nOME AND FARM MAGAZINE SECTION
19
By
Geo. Barr
McCutcbeor.
HOME AND FARM MAGAZINE SECTION SERIAL.
A Fool and His Money
Copyright, 1913,
By Geo. Ban
McCutcheon,
SYNOPSIS OP PBEVIOUS
TKRTALLMENTS. Q
In the opening inatalments of "A 4
Fool and Hit Money," Geo. Barr Me-
3 Cutcheon'i churning novel, serial
rights for which have been specially
s obtained for the Home and Farm
lfagaaine Section, we learn o! John 4
Bellamy Smart, the young man who $
it telling thia itory. He hai just
written hit tint novel, and at the
tame tine haa fallen heir to an im-
menae fortune left him by hie uncle. e
After a viait to London, Smart 4
Ukea a trip on the River Danube.
After finding an old-world town, he
4 diaenvers an ancient eaatle, which U
purchaeee from lta owner, the Count.
With hia aecretary, Poopendyke, he
e takee poaaeaaion of the immenee
itrueture, which la tuppoaed to be e
tenanted only by the caretaker and $
hia family, the Schmieka. Later Smart e
e finda a woman who is in poaaeaaion
of a wing of the castle that ia barred
e to him. She granta a bTief interview, $
4 bat refueea to leave. The aervanta
appear to be in league with her, and
Smart ia in a quandary. Later he ia 6
captivated by the wit and beauty of
the myaterioua lady and no longer
nrgea her departure. He finda that
2 abe ia divorced from a wortfalesa and
4 acheming Auatrian Count, who waa $
4 awarded the enatody of the lady 'a
child. The Count demands a million
dollara from hia rich American father- $
J in-law, when he would give it up. The
J mother abducta the child and aelecta 4
the eaatle aa a hiding place. Smart
feara trouble with the authcritiea,
4J but deeidea to aaaiat the fair divorcee, J
$ although the warna him of the $
danger. 4
iflVJHTLE I am not overjoyed at the
prospect of being dragged into
it, CounteBs, I certainly refuse
to back out at this stago of the game.
Moreover, you may rest assured that J
shall not turn you out."
"It occurred to me last night that
the safest thing for you to do, Mr.
Smart, is to get out yourself." I
(tared. She went on hnrriedly: "Can't
yon go away for a month's visit or "
"Well, upon my soul!" I gasped.
"Would you turn me out of my own
house f This beats anything I've "
"I was only thinking of your peaee
f mind and your your safety," she
cried unhappily. "Truly, truly I was."
"Well, I prefer to stay here and do
what little I can to shield you and
Bosemary," said I sullenly.
"Ill not say anything horrid again,
Mr. Smart," she said quite meekly. (1
take this occasion to repeat that I've
ever seen any one in all my life so
pretty as she!) Her moist red lip trem
bled slightly, like a censured child's.
At that instant there came a rap
ping on the door. I started appre
hensively. "It is oniy Max with the coal," she
explained, with obvious relief. "Wo
keep a fire going in the grate all day
long. You 've no idea how cold it it up
here even on the hottest days. Come
in!"
Max eame near to dropping the scut
tle when he saw me. He stood as one
petrified.
"Don't mind Mr. Smart, Max,"
aid she serenely. "He won't bite
your head off."
The poor clumsy fellow spilled quan
tities of coal over the hearth when he
attempted to replenish the fire at her
command, and moved with greater ce
lerity in making his escapo from the
room than I had ever known him to ex
ercise before. Somehow I began to re
gain a lost feeling of confidence in
myself. The confounded Schmicks, big
and little, were afraid of me, after all.
"By the way," she said, after we
bad lighted our cigarettes, "I am
nearly out of these." I like the way
she held the match for me, and then
flicked it snappily into the center of
pile of cushions six feet from the
fireplace.
I made a mental note of the shortage
and then admiringly said that I didn't
see how any man, even a count, could
help adoring a woman who held a cigar
ette to her lips as she did.
"Oh," she said coolly, "his friends
were willing worshippers, all of them.
There wasn't a man among them who
failed to n.ake violent lovo to me, and
with the Count's permission at that.
You must not look so shocked. I man
aged to keep them at a safe distance.
My unreasonable attitude toward them
UBed to annoy niy husband intensely."
"Good Lord!" ' '
"Pooh! He didn't caro what be
came of me. There was one particular
man whom he favored the most. A
dreadful man! We-quarrelled bitterly
when I declared that either he or I
would have to leave the house for
ever. I don't mind confessing to you j
that the man I speak of is your friend,
tho gentle Count Ilohendahl, some time
ogre of this castle."
I shuddered. A feeling of utter loath
ing for all these unprincipled scoundrels
came over me, and I mildly took the
name of the Lord in vain.
With an abrnpt ehange of nature, she
arose from her chair and began to pace
the floor, distractedly beating her
clinched hands against her bosom.
Twice I heard her murmur: "Oh,
God!"
This startling exposition of feeling
gave me a most nneanny shock. It eame
out of a clear sky, bo to say, at a mo
ment when I was beginning to regard
her as cold-blooded, callous, and utterly
without the emotions supposed to exist
in the breast of every high-minded
woman. And now I was witness to the
pain she suffered, now I heard her cry
out aorainst the thing that had hurt her
so pitilessly. I turned my head away,
vastly moved. Presently she moved
over to ihi window. A covert glance
revealed her standing there, looking not
down at the Danube that seemed so far
away but up at the blue sky that
seemed so near.
I sat very still and repressed, trying
to remember the harsh, unkind things
I had said to her. and berating myself
fiercely for all of them. What a stup.d,
vain glorious ass I was not to have di
vinetl something of the inward fight
she was making to conquer the emo
tions that filled her heart onto the
bursting point
The sound of dry, suppressed sobs
came to my ears. It was too much for
me. I stealthily quit my position by
the mantel piece and tip-toed toward
the door, bent on leaving her alone.
TTalfway there I hesitated, stopped and
then deliberately returned to tho fire
place, where I noisily shuffled a fresh
snpply of coals into the grate. It would
be heartless, even unmannerly, to leave
her without letting her know that I
was heartily ashamed of myself and
completely in sympathy with her. Wise
ly, however, I resolved to let her have
her cry out. Some one a great deal
more far-seeing than I let the world
into a most important secret when he
advised man to take that course when
in doubt.
For a long while I waited for her to
regain control of herself, rather dread
ing the apology she would feel called
upon to make for her abrupt reversion
to the first principles of her sex. The
sobs ceased entirely. I experienced the
sharp joy of relaxation. Her dainty
lace handkerchief found employment.
First she would dab it cautiously in
ono eye, then the other, after which
she would scrutinise its crumpled sur
face with most extraordinary interest.
At least a dozen times she repeated this
puzzling operation. What in the world
was she looking for! To this day, that
strange, sly peeking On her part re
mains a mystery to me.
She fumed swiftly upon me ; and
beckoned with her little forefinger.
Greatly concerned, I sprang toward her.
Was she preparing to swoon i What in
heaven's name was I to do if she took
it into her pretty head to do such a
thing as that! Involuntarily I shot a
quick look at her blouse. To my horror
it was buttoned down tne dsck. u
would be a bachelor's luck to But
she was smiling radiantly. Saved!
"Look!" she cried, pointing upward
through the window. "Isn't she love
ly t"
I stopped short in my tracus ana
stared at her in blank amazement.
What a stupefying creature she was!
She beckoned again, impatiently. I
obeyed with alacrity. Obtaining a
rather clear view of her eyes, I was
considerably surprised to find no trace
of departed tears. Br check was as
smooth and creamy white as it had
been beforo the deluge. Her eyelids
were dry and orderly snd her nose had
not been blown onco to my recollection..
Truly, it was a marvelous recovery. 1
still wondered.
Tho cause of ber excitement was
visible at a glance. A trim nurse-maid
stood in the small gallery which circled
the top of the turret, just above and
to tho right of us. She held in her arms
the pink-hooded, pink-coated Rosemary,
made snug against the chill winds of
her lofty parade ground. Her yellow
curls peeped out from beneath the lace
of the hood, and her round little cheeks
were the color of the peach's bloom.
'Now, isn't she lovely t" cried my
eager companion. "Even a erusty
bachelor can see that she is adorable."
"I am not a crusty bachelor," I pro
tested indignantly, "and what's more,
I am positive I should like to kiss those
red little cheeks, which is saying a
great deal for me. I've never volun
tarily kissed a baby in my life."
'I do not approve of the baby-kiss
ing custom," she said severely. "It is
extremely unhealthy and middle-class.
Still," seeing my expression change, "I
sha'n't mind your kissing her once."
"Thanks," said I humbly.
It was plain to be seen that she did
not intend to refer to the recent out
burst. Superb exposition of tact!
Catching the nurse's eye, she sig
nalled for her to bring the child down
to us. Bosemary took to me at once.
A most embarrassing thing happened.
On seeing me she held out her chubby
arms and shouted "da-da!" at the top
of her infantile lungs. That had never
happened to me before.
I flushed and the Countess shrieked
with laughter. It wouldn't have been
so bad if the nurse had known her
place. If there is one thing in this
world that I hato with fervor, it is an
ill-manenred, poorly trained Bcrvant. A
grinning nurse-maid is the Worst of all.
I may be super-sensitive and crotchety
about such things, but I can see no ex
cuse for keeping a servant especially
a nurse-maid who laughs at everything
that's said by her superiors, even
though the quip may be no more Bide
splitting than a two syllabled "da-da."
"Ha, ha!" I laughed bravely. "She
she evidently thinks I look like the
Count. He is very handsome, you say.
"Oh, that isn't it," cried the
Countess, taking Bosemary in her arms
and directing me to a spot on her rosy
cheek. "Kiss right there, Mr. Smart.
There! Wasn't it a nice kiss, honey
bunch f If you are a very, very nice
littlo girl the kind gentleman will kiss
yon on the other cheek some day. She
calls every man she meets da-da, ex
plained the radiant young mother.
She's awfully European m her habits,
you see. You need not feel flattered.
She calls Conrad and Rudolph and Max
da-da, and this morning in the back
window she applied the same handsome
compliment to your Mr. Poopendyke."
"Oh," said I, rather more crest
fallen than relieved.
"Would you like to hold her, Mr.
Smartt She's such a darling to hold."
"No no, thank you," I cried, back
ing off.
'Oh, you will come to it, never
fear," she said gaily, as she restored
Rosema'ry to the nurse's arms. "Won't
he, Blake "
"He will, my lady," said Blake with
conviction. I noticed this time that
Blake's smile wasn't half bad.
At that instant Jinko, the chow,
pushed the door open with his black
nose and strolled imposingly into the
room. He proceeded to treat me in the
most cavalier fashion by bristing and
growling. .
The Conntoss opened her eyes very
wide.
"Dear me," she sighed, "you. must
be very like the Count, after all. Jinko
never growls at any one but him."
At dinner that evening I asked Poop
endyke point blank if he could call to
mind a marriage in New York society
that might fit the principals in this
puzzling case.
Ho hemmed and hawed and appeared
to be greatly confused.
'Really, sir, I I really, I"
'You make it a point to read all of
the society news," I explained; "and
you are a great band for remembering
names and faces. Think hard."
"As a matter of fact, Mr. Smr.rt, I
do remember this particular marriage
very clearly," said he, looking down at
bis plate.
"You dol" I shouted eagerly. The
new footman stared. "Splendid! Tell
me, who is sheor was she!
My secretary looked me steadily in
the eye.
"I'm sorry, sir,, but but l ean i ao
it. I promised her this morning I
wouldn't let it be dragged out of mo
with red hot tongB."
CHAPTER VII.
I Receive Visitors.
She was indeed attended by faithful
slaves.
The east wine of the castle was as
still as a mouse on tho day my bouse
party arrived. Grim old doors took on
new oadlocks. keyholes were caretuuy
stopped up; creaking floors were
Miked: windows were picketed by un
compromising articles of furniture de
ployed to keep my ruthless refugee irom
adventuring too close to the danger
zone; and adamantine instructions were
served out to all of my vassals. Every-
thine appeared to be m tip-top shape
for the experiment in stealth.
And vet. T trembled. Mv secret seem
ed to be safely planted, but what would
the harvest be1 I knew I should watch
those upper windows with hypnotic
zeal, and listen with straining ears lor
the inevitable squall of a child or the
bark of a dog. My brain ran riot with
incipient subterfuges, excuses, apologies
and lies with which my position was to
be sustained.
There would not be a minute during
th week to come when I would be per
fectly free to call my soul my own, and
as for nerves! well, with good luck they
might endure the strain. Popping up in
bed out of a sound sleep at the slight
est disturbance, with ears wide open
and nerves tingling, was to be a nightly
occupation at uncertain intervals; that
was plain to be seen. All day long I
would be shivering with anxiety and
praying for night to come bo that l
might lie awake and pray for the sun to
rise, and in this way pass the time as
quickly as possible. There would be dif
ficulty in getting my visitors to bed
early, another thing to test my power
at conniving. They were bridge play
ers, of course, and as such would be up
till all hours of the morning overdoing
Jhemsclves in the effort to read each
other's thoughts.
T thanked the Lord that my elcctrio
lighting system would not be installed
until after they had departed. Ordi
narily the Lord isn 't thanked when an
electric light company fails to perform
its work on schedule time, but in this
case delay was courted.
Wo were all somewhat surprised and
not a little disorganized by the appear
ance of four unexpected servants in tne
train of my party. We hadn't counted
on anything quite so elaborate. There
were two lady's maids, not. on friendly
terms with each other: a French valet
who had the air of one used to being
served on a tray outside the servants'
quarters; and a German attendant with
hands constructed especially for the
purpose of kneading and gouging the
innermost muscles of his master, who it
appears had to be kneaded and gouged
three times a day by a masseur in order
to stave off paralysis, locomotor ataxia
or something equally unwelcome to a
high liver.
We had ample room for all this physi
cal increase, but no beds. I transferred
the problem to Poopendyke. How he
solved it 1 do not know, but from the
woe-begone expression on his face the
morning after the first night, and the
fact that Britton was unnecessarily
rough in shaving me, I gathered that
the two of them had slept on a pile of
rugs in the lower hall.
Elsie Hazzard presented me to her
friends and, with lordly generosity, I
presented the castle to them. Her hus
band, Dr. George, thanked me for sav
ing all their lives and then, feeling a
draft, turned l p his coat collar and in
formed me that wed all die if I didn't
have the cracks stopped up. He seemed
unnecessarily testy about it.
(To Be Continued.)
Cornell University recently dedicatel
a forestry building in connection wits)
the state college of agriculture,