion a
young woman might put to me. Can
I, now?"
Autumn could not tell whether his
manner was becoming evasive or
merely apologetic.
"You can answer the questions /
have in mind, Hector. I am sure of
that"
well, we shall see, perhaps.
What, for example, are you going to
ask?"
Autumn drained her glass and set
it aside.
Il went over to visit Jane Landor
last night she began.
Il thought you were giving a
dance"
81 left it for an hour or so-and
rode over to the Landor place. I
met Bruce and he took me TO the
house to see his mother"
ST see. Rather singular conduct
for a hostess, ! should say"
"I'll admit it was-for the time
being, in any case. ! saw Jane Lam
DOR"
"You-spoke to herr"
"I'm not sure. Perhaps a word.
forget. 1t was what she said to me
that I have come to ask you about. ;"
Hector moved uneasily. Poor
Jane Landor is not to be held to ac-
count for anything she says these
days, my dear. understand she is
no longer-coherent."
81 am not going to hold her re-
sponsible for what she said, Hector.
! want to know the meaning of it.,
that's ALL"
Hmm, well, my dear-what did
she say?"
when / stepped into the room
with Bruce, she became hysterical.
She declared to Bruce that | was
Millicent Odell and pleaded with him
to put me out.
"Was that all?"
mot quite AS turned to leave,
/ heard her say that death followed
in the way of the Odells."
Anything else?"
Nothing. / hurried out and rode
back home as fast as could"
For several seconds Hector re-
mained standing with his back to the
fireplace, his hands folded behind
him, his eyes at gaze across the
room.
"Well, now," he said at last, 1T
was a somewhat curious greeting
you received, / confess, and one
likely to give you pause, but as |
said before, the poor woman"
"The poor woman, Hector, has
lost her sense of time and place,
but there is no use in your attempt
ing to convince me that there was
nothing significant in what she
said"
"Hm-m-well, perhaps you had
better ask ne ..ogx clestions- my