The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1940-03-21
something to do on the way"
every well. Keep me posted. "
CHAPTER VII

was SflOTICF IMAM the winning car
riage-road, so he walked, to leave
the iodine for Mrs. Harding. On the
way he saw Lynn and Rundhia.
Lynn was no longer in riding
breeches. She looked delicious in
a frock of nile-green print and a
wide leghorn hat. Norwood wasn't
sure, but he suspected she knew
she could be seen from the guest
house veranda, and that Rundhia
did not know. She and Rundhia
were laughing. Suddenly Rundhia
snatched her hat off, used it as a
shield to hide behind, caught her
in his arms and kissed her. It was
no fool of kiss. 1t was an expert
ence. Lynn did make show of re
sistance. She struggled free and
recovered her hat.
Norwood's view of it, against the
background of the leghorn hat, made
him set his jaw. But he relaxed it
again and smiled, a bit grimly, .
bit maliciously. From the opposite
direction he had heard what sound
ed like an oath, although it was
nothing worse than the well-bred, al
most inarticulately gurgled word:
"Hussy!"
Aunty Deborah Harding had also
seen that lingering and only laugh
ingly resisted kiss.
Aunty was on the screened We
randa, propped on pillows, on a
reed chaise Tongue, with a table
beside her. A native servant was
just in the act of removing tray
of breakfast things.
MAY I approach" asked Nor
wood, "or are you purdah?"
WHO is it? / can't see you. Oh,
yes, Captain Norwood, come in if
you can bear the sight of me. /
should look presentable. ] never
had so many women in all my life
to push and pull me about. This is
my second attempt at a meal this
morning. You'll have to run away
if I can't keep 1t down. What has
brought you, pray, at this hour?"
He had forgotten the iodine.
Thought I'd ask how you're COM
ing along"
"Will you bring my niece here?
She's beyond those trees, talking to
someone. ! want her to come here
and talk to me. viii you tell her I
said SO. and please don't take no
for an answer"
Norwood strolled across the lawn,
tapping his boots with a riding whip.
He coughed a couple of times. BY
| the time he had peered around the
trees, Lynn and Rundhia were seat
ed opposite each other on wicker
work chairs. Lynn seemed unself-
conscious. Rundhia looked venom
ously sly; he offered Norwood no
| greeting whatever.
81 happened to be calling on your
aunt" said Norwood, land she
asked me to say that she wants to
see you"
Lynn looked dubious: "What sort
of mood is she in?"
Every polite to me-" said Nor.
wood.
That's danger signal. She cam,
be polite to one person at time. ]
think I won't CO."
"You will have to pardon me, +"
said Norwood, "but I agreed to
bring you"
"You always do what you say you
will?"
"Yes." He looked straight at Run
dhia, who ignored him.
prince Rundhia," said Lynn, sis
| going to show me the jewel room" !"
SIS her" said Norwood.
Rundhia WINGED noticeably: "Per.
haps you'd better CO." he said to
Lynn. There's lots of time. Shell
have her tantrum out, and you car
meet me later"
Lynn compared them, as clearly
as if she had said it aloud Her
smile was a bit forced when her
eyes met Norwood's:
''Do you always order people?"
she demanded. Don't you ever
say please?"
He laughed. ''I can't kneel
Breeches too tight"
What will you do if l won't
Gomez"
Scream" he answered.
81 dare you
Tuesday is my day for scream.
ing. Are you game to wait here
until Tuesday,"
''No. I'm coming with you" She
| glanced at Rundhia: You'll excuse
| us?"
81 excuse you," he answered.
Norwood looked so confortless
that Lynn noticed it:
what are you worried about?"
"Oh, nothing. l was wondering
what your aunt eats"
She laughed at him. "Liarl That's
the very first time you haven't spo.
ken like polished ramrod."
II told part of the truth. / am
worried about you"
"You needn't be. I'm all right.
She ran forward to speak TO her
aunt The tray of breakfast things
! was being carried out by a palace
servant. Norwood stopped the man,
| inspected the tray, and selected @
piece of toast. He looked for some
thing to wrap it in. That reminded
him. He groped in his left-hand
pocket for the iodine. tore off hall
the paper in which Stoddart had
wrapped the bottle. stuffed the un.
tidy package back, wrapped the
toast in the torn-off paper and put
that into his right-hand pocket.
I'm expected at the palace, sc
I can't stay. Mrs. Harding.
brought you some fresh iodine, ir
case the doctors stuff is pretty an
c;ar4 &c corr, o+ix,ooc barpa,c >,