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Show TOE SPANISH FORK PRESS. SPANISH FORK. UTAH. MARY ROBERTS RINEHART 5UIHOFL OF" CIRCULAR STAIRCASE , TSTe MAN WHEN A MAM MARRIES LOWER TEN, in & ILLUSTRATED EDGAR BERT SMITH ooryfiiotfr AC,Ti.wCo. 4 SYNOPSIS. M'nnio, zprti tinua girl st Itni III tbriuiti, lIN lii s'vfy. tl Htl !,. I ruv armal ut Mim Jnnln, i iKHirl iiiairir a trini , ihim.iI la Kin and lh lnr hi un ( ii uM Ilia aanaiurtum. The atal la bit la a I ramtawn. aim by an a ril data and run inual tar Iba taiialurllim uiiarullf tli lnlirliani, A him month nr f niumiHi iblava I'lrXz irrltil, Mr. T at a, la bavvring about in la runn lb fur auimnnr hot-- l. a rull'a man In hard luh, la n iun tjr Van Allh. I Hi h'a brulb. to litiMraiial Hi nilaalng hlr and lab limit at lb aaaaiartum until lnprd ibh, a bo baa arnv, with I'attv a rounar alaipr. Imrothy. aand lh routJ an Inin lihlina in In aid hltr bun. Krartng la I Itorvlhve fthr, aba la al lb aanalur-- I a um. turn nub I'br.' 10 In lh nianamnl of lb property. Julia Hunimr. l lady nf IVra'l airamUd thatrh-arm, bit ia aulng llcby fur iutiiny. btrwli of promts. 11 l'rir. air(r.a la lia-bu- lii-t- rr-al- l4 tartr ril, artna CHAPTER VI. nm-tlnu- Continued. I'm o gluil you're tlll her. Minnie!" she exclaimed, breathing fait. You bareot taken the dinner out to abo shelter-housyet. have you?" Tlllio haxn't Not yet," I milled. brought the basket" Hut 1 guess her slater and Sir. Dick could bars starved to death Just then without her noticing. She was all ex cltement, for all she's mostly ao cool. 1 have a note here from my slater," she said, getting It out of her pocket I know we all Impose on you, Sllnnle, but will you take It for met I'd go, but I'm In slippers, and, anyhow. I'd need a lantern, and that would be reckless, wouldn't It?" In slippers!" Mr. Ilerce Interrupted. It's only five degrees above z?ro! Of all the foolhardy I" Miss Tatty did not seem to hear him. She gave the letter to me and followed me out on the step. You're a saint, Minnie," abe said, leaning over and squeezing my arm, "and because you're going back and forth In the cold so much, 1 want you to have this to keep." She stopped and picked up from the snow beside the steps something soft and furry and threw It around my neck, and the next Instant I knew she was giving me her chinchilla set, mull and all. I was ao pleased I crlo4 and all the way over to the ahelter-bous- e 1 sniveled and danced with Joy at the same time. There's nothing like chinchilla to tone down red hair. . Well, I took the note out to the shelter-house- , and rapped. Mr. Dick let me in, and It struck me he wasnt as cheerful as usual, lie reached out and took the muff. Oh," he said, I thought that was the supper." It's coming." I aald, looking past him for Mrs. Dicky. note and aat up She had seen-thand held out her hand for It Dick!" what do .you ahe said suddenly, think? Oskar is here! Pat's In the - wildest excltsbient He's in town, and Aunt Honoris haa telephoned to know what to do! Listen; he Is Incog, of course, and registered as Oskar von Inwald. lie did an awfully clever thing came In through Canada while the papers thought he was In SL Moe ritz. For heaven's sake," replied Mr. Dick, tell her not to ask him here. I shouldnt know how to talk to him. OS, I've known a lord or two, but tbat'a different. You call them anything you like and lend them money. I dare say you can with Oskar, too. Mra. Dicky put the note down and sighed. Well, he's coming. Pat saya dad wont go back to town until, he's had 21 baths, and he's only had eleven and ahe'a got to stay with him. And you needn't worry about what to call Oskar. He's not to know we're here." I was worried 'on my way back to the aprlnghouse not tbat the prince would make much difference, as far as I could see things being about as bad as they could be. But some of the people were talking of leaving,, and Bince we had to have a prince it seemed a pity he wasn't coming with all his retinue and titles. It would have been a g6od ten thousand dollars worth of advertising for the place, aud goodness the door open and a second later It Mr. Ilcre promised and they startslammed. When 1 came out of the ed out together. At tha door Mr. Sam Pntry Mr. Fierce was sitting In bis turned. old .position, elbow on knee, bolding Oh, by the way, Minnie," he railed his plpo and atarlng at the bowl. "better gild on of your chairs and put I had my bands full tha nxt day. a red cushion on It The prince hue Wad bad another snowstorm during arrived." , the night and the trains were blocked Well. I thought It all out that again. About ten o'clock we got a aa 1 washed the glasses, and It telegram from the new doctor we'd waa terrible. I had two people In th been expecting, that he'd fallen on the shelter house to feed and look after Ice on hie way to the train tod broken like babies, with Tillle getting more bis arm. and at eleven a delegation curious every day about the basket from the guests waited on Mr. Pierce she brought, and not to be held much and told him they'd have to have a longer: and 1 had a man running the house physician at once. sanatorium and running It to the devil We're doing the best we can," Mr. aa fast as It could go. Then I had a Ilerce explained. "We we expect a prince Incognito, and Thoburn stirring doctor today." up mischief, and the servants threatWhen?" from Mr. Jennings, who ening to strike, and no house doctor had tome on a cane and was watching Just aa 1 got to that somebody Mr. Pierce like a hawk. opened the door behind me and looked Tble afternoon, probably. Aa there In. I gtanred around, and It was a man la no one here very 111" with the reddest hair I ever saw. Mine But at that they almost fell on him waa pale by comparison. He was and tore him to pieces. I had to step rather short and heavy-aet- . and be had In front of him myself and say we'd a pleasant face, although not handhave somebody there by two o'clock If some, hla nose being slightly bent to we bad to rob a hospital to get him. the left. But at flret all I could see Well, as If I didn't have my hands waa hla hair. full with getting meats to the shelter "Good evening," he said, edging himhouse, and trying to find a house doc- self In. Are you Miss Waters? tor, and wondering bow lung It would Yes," I aald, rising and getting a be before Julia" came lace to face glass ready. with Dick Carter somewhere or other, He took off hla hat and cam over and trying to keep one eye on Tboburn to the spring where I was Dlllng his while kept Mr. Pierce straight with glass, the other that day, during luncheon, If that's for me, you needn't bothMike the bath man came out to the er," he euld. If It taste as It smells. sprlnghouee and made a howl about Im not thirsty. My name's Barnes, hia wages. He'd been looking surly and I waa to wait hero for Mr. Van af'er-noo- for two days. I What about your wages?" snapped. "Aren't you getting what you've always had?" No tips!" he said sulkily. Only a few taking baths only one dally, and that's that man Jennlnga. Tbere'a no uee talking. Miss Minnie, I've got to have a double percentage on that man or you'll have to muzzle him. He hes dangerous." If 1 give you the double percentage, will you stay? 1 dont know but tbat I'd rather have the muzzle, Misa Minnie," he answered (lowly, "but Ill stay. It v won't be for longj. Which left me thinking. I'd aeen Thoburn talking to Mike more than once lately, and he'd been going around with an air of assurance that didn't make me any too cheerful. , At four o'clock Mr. Sam came In, and he bad Mr. Thoburn tight by the arm. My dear old chap," he wat saying, "it would be as . much as your life's worth. That ground Js full of bolea and Juat now covered with snow I" He caught my eye, and wiped his forehead. Heaven help us!" he aald, coming over to the eprlng, 1 found him maarmed with king for the shelter-house- , a foot rule! Somebody' got to take him Id hand I tell you, the man's a menace! What about tha doctor? 1 asked, reaching up hla glass. "Be here tonight, he answered, on the" But at tbat minute a boy brought a telegram down and handed It to him. The new doctor was laid up with Influenza! We eat there after the othera had gone, and Mr. Sam aald he was for giving up the fight, only to come out now with the truth would mean such a lot of explaining and a good many people would likely And it funny. Mr. Pierce came In later and we .gave him the telegram to read. He glanced at It and handed it back. Lots' of starving M. D.'e ' would Jump at the chance, he said, but If . , would you have had me do? sbo nuked "Take those two children to your father. What if there was a row? Why should there be such a lot made of It, anyhow? ' They're young, but a crime for theyll get older It isnteach other, Is two people to er love It? And If you think a scandal or two In your family granting your father would make a scandal Is going to put another patch on the ragged reputation of the royal' family of How dare you! I she cried furiousHow dare you!" ly. 1 beard her cross the room and fling weak-iicmc- register a protest against It?" "You needn't bother doing that." I nawered. "unless it makes you feel better. Your authority ends at tbat door. Inside the springhouse I'm, In control." tit's hard to believe, with things as they are, that I once really believed that. But I did. It was three full days later that I learned that I'd been mistaken! I , Well, he aat there and looked at nothing while I heated water In my brass kettle over the fire and dissolved the things against Tboburn's quick eye the next day, a.td be didn't say anything. He bad a gift for keeping quiet, Mr, Bierce bad. U got on my nerves after a while. "Things are doing better," 1 remarked. stirring up my mixture. "Yes," he said, without moving. Miss Miss Jennings and the von Inwald were here Just now, weren't Then youre they? I passed them on the bridge. "Barnes!" I repeated. the doctor." Yee." He grinned, and stood turning hla What how do you like him?" hat around In hla hands. Better than I expected and not so Not exactly," he aald. I graduated well as I might," I said. In medicine a good many years ago, Mrs. Hutchins came out to the but alter a year of It 1 took to other springhouse the next morning. 8he was dressed In a black silk with real things." You're on actor lace collar and cuffs, and she was so "Oh, yea," 1 aald. now." puffed up with pride tbat she forgot to be nasty to me. He looked thoughtfuL I thought I'd better come to you, Some people think lm not." he anMr. Carter has swered. but I'm on the stage. Minnie, she said. I put a fresh log on the fire, and aa put the has put Mr. von Inlaid In It blazed up I saw blm looking at roe. the north wing. 1 cannot Imagine why Ye gods and little Ashes!" he sard'. be ahould have given him the coldest "Another redhead! Why, we're as and most disagreeable part of the alike as two carrots off the same bouse. 1 said I'd bunch! speak to Mr. Carter and In live minutes I knew how old he try to bave him moved, and ahe went waa, and where he waa raised, and away, but I made up my mind to talk that what he wanted more than any- to Mr. lierce. The sanatorium busithing on earth waa n little farmhouse ness Isn't one where you can put your own likes and dislikes against the comwith chickens and a cow. Then he wanted to know what he fort of the guests. was to do at the sanatorium and I told I was sick enough of hearing of Mr him aa well aa I could. I didn't tell von Inwald before the day was over. him everything, but I explained why All morning In the aprlnghouse they Mr. Pierce waa calling himself Carter, talked Mr. von Inwald. They pretend. ed to play cards, but they were really and about the two In the I had to. He knew aa well as I did playing European royalty. Every time that three days before Mr. Pierce had omebody laid down a queen, he'd say, had nothing to hie name but a folding 'is the queen still living, or didn't she automobile road map or whatever It die a few years ago? And when they was. played the knave, they'd start off about "Good for old Pierce!" he said when the prince again. In the afternoon Mr. von Inwald I finished. He's a prince. Miss Waters. If you'd seen blm Bending those came out to the springhouse and sat girls back to town well. I'll do all I around, very affable and friendly, can to help him." drinking the water. He and the bishop Mr. and Mrs. Van Alstyne came In grew quite chummy. Mies Patty was Just then, and Mr. 8&m told him wb&t not there, but about four o'clock Mr. he was expected to do. It wasn't much. Pierce came out. He did not alt down, Remember," Mr. Sam Instructed but wandered around the room, not him, aa Doctor Barnea started out, talking' to anybody, but staring, whenwhen you dont know what to pre- ever he could, at the prince. Once scribe, order n Turkish bath. The caught Mr. voq,Inwalds eyes fixed on baths are to a sanatorium what the him, as If he might bave seen him bebar ia to a club they pay the bills. . fore. Senator Biggs was the one who realWell, we got It all fixed and Doctor Barnea started out, but at the door he ly caused the trouble. What do you think of American women, Mr. von Instopped. "I say," he asked In an undertone, wald? he asked, and everybody the stork doesn't light around here, stopped playing cards and listened for does he? the answer. As Mr. von Inwald repre"Not if they see him first!" I re- sented the prince, wouldnt he be likely to voice the princes opinion of plied grimly, and he went out shelter-house- 1 American women? Its my belief Mr. von Inwald was going to eayv something nice. He It was all well enough for me to say smiled as if he meant to, but Just then as 1 had to to Tillle many a time he saw Mr. Pierce In his corner that It waa ridiculous to make a fuss sneering behind his pipe. They looked over a person for what, after all, was at each other steadily, and nobody an accident of birth. Nevertheless, at could mistake the hate In Mr. Pierces five o'clock, after every one had gone, face or hla sneer. After a minute when I saw Miss Patty, muffled In the prince looked away and shrugged furs, tripping out through the snow, hia shoulders, but he didnt make bis with a tall thin man beside her, walk- pretty speech. American women!" he said, turning ing very straight and taking one step to her four, I felt as though somebody his glass of spring water around on had hit me at the end of my breast- the table before him, "they are very bone. lovely, of course. But they are spoiled, They came In together, laughing fearfully spoiled. They rule their parand talking, and, to be honest, If I ents and they expect to rule their hushadnt caught the back of a chair, Id bands. In Europe we do things bethave had one foot back of the other ter; we are not what Is the English? and been making a courtesy In spite There was a sort of murmur among of myself. Miss Patty the men, but the women all nodded "Were late, Minnie; said. Oskar, this Is one of my best as If they thought Europe was entirefriends, and you are to be very nice to ly right. Theyd have agreed with him If hed advocated sixteen wives her." on a mat, like the He had one of those single glass sitting cross-leggea wae still staring at Mr. Pierce and he Turks. his me. in. eye gave , , things good stare through It. Seen close he the prince. "What I dont quite understand, Mr, was handsomer tharf Mr. Pierce, but von Inwald, the bishop put in In his he looked older than his picture. "Ask her if she wont be nice to me," nice way, "is your custom of expecting he said In aa good English as mine, a girl to bring her husband a certain definite sum of money and to placq it and held out his hand. I under the husbands control. Our "Any of Miss Pattys friends began, with a lump In my throat, aijd wealthy Americas girls control their own money. He was thinking of Miss gave bis hand a good squeeze. knew 1L and soon I went after that everybody Patty, very They The prince turned red and glared at stood and watched them until they dis beep a good dog In condition, Minnie I wouldn't hiing him here. No, I retorted, you'd shut him In an old out oven, and glv hltu a sho to chow, and lin'd com out In throw days frlzbing and happy. But yen' cant do that with people, "Ae far aa Mr. von Inwald goes," f la one result of thelrof their spoil- went on, that's not your affair or mine. If Miss Pally's own father can't ing. worry Mr. Pierre got up and emptied his prevent It, why should you shout it?" turned. be Into Then fire. the pla "Preclerly," he agreed. "Why shout- "Cm afraid you have out known the I? But 1 do, Minnie tbat'a tha devil beat type of American women. be said, looking hard al the prince. Our of It" lie said good night and went oat representative women are our middle-rlaa- s women. They do not contract taking the gun and the rabbit wills European alliances, not having suff- him, and I went Into the pantry to finicient money to attract the attention ish straightening thing for tbe night. of the nobility, or enough to buy titles, In a few mlnutea I beard voice la as they do pearls, for the purpose of the other room, one Mr. Bierce's, and one with a strong German accent. adornment. When was that?" Mr. von Inwald' his Mr. von Inwald got up, and fare was red. Mr. 1lerre was white and voice. A year ago, In Vienna." th bishop. Then I think he remembered that thry didnt know who be was, and he smiled and started to turning the glass again. "Pardon! he said. Is It not better? What do woitirn know of money? They throw It away on trilles, dress, Jewels American women are extravagant. It sneering. "Also," he went on, when they marry they wish to control their own money, and not see It spent In ways with which you are doubtless familiar." Wewere all paralyzed. Nobody moved. Mr. fierce put bis pipe In bis pocket and stalked out, slamming the dour. Then Mr. von Inwald sbruggud bla shoulders and laughed. 1 see I shall have to talk to our young frlmd," be said and picked up bis glass. Im afraid fvw given a wrong Impresslotp I like 'the American women very much; too well, he went on w ith a flash of his teeth, looking around the room, and brought the glass to the spring for me to fill. But I can tell a good bit about a man from the way he give me his glass, and he waa In a perfect frenzy of rage. When I reached It back to hltn he gripped It until his nails were white. Tlllio brought the supper basket for about alg o'clock and the shelter-housaat down for a minute by the fire. She aid Mr. Pierce (Carter to her) had started out with a gun about 'five o'clock. It waa foolish, but It made me uneasy. She got up, leaving the basket on e lbs hearth. JvMt then I beard a shot from the direction of the deer park, even TUlls noticed how pals I got I don't know what's com over you, Minnie," she said. "Tbat'a only Mr. Carter shooting rabbits. I saw him go out aa I started down ths path." I waa still nervoua when 1 put on my shawl and picked np the basket But there was a puddle on ths floor and tbs aoup had spilled. There was nothing for It but to go back for more soup, and(I got It from ths kitchen without the chef seeing me. When I opened ths aprlnghouaa door again Mr. Pierce waa by ths fire, and In front of him, where I left the basket, lay a dead rabbit There waa no baaket In sight. "Well, 1 asked, "did you change my baaket Into a dead rabbit? Basket! he aald, looking up. "What basket?" I looked everywhere; but the basket was gone, and after a while 1 decided that Mr. Dick had had an attack of thoughtfulness (or hunger) and bad carried It out htmaelf. And all the time I looked for the basket Mr. Pierce sat with the gun across hla knees and stared at tbs rabbit. I'd thank you to take that messy thing out of here," I told him. Poor little chap!" he exclaimed. "He waa playing In ths enow, and I , killed him not because I wanted food or sport, Minnie, but well, because I bad to kill something." I hops you dont have those attacks often, I said. He looked at the rabbit , and sighed. Never In my life!" he answered. "For food or sport, that's different, but - CHAPTER VII, knows we needed it. When I got back to the springhouse Miss Patty and Mr. Pierce were still Of course it ien't my affair," there. You are perfectly" he was saying. Then I opened the door and he stopped. I went on into the pantry to take off my overshoes, and as I closed the door he continued. "I didnt mean to say what I have. I meant to, explain about the other night I had a right to do that But you forced the issue. "I was compelled to tell you he was I felt I coming, she said angrily. should." "What n appeared in lh snow, and I felt lonelier than ever, and sad, although err talnly he was better (ban 1 bad expected to find him. He was a man, and not a little cub with a body hardly big enough to carry bis forefathers' But he had a cold eye and a warm mouth, aud that sort of man Is generally a social success and a matrimonial failure. I had hardly closed the door after them when It opened again and Mr. I'lerre came In. lie shut the door and, going over to one of the tables, pul a package down on It. "Here's the stuff you wanted for the I spring, Minnie," be announced. supoe 1 can't do anything more than as urgent as all this we cant wait to hunt. I'll, tell you, Van Alstyne, there's a chap down la the village he was the character man with the Sweet Peas company and he's stranded there. 1 savv him this morning. Hes washing dishes In the depot restaurant for his meals. We used to call him Doc, and Ive & hazy idea that hes a graduate M, D. name's Barnes. "Great!" cried Van Alstyne. "Lets have Barnes. You get bio. will you, its Pierce? d "Where?" "At the Bal Tabarln. You were la a logs. The man I was with told mo who tbe woman woe. It was she, I think, who suggested that yoa lea over the "Ab, so!" said Mr. von Inwald as If he Just remembered. "Ah, yes, I recall I wae with the lady was red haired, la It not? Anti It was she who desired rail" me" "You leaned over the rail and poured a glass of wine on my head. It wa very funny. The lady waa charmed." I recall It perfectly. I remember that I did It under protest It was a very fine wine, and expensive." Then you aleo recall," said Mr. Bierce, very quietly, "that because yoa wen with awell, because you war with a woman. I could not return your compliment But I demanded the privilege at some future date wbeo you were alone. It la a pity," replied Mr. von that now, when I am aloaeu there Is no wine!" No, there Is no wine," Mr. Flerc agreed slowly, but there la la-wal- I opened tbs door at that, and botli of them started. Mr. von Inwald waa standing with hla arms folded, and Mr. Pierce had one arm raised bolding up a glaze of spring water. In another second It would have been in tbzr other man's face. 1 walked over to Mr. Pierce and tarff the glass out of hie hand, and bla -presalon was funny to aee. I've been looking everywhere for that glass, 1 aald. It's got to' bo washed." Mr. von Inwald laughed and picked up hla soft hat from the table. turned around at the door and kwkod back at Mr. Pierce, still laughing. "Accept my apologies!" he oald. "I waa such a fin wine, and so ex pensive." Then he went out II' I CHAPTER Vllf, I 'was pretty nervoua when I took charge of the newt stand that e nlng. Amanda King had an appointment with the dentist and bad left' everything topsyturvey. , 1 was still straightening up when people began I come down to dinner. Two or three things happened' that! night For one, I got a good look at Misa Julia Summers. 6he was light' with at agfF haired and face but a pleasant smile. Sho'worr a drees that mad lit la' Cobbs with the yoke out look Ilk storm collar, and If she had a bvokew heart she didnt show It Hello!" she cried, looking at mf r hair, are you selling tobacco her are you the Neither," 1 answered, looking over her head. I am employed aa tho extinguisher of gay guests." "Good," she said, smiling. I'm something fine at that myself. Suppos stay here and help. If I watch that line of knitting women Ill be crocheting Arabellas woo)' In my sleep towell-fleshe- low-necke- d cigar-lighter?- " t night." Well, Bhe was too cheerful to bw angrytvith. So she stayed around for a while, and It was amazing how mucb tobacco I sold that evening. Men wtar usually bought tobies bought tbe best cigars, and when Mr. Jennings cans up, scowling, and I handed him th brand he'd smoked for years, ebo taofc one, clipped the end of It aa nest a ax finger nail and gave' It to him, feoUKef up the lighter. Im not going to' 'smoke yet, yeasgri woman," he said, glaring at her. Bvf-sh. e only smiled, Im sorry," she eald. I've k,w' waiting hungrily until some diserlwi' natmg smoker would buy one, of l&assr and light It. I love the aroma s, And he stood there for thirty one on foot on standing mostly account of the gouty one. puffing Bis a locomotive,, with her sniffing at User aroma and telling him how lonely li fplt with no friends around and Jnot Recovering from" a severe illness. At eigfit oclock be had- Mrs. Hutchluo coat and b bring him his and Miss Julia took Arabella, the doje. for a walk on the veranda! . 'Ti)e Been Looking Everywhere for That Glass. . mln--ute- blood-lust- ! He got up and put the gun In tbe corner, and 1 saw he looked white and miserable,-- ' I didn't like to scold him when he was feeling bad anyhow, but business Is business. So I asked him how long he thought people would stay if he acted as he had that day. I told him, too, to remember that he wasnt responsible for the morals or actions 'of his ' (TO ' BE CONTINUED. ) ' guests, only for their health. "Health!" he echoed, and kicked a The longest life cannot afford chair. "Health! Why, If I wanted to a single year' should be thrown awayl - fur-line- d th5 |
