Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 124, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 May 1914 — WHERE THERES A WILL [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

WHERE THERES A WILL

by MARY ROBERTS RINEHART

SLOWER, TEN, WHEN A MAN MARELIES ILLUSTRATED & EDGAR. BERT SMITH CQPMMGHr 0

SYNOPSIS.

Minnie. spring-house girl at Hope sanatorium. tells the story. It opens with the arrival of Miss Patty Jennings, who is reported to he engaged to marry a prince, and the'death of the old doctor who owns the sanatorium. The estate is left to a scapegrace grandson, Dicky Carter, who must appear on a certain date and run the sanatorium successfully for two months or forfeit the inheritance. A case of mumps delays Dick’s arrival. Mr. Thoburn is hovering about in hopes of securing the Place for a summer hotel. Pierce, a college man tn hard luck. Is prevailed upon by Van Alstyne, Dick’s broth-er-in-law, to impersonate the missing heir and take charge of the sanatorium until Carter arrives. Dick, who has eloped with Patty’s younger sister, Dorothy, arrives. and the couple go Into hiding in the old shelter house. Fearing, to face Dorothy’s father, who is at the sanatorium, Dick arranges with Pierce to continue In the management of the property. Julia Summers, leading lady of Pierce s Stranded theatrical company, arrives. She to suing Dicky for breach of promise. The prinoe, under the incognito of Oskar von Inwald. arrives at the sanatorium. Barnes, character man with Pierce's show and a graduate M. D.. takes the place of sanatorium physician. Pierce, who to very much Interested In Patty, shows a strong dislike for Inwald. Dick becomes peevish over the independent manner in Which Pierce to running the sanatorium. Miss Summers discovers that the Dick Carter<she to seeking is the owner of the sanatorium. Dick, in attempting to steal his love letters from Miss Bummers, breaks into the wrong room and gets the wrong letters. Mtos Summers’ dog has convulsions from overeating. The patients believe it has been poisoned by the doped spring water. In a panic they go to Pierce and start a row. He tells them the truth about themselves and they make preparations to leave. A snow blockade compels the patients to return. Pierce lays out a course of rational and simple living and all agree to give it a trial. They take to the new order of things enthusiastically and the effects are quickly seen. Dick and his relatives however are n«t pleased. They hold a protest meeting in the, shelter house and Mtos Summers walks In on them. Miss Summers* vindictiveness toward Dick dwindles away at sight of his wife,. Dorothy. Thoburn and Von Inwald plan a feast with the hope of making the guests dissatisfied so that Thoburn can grab the sanatorium. Dr. Barnes declares nls loye for Minnie. Pierce tells Patty some truths about her proposed marriage to the prince and declares his own love for her.

CHAPTIR XlV.—Continued. “Suppose,” he said with a gleam in his eyes, “suppose I preach love, love, tore!’* < She put her fingers in her ears again. “Say It to Minnie,” she cried, K and turned her back to him. “Very well," he said. “Minnie, Miss Jennings refuses to listen, and there are some things I must say. Onoe again I am going to register a protest against her throwing hershlf away in a loveless marriage. I—l feel strongly on the subject, Minnie." She half turned, as tt to Interrupt Then she thought better of it and kept her fingers in her ears, her face flushed. But he had learned what he hoped—that she could hear him. “You ask me why I feel so strongly, Minnie, and you are right to ask. Under ordinary circumstances, Minnie, any remark of mine on the subject would be ridiculous impertinence.” He stopped and eyed her back, but she did not move. “It is Impertinence under any circumstances, but consider the provocation. I see a young, beautiful and seneltlve girl, marrying, frankly without love, a man whom I know to be unworthy, and you ask me to stand aside and allow it to happen!” “Are you still preaching?” she asked coldly over her shoulder. "It must be a long sermon." And then, knowing he had only • moment more, his voice changed and became deep and earnest His hands, that were clutching a chair-back, took a stronger hold, so that the ends of the nails were white. “You see, Minnie,” he said, turning a little pale, "I—l love Miss Jennings myself. You have known it a long time, for you love her, too. It has come to the point that I measure the day by the hours when I can see her. She doesn’t care for me; sometimes I think she hates me.” He paused here, but Miss Patty didn't move. “I haven't anything to offer a woman except a clean life and the kind of love that a woman could be proud of. I have no title—” Miss Patty suddenly took her fingers out of her ears and turned around. She was flushed and shaken, l>ut she looked past him without blinking an eyelash to me. “Dear me,” she said, “the sermon must have been exciting, Minnie! You are quite trembly!!" And with that she picked up her muff and went out, with not a glance . at him. He looked at ma “Well,** ho said, “that's over. She's angry, Minnie, and she'll never forgive ma." “Stuff!" I snapped, “I noticed shp waited to hoar it all, and no real woman ever hated a man for saying bo loved her." CHAPTIR XV. I carried out the supper to the shel-ter-house as usual that night, but I might have saved myself the trouble. Mrs. Dicky was sitting on a box, with her hair in puffs and the folding card table before her, and Mr. Dick was uncorking a bottle of champagne with a nail. There were two or throe queerlooking cans open on the tabla. Mrs. Dick looked at my basket and fumed t up her nose. Tut tt anywhere, Minnie/* she said

loftily, “I dare say it doesn’t contain Anything reckless.” "Cold ham and egg salad,” I said, setting it down with a slam. "Stewed primes and boiled rice for dessert If those cans taste as they smell, you’d better keep the basket to fall back on. Where’d you get that?" Mr. Dick looked at me over the bottle and winked. "In the next room,” be said, "Iced to the proper temperature, paid for by somebody else, and coming after a two weeks* drought! Minnie, there isn’t a shadow on my joy!" “He’ll miss it," I said. But Mr. Dick was pouring out three large tumbleraful of the stuff, and he held one out to me. “Miss It!” he exclaimed. “Hasn’t he been out three times today, tapping his little cachet And didn’t he bring out Moody and the senator and von Inwald this afternoon, and didn’t they sit in the next room there from two to four, roaring songs and cracking bottles and jokes.” "Beasts!” Mrs. Dicky said savagely. “Two hours, and we daren’t move!!" "Drink pretty creature!” Mr. Dick eaid, motioning to my glass. "Don’t be afraid of it, Minnie r it’s food and drink." "I don’t like it," I said, sipping at It “l*d rather have the spring water,”. "You’ll have to cultivate a taste for it,” he explained. "You'll like the second half better.” I got it down somehow and started for' the door. Mr. Dick came after me with something that smelled flshy on the end of a fork. "Better eat something," he suggested. "That was considerable champagne, Minnie.” “Stuff and nonsense,” I said. "I was tired and it has reseted me. That’s all, Mr. Dick.” i “Sure.” "Certainly,” I said with dignity, "I’m really rested, Mr. Dick. And happy—* I’m very happy, Mr. Dick.” “Perhaps I’d better close the door," he said. "The light may be seen—” “You needn’t close it until I’ve finished talking,” I, said. "I’ve done my best for you and yours, Mr. Dick. I hope you appreciate It Night after night I’ve tramped out here through the snow, and lost sleep, and lied myself black in the face—you’ve no Idea how I’ve had to lie, Mr. Dick.” "Come in and shut the door, Dick,” Mrs. Dick called, "I’m freezing.” That made me mad. “Exactly,” I said, glaring at her through the snow, bringing you meals that you scorn—oh, yes, you' scorn them. What did you do to the basket tonight? Look at it, lying there, neglected" In a corner, with p—perfectly good ham and stewed fruit In it” y; All of a sudden I felt terrible about the way they had treated the basket, and I eat down on the steps and began to cry. I remember that, and Mr. Dick sitting down beside me and putting his arm around me and calling me “good old Minnie,” and for heaven’s sake not to cry so loud. But I was past caring. I had a sort of recollection of his getting me to stand up, and our walking through about 31 miles of snow to the springhouse. When we got there he stood off in the twilight and looked at me. “I’m sorry, Minnie,” he eaid, "I never dreamed It would do that" "Do what?" "Nothing. You’ve sure you won’t forget?” - ■ Of ■ "I never forget” I Mid. I had got

up the steps by this time and was trying to figure why the springhouse door had two knobs. I hadn’t any Idea what ho meant -Remember.” ho said, very slowly. “Thobura to going to hare his party tonight Instead of tomorrow. Tell Pierce that Tonight, not tomorrow” I was pretty weU ashamed when I got in the cpringhouse and sat down in the dark. I kept saying over and over to myself, so I'd not forget “tonight not tomorrow,” but I couldn’t remember what was to be tonight I was sleepy, too, and my legs were cold and numb. I remember going into the pantry for a steamer rag, and sitting down there for a minute, with the rug

around my knees before I started to the house. And that is all I do remember. • • • • • » • I was awakened by a terrible hammering In the top of my head. I reached out for the glass of water that I always put beside my bed at night and I touched a door-knob Instead. Then I realized that the knocking wasn’t all in my head. There was a sort of steady movement of feet on the other side of the door, with people talking and laughing. And above It all rose the steady knockknock of somebody beating on tin. “Can’t do it.” It was the bishop’s voice. “I am convinced that nothing but dynamite will open this tin of lobster.” “Just a moment, bishop,” Mr. Thoburn’s voice and the dink of bottles, “I have a can opener somewhere. You’ll find the sauce a la Newburg—” “Here, somebody, a glass, quick? A bottle’s broken!” “Did anybody remember to bring salt and pepper?" .... .. "Dear Mr. Thoburn!” It sounded like Miss Cobb. “Think of thinking of all this!” “The credit is not mine, dear lady,” Mr. Thoburn said. “Where the deuce to that corkscrew? No, dear lady, man makes his own destiny, but his birth date remains beyond his control.” "Ladies and gentlemen,” somebody said, “to Mr. Thoburn’s birthday beyond his control!” There was the clink of glasses, but I had remembered what it had been that I was to remember. And now it was too late. I was trapped In the pantry of my springhouse and Mr. Pierce was probably asleep. I clutched my aching head and tried to think. I was roused by hearing somebody say that Miss Jennings had no glass, and by steps nearing the pantry. I had just time to slip the bolt "Pantry's locked!” said a voice. “Drat that Minnie!” somebody said. "The girl’s a nuisance.” “Hush!” Miss Summers said. “She’s probably in there now—taking down what we say and what we eat Convicting us put of our own mouths.” I held my breath and the knob rattled. Then they found a glass for Miss Patty and forgot the pantry. Under cover of the next burst of noises I tried the pantry window, but it was frozen shut Nothing but a hammer would have loosened it I began to dig at it with a wire hairpin, but I hadn’t much hope. The fun in the springhouse was getting fast and furious. Miss Summers was leaning against the pantry door and I judged that most of the men in the room were around her, as usual. I put my ear to the panel of the door, and I could pretty nearly see what was going on. They were toasting Mr. Thoburn, and getting hungrier every minute as the supper was put out on the card tables. , "To the bottle!” somebody said. “In infancy, the milk bottle; in our prime, the wine bottle; in our dotage, the pm Bottle.” Mr. von Inwald came over and stood beside Miss Summers, and I could hear every whisper. “I have good news for you," she said in an undertone. "Oh! And what?” "Sh! You may recall,” she said, "the series of notes, letters, epistles, with which you have been honoring me lately?" "How could I forget? They were written In my heart’s blood I" "Indeed!” Her voice lifted Its eyebrows, so to speak. “Well, somebody got in my room last night and stole I dare say a pint of your heart’s blood. They're gone.” He was pretty well upset, as he might be, and ehe stood by and listened to the things he said, which. If they w*ere as bad tn English as they sounded In German, I wouldn’t like to write down. And when he cooled down and condensed, as you ’’may say, into English, he said Miss Jennings must have seen the letters, tor she would hardly speak to him. And Miss Summers said she hoped Miss Jennings had—she was too nice a girl to treat shamefully. \ And after he bad left her there alone, I heard a sort of scratching on the door behind Miss Summers* back, and then something being shoved under the door. I stooped down and picked It upu It was a key! I struck a match, and I saw by the tag that It was ths one to the old doctor’s rooms. I knew right off what it meant Mr. Pieroe had gone to bed, or pretended to throw , them off the track and Thoburn had locked him In! Thoburn hadn’t taken any chances. He knew the influence Mr. Pierce had over them all, and he and his champagne and tin cans had to get In their work before Mr. Pieros had another chance at them. I had no time to wonder how Miss Summers knew I was In the pantry. I tried ths window again, but it wouldn't work. Somebody In the spring-house was shouting, " Hot butter blue beans, please come to supper!’” and I could hear them crowding around the tables. 1 worked

frantically with the hairpin, and just then two shadowy figures outside slipped around the corner of the building. It was Mr. Pierce And Doctor Barnes! I darted back and put my ear to the doof, but they did not come in at once. Mr. Thoburn made a speech,, saying how happy he was that they were all well and able to go back to civilization again, where the broiled lobster flourished like a green bay tree and the prune and the cabbage were unknown. ' There was loud applause, and then Senator Biggs cleared his throat. "Ladies and gentlemen, distinguished fellow guests,” he began, “I suggest a toast to the autocrat of Hope Springs. It is the only blot on the evening, that, owing to the exigencies of the occasion, he can not be with us. Securely fastened In his room, he Is now sleeping the sleep that follows a stomach attuned to prunes, a mind attuned to rule.” "Eat, drink and be merry!” somebody said, "for to-morrow you diet!" There was a swish and rustle, as If a woman got up In a hurry. "Do you mean,” said Miss Patty’s clear voice, "that you have dared to lock Mr. Pier—Mr. Carter in his room?” "My dear young lady," several of them began, but she didn’t give them time. “It Is outrageous, infamous!” she stormed. I didn't need to see her to know how she looked. “How dare you! Suppose the building should catch Are!" “Fire!” somebody said In a bewildered voice. “My dear young lady—•” “Don’t ‘my dear young lady* me," she said angrily. “Father, Bishop, will you stand for this? Why, he may jump out the window and hurt himself! Give me the key!” Miss Julia's fingers were beating a tattoo behind her, as If she was afraid I might miss It “If he jumps out he probably will hurt himself. .It is Impossible to release him now, Miss Jennings, but if you insist we can have a , mattress placed under the window.” “Thanks, Thoburn. It won’t be necessary.” The voice came from the door, and a hush fell on the party. I slipped my bolt and peeped out Framed in the doorway was Mr. Pierce? with Doctor Barnes looking over his shoulder. The people in the spring-house were abject That's the only word for it Craven, somebody suggested later, and they were that, too. They smiled sickly grins and tried to be defiant and most of* them tried to put down whatever they held tn their hands and to look Innocent Mr. Pierce never smiled. He wouldn’t let them speak a word In defense or explanation. He simply lined them up as he did at gym, and sent them, one by one, to the corner with Whatever they had In their hands. He made Mr. Jennings give up a bottle of anchovies that he’d stuffed in his pocket, and the bishop had to come over with the cheese. And when It was all over, he held the door open and they went back to the house. They fairly ducked past him In the doorway, although he hadn’t said a dozen words. It was a rout The backbone of the rebellion was broken. I knew that never again would the military discipline of Hope Springe be threatened. Thoburn mlghtas well pack and go. It was Mr. Pierce’s day. Mr. von Inwald was almost the last He stood by, sneering, with an open bottle of olives In his hand, watching the others go out Mr. Pierce held the door open and eyed him. _ “I’ll trouble you to put that bottle with the others in the corner,” Mr. Pierce said sternly. They stood glaring at each other angrily. “And If I refuse?” “You know the rules. If you refuse, there Is a hotel at Finleyville.” Mr. von Inwald glanced past Mr. Pierce to where Doctor Barnes stood behind him, with his cauliflower ear and his pugilist's shoulders. Then he looked at the bottle in his hand, and from tt to Mlfis Patty, standing haughtily by. "I have bocne much for you, Patricia," he said, "but I refuse to be bullied any longer. I shall go to the hotel at Finleyville, and I shall take the little olives with me.” He smiled unpleasantly at Mr. Pierce, whose face did'not relaxHe walked jauntily to the door and turned, flourishing the bottle. “The land of the free and the home of the bravo!” he sneered, raising the bottle In the air. Standing jeering in the doorway, he bowed to Miss Patty and Mr. Pierce, and put an olive into his mouth. But Instantly he made a terrible face, and clapped a hand just tn front of his left ear. He stood there a moment. his face distorted —then he darted into the night, and I never saw him again. "Mumps!” Doctor Barnes ejaculated, and stood staring after h&n from the stope.

CHAPTER XVI. There was no one left but Miss Patty. As she started out past him with a crimson spot in: each cheek Mr. Pierce put his hand on her arm. She hesitated, and he closed the door on Doctor Barnes and put his back against it I had just time to slip back into the pantry and shut myoelf in- . For a minute there wasn’t a sound. Then—"l told you I should come,” Miss Patty said, in her haughtiest manner. “You need not trouble to be disagreeable.” “Disagreeable!” he repeated. "I am abject!" “I don’t understand,” she said. “But you needn’t explain. It really does not matter.” “It matters to me. I had to do this tonight I promised you I would make good, and if I had let this pass— Don’t you eee, I couldn’t let It go.” “You can let me go, now.” “Not until I have justified myself to you.” "I am not interested.” I heard him take a step or two toward her. “I don’t quite believe that” he said In A lovsdtone. “You were interested in what r said here .this afternoon.” "I didn’t hear ft” "None of It?” "Not—not aB.” "I spoke, you remember, about your Sister, and about Dick—” he paused. I could imagine her staring at him In her wide-eyed way. “You never mentioned them!” she said scornfully and stopped. He laughed, a low laugh, boyish and full of triumph. “Ah!” he said. “So you did heart I’m going to say ft again, anyhow, I love you, Patty. I’m—l’m mad for you. I’ve loved you hopelessly for so long that tonight, when there’s a ray of hope. I’m —I’m hardly sane. I —” "Please!” she said. "I love you so much that I waken at night just to say your name, over and over, and when dawn comes through the windows—" “You don't know what you are say. Ing!” she said wildly. “I am—still —” "I welcome the daylight,” he went on, talking very fast, "because v it means another day when I can see you. If It sounds foolish. It’s —It’s really lota worse than It sounds, Patty.” The door opened just then, and Doctor Barnes* voice spoke from the step. “I May," he complained, "you. needn’t—” "Get «ut!” Mr. Pierce said angrily, and the door slammed. The second’s Interruption gave him time, I think, to see how far he’d gone, and his voice, when he spoke again, was not so hopeful. "I'm not pleading my cause," be said humbly, "I know I haven't any cause. I have nothing to offer you.” “You said this afternoon," Miss Patty said softly, “that you could offer me the—the kind of love that a woman could be proud of." She finished off with a sort of gasp, as if ehe was shocked at herself. They were standing facing each other, he all flushed and eager and my dear Miss Patty pale and trembly. But she wasn't shy. She was looking straight Into hie eyes and her blessed lips were quivering. "How can you care?" she asked, when he only stood and looked at

her. "I’ve been such a—such a selfish beast!" "Hush!” He leaned toward her, and I held my breath. "Ton are everything that Is best In the world, and I—what can I offer you? I have nothing. not even this sanatorium! No money, no title—" “Oh, that!” she interrupted, and stood waiting. "Well, you—you could at least offer yourself!” “Patty!” She wait right over to him and put her hands on his shoulders. "And If you won’t," she said. "I’ll offer myself Instead!" His arms went around her like a flash at that, and he tri seed her. then, without releaainr her. he raised his head, with such a look of victory in his face that I etfll see it

sometimes in my sleep, and his eysl caught mine through the crack. But if I’d looked to see him drop; \ her I was mistaken. He drew heel up and kissed her again, but this tiaM on the forehead. And when he'd let her go and she had dropped Into « chair and hid her shining face against the back, as If she was ashamed, which she might well be, he stoodl laughing over her bent head at me. “Gome out, Minnie!" he “Come out and hear the good news!"* “Hear!” I said, “I’ve seen all the news I -want” "Gracious!” Mtss Patty said, and buried her head again. But he hadl reached the shameless stage; a maul who is really in love always seems to get to that point sooner or later. He stooped and kissed the back of her neck, and If his hand shook when he pushed in one of her shell hairpins it . was excitement and not fright. "I hardly realise It, Minnie,” he said. "I don't deserve her for a minute. , “Certainly not,” I said. “He does.” Miss Patty's voice smothered. Then she got up and came over to me. “There is going to be an awful fuss, Minnie,” she said. “Think of Aunt Honoria—and Oskar!" “Let them fuss!” I said grandly. "If the worst comes, you can spend your honeymoon in the shelter-house. I’m so used to carrying meals there now that It’s second nature.” And at that they both made for me, and as Mr. Pierce kissed me Doctor Barnes opened the door. He stood for a moment, looking queer and wild, ’ and then he slammed the door and we heard him stamping down the steps, Mr. Pierce had to bring him back, e e e e e e e e Well, that’s all there is to IL The place filled up and stayed filled, bat not undbr Mr. Pierce. Mr. Jennings said ability of his kind was wasted there, once the place was running, and set him to building a railroad somewhere or other, with him and Mise Patty living in a private car, and he carrying ja- portable telephone with him so he can talk to her every hour or so. Mr. Dick and his wife are rum nlng the sanatorium, or think they are. Doctor Barnes to the whole place, really. Mr. Jennings was so glad to have Mtos Patty give up the prince and send him back home, after he’d been a week In the hotel at Finleyville looking as if bls face would collapse if you stuck a pin in It—Mr. Jennings was so happy, not to mention having worked off his gout at the wood-pile, that he forgave the Dickys without any trouble, and evm went out and had a meal with them in tiie shelter-house before they moved in, with Mr. Dick making the coffee. I mtos the spring, as I said at the beginning. It la hard to teach an OM dog new tricks, but with Mtos Fatty happy, and with Doctor Borneo a round— Thoburn came out the afternoon bo* fore he left, just after the rest hoorJ and showed me how much too loose* his waistcoat had become. 'Tvs lost, Minnie," he confessed* “Lost fifteen pounds aad the dreamy of my life. But Pre found something, too.” "What?” "My waist Ufee!” he said, and tbrewi his chast out 'A "You look fifteen years younger,” I| said, and at that he came over to mo and took my hand. "Minnie,” he said, "maybe you and| I haven’t always agreed, but I alwayaj liked you, Minnie—always.” “Thanks,” I said, taking my hand away. “You’ve got all kinds of spirit,” he said. “You’ve saved the place, all right And If you—•if you tire of this, and want another home, I'Ve got ono twelve rooms, center hall, tiled baths, cabinet mantels—l’d be good to you, Minnie. The right woman could da anything with me." When I grasped what he meant, $ was staggered. “I’m sorry," I explained, as gently! as I could. "I’m—l’m going to marryi Doctor Barnes one of these days.” He stared at me. Then he laughed; a little and went toward the door. | "Barnes!” he said, turning. **AM other redhead, by gad! Well, HI teffi you this, young woman, you’re but he’s redder. Your days for nuM nlng things to suit yourself are over.”! *Tm glad of it,” I retorted. **X wank to be managed myself for a chaageu Somebody,” I said, "who won’t ba aH ways th!nklng how he feels, unless tt*a| how he feels toward ma,” “Bah! HeTl bully you.” "It's human nature to like to hat bullied,*” I quoted. "And I guess not afraid. He's healthy and a man’s never a crank.” . “A case of yours for health, eht’l he said, and held out his hand. rTOT wmi

"I Knew Right Off What It Meant.”

"Don’t Deserve Her for a Minute.”