Jasper County Democrat, Volume 22, Number 30, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 July 1919 — GREEN FANCY [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

GREEN FANCY

by GEORGE BARR McCUTCHEON

Author of “GRAUSTARK," “THE HOLLOW OF HER HAND,” THE PRINCE OF GRAUSTARK." ETC

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SYNOPSIS. CHAPTER I-Thom&a K. _ Hirnw, wealthy New Yorker, on a walkin* trip through New England, la caught in a ■torm miles from his destination. At a crossroads point he meets a girl in the same plight While they discuss ths situation an automobile, sent to meet ths girl, arrives and Barnes Is given a lift to Hart's tavern, while ths girl is taken On to h»‘r destination, which she tells Barnes is a place called Green Fancy. CHAPTER ll—At the tavern Barnes saps In with a stranded troupe of "barnstorming" actors, headed by Dyndon Rushcroft, and becomes Interested in them. CHAPTER TIT—As the storm grows, Barnes finds himself worrying over the safety of the girl, traveling over ths mountain roads at what he considers dangerous speed. He learns tnat Green Fancy is something of a house of mystery. Two mounted men leave the tavern in a manner which arouses Barnes' curiosity. CHAPTER IV—He meets "Miss Thackeray,” leading lady of the stranded theatrical troupe, who is acting as chambermaid. That night he is aroused by the bringing of a dying man to the tavern, one of the two who had ridden away a short time before. They tell of finding the dead body of the other man. Both had been shot. CHAPTER V—The wounded man, registered at the tavern as Andrew Paul, dies) and Barnes is informed he must not leave until after the inquest. O’Dowd and De Soto, guests at Green Fancy, visit ‘ the tavern, apparently much mystified over the affair. CHAPTER Vl—Barnes advances Rushcroft money sufficient to release the company from Its embarrassing position, thereby becoming its official backer. He visits Green Fancy, and In the grounds meets his acquaintance of the night before, finding her a girl of surprising beauty.

CHAPTER VII. Spun-Gold Hair, Blue Eyes and Various Encounters. She was quite unaware of his presence, and yet he was directly In her path, though some distance away. Her head was bent; her mien was thoughtful, her stride slow and aimless. She was slender, graceful and evidently quite tall, although she seemed a pigmy among the towering giants

that attended her stroll. Her hands were thrust deep Into the pocket of a white duck skirt. A glance revealed white shoes and trim ankles in blue. She wore no hat. Her hair was UJc® spun gol<J\.thlck, wavy and shimmering In the subdued light. Suddenly she stopped and looked up. He had p full view of her face as she gazed about as if startled by some unexpected, even alarming sound. For a second or two he held his breath, ■tunned by the amazing loveliness that was revealed to him. Then she discovered him standing there. In a'flash he realized that he was face to face with the stranger of the day before. He took two or three impulsive steps forward, his hand going to his hat—and then halted. Evidently his senses had deceived him, Tfeexe

tfas no smile In her eyes—and yet "he could have sworn that it was there an Instant before. Instead there was a level stare. “I am sorry If I startled —” he began. The figure of a man appeared as if discharged bodily from some magic tree-trunk, and stood directly In bls path—a tall, rugged man In overalls was he, who held a spade In his hand and eyetkhlm inlmlcally. Without another glance In his direction the first and more pleasing vision turned on her heel and continued her stroll, sauntering off to the right, her fair head once more bent In study, her back eloquently Indifferent to the gaze that followed her. "Who do you want to see?” Intiutred the man'yvlth the spade. Before Barnes could reply a hearty voice accosted him from behind. He whirled and saw O’Dowd approaching, not twenty yards away. The Irishman’s face was aglow with pleasure. “I knew I couldn’t be mistaken In the shape of you,” he cried, advancing with outstretched hand. “You’ve got the breadth of a dockhand In your shoulders and the trimness of a prize fighter in your waist.” They shook hands. “I fear I am trespassing,” said Barnes. His glance went over his shoulder as he spoke. The man with the spade had been swallowed up by the earth I He could not have vanished more quickly In any other way. Off among the trees were Intermittent flashes of blue and white.

“I am quite sure you are,” said O’Dowd promptly but without a trace of unfriendliness In his manner. "Be*dad, loving him as I do, I can’t help saying that Curtis Is a bally old crank. Mind ye, I’d say it to his sac often do, for the matter of that. Of course,” he went on seriously, “he is a sick man, poor devil. You see I’ve known him for a dozen years and more, and he likes me, though God knows why, unless it may be that I once did his son a good turn in London.” “Sufficient excuse for reparation, I should say,” smiled Barnes. “I introduced the lad to me only sister,” said O’Dowd, “and she kept him happy for the next ten years. No doubt I also provided Mr. Curtis with three grandchildren he might never have had but for my graciousness.” A look of distress came Into his merry eyes. “By Jove, I’d like nothing better than to ask you in to have a dish of tea —it’s teatime, I’m sure—but I’d no more think of doing It than I’d consider cutting off me head. He doesn’t like strangers. He—” “My dear fellow, don’t distress yourself,” cried Barnes heartily. “There Isn’t the least reason In the world why—" “You see, the poor old chap asks us up here once or twice a year—that is to say, De Soto and keep his sister from filling the house up with men he can’t endure. So Idng as we occupy the only available rooms, he argues, she can’t stuff them full of objectionables. Twice a year she comes for a month, In the late fall and early spring.”, “Why does he continue to live in this out-of-the-world spot? He is an old man, I take jit, and ill.” “You wouldn’t be wondering If you knew the man,” said O’Dowd. “He Is a scholar, a dreamer, a sufferer. He’s not a very old man at that Not more than sixty-flve.” “He certainly has a fanciful streak in him, building a place like that,” said Barnes, looking not at the house but into the thicket above. There was no sign of the blue and white and the spun gold that still defied exclusion from his mind’s eye. He had not recovered from the thrall into which the vision bf loveliness plunged him. He was still a trifle dazed and distraught. “Bight you are,” agreed O’Dowd; “the queerest streak In the world. It’s his notion of simplicity.” “Green Fancy. Is that the name he gave the place or does it spring from —” “’Twas christened by me own sister, Mr. Barnes, the first time she was here, two years ago. I’ll walk with you to the fence beyond if you’ve no objections,” said O’Dowd genially, and linked his arm through that of Barnes. The latter was at once subtly aware of the fact that he was being deliberately conducted from the grounds. Moreover, he was now convinced that O’Dowd had been close upon his heels from the instant he entered them. There was something uncanny In the feeling that possessed him. Such espionage as this signified something deep and imperative in the presence not only of O’Dowd but the jack-in-the-box gardener a few minutes earlier. Hla mind was still full of the lovely stranger about whom O’Dowd had so manifestly lied over the telephone. “I mqst.ask you to apologize, to. th p

young lady on" whom T*bniddered “a few moments ago, Mr. O’Dowd. She must have been startled. Pray convey to her my solicitude and excuses.” "Consider it done, my dear sir,” said the Irishman. “Our most charming and seductive guest," he went on. “Bedad, of the two of you, I*ll stake me head you were startled the most Coming suddenly upon such rare loveliness Is almost equivalent to being ■truck by a bolt or lightning. More than one painter of portraits has said that she is the most beautiful woman in the world. Mayhap you have heard of her. She Is Miss Cameron of New Orleans, a friend of Mrs. Van Dyke. We have quite an enchanting house party, Mr. Barnes, If you consider no more than the feminine side of it By j way, have you heard when the coroner is to hold his Inquests?’’ “Nothing d finite. He may wait a week,” said Barnes. “I suppose you’ll stick around until it’s over,” ventured O’Dowd. Barnes thought he detected a slight harshness In his voice. “I have quite made up my mtnd to stay until the mystery is entirely cleared up,” he said. “The case Is so interesting that I don’t want to miss a shred of IL” “I don’t blame ye,” said O’Dowd heartily. “Pd like nothing better meself than to mix up In it The next time you plan to pay us a visit telephone in advance. I may be able to persuade my host that you’re a decent, law-abiding, educated gentleman, and he’ll consent to receive you at Green Fancy. Good day to ye,” and he shook hands with the departing trespasser. “Takin’ a walk?” was the landlord’s greeting as Barnes mounted the tavern steps at dusk. (TO BH CONTINUED.)

Suddenly She Stopped and Looked Up.