Part 18 (1/2)
Then she telephoned to a garage: ”I want my car at two o'clock!”
CHAPTER XIV
A RISE IN THE WORLD
The Happy Heart was an ideal resting-place for a tired man, whether town or country-bred To the forreater contrast than between The Happy Heart and the flaring brazen public-houses which offer solace to the dwellers of the paveht, warmth and the stimulated oblivion of the s alike of the physically tired and ood liquor--and all who go to Shereling can rely on the pro fulfilled--it makes an esthetic appeal For it is still an old-fashi+oned country tavern of the prettiest type, destined to make even the total abstainer wonder whether he be so absolutely in the right after all It boasts a porch, over which a Virginia creeper spreads its amorous leaves; rose-bushes waft a welcoolfer after the day's striving A meditative cow, apparently an artistic fixture, chews the cud in a field hard by froe and ancient chiood cheer! I conposts you see sometimes in the south,--a pillar placed separate fro board above
The superscription, by the as due to the fancy of the squire's wife When the squire entered into his inheritance and berry and have everything handsoinative creature, had imbued him with ideas for the betterment of his dependents, and he had tried to fulfil her wishes He inclined to the practical side, and to hi and sanitation of Shereling She, practical enough, thought that estheticisrowth; and to her shade the visitor does reverence when he ade library with its good pictures, the addition of a tower to the church, and a fine organ Last, but not least, she persuaded her husband to have the inn called The Happy Heart, instead of The Bull and Dog
In this desirable residence Tony and Robert Hedderwick sat at two o'clock, enjoying their cigars after a copious lunch Robert had slept the whole , and now felt a new man Tony was tired, but disinclined for bed,--there had been too ht be more to come This was such a new sensation that he had no trouble in propping his eyelids till the evening, and he listened with zest while Robert prattled cheerfully of his incredible adventures They had, of course, agreed to work as partners, so long as tedium kept away: they were mutually attracted, and already ed: Tony had repeated to the envious churchwarden some of the tamer episodes of his dilettante existence; Robert had tried to cap theht to let your wife know so”
The churchwarden looked a little uneasy ”If I write I ht be traced by the post I'et hier”
”There's danger any way,” said Tony, shtfully ”From what you tell me, I should think Mrs Hedderould not hesitate to use detectives if she thought it necessary I should hardly think it would be long before they picked up your trail, unless you communicate with her Really, you know----” He broke off suddenly and laughed ”No! don't write; I've got a better plan I won't tell you now, but keep it for a little--till a dull hour co to do”
Robert, naturally curious, begged for enlightenround, he declared that there was no hurry for a day or two,--or at least for a few hours Mrs Hedderould probably take a couple of days to make up her mind to use the police, andthe thrills of the ot his way, of course: he was accustomed to lead and exact obedience Personality and class-consciousness, coupled with a humor that appealed to his victims, made the task easy
”I haven't told you yet,” said he, after silencing Robert's objections, ”what I did withof the village More, I followed our mysterious friend--let's call him Billy,--and from a distance saw him enter The Quiet House (Queer place that, by the way Surrounded by a brick wall ten feet high,--couldn't get a gliate) The landlord tells me that he hasn't booked a bed here, so it looks either as if heor stay at The Quiet House”
”A good job, too,” commented Robert ”It wouldn't do for hinized at once, and that would reed Tony ”If he hung about here you'd have to stay in bed all day,--rather a depressing prospect when fun is proive a false name to the landlord If Billy heard of Mr
Hedderwick it would s”
Robert had an instinctive repugnance to the plan In some obscure way it savored of criminality, and the shackles of convention were still not wholly broken But in the end Tony again trius He did not particularly care for the choice; but as Tony said he looked the perfect essential Bangs and that any other naave way
”Oh, and I saw some one else,” continued Tony when the point was settled ”A reirl She, too, entered The Quiet House--so by the roadside when she ca She snubbed h to drop a card It bore the naht, who, I understand, owns The Quiet House But somehow I don't feel sure that the card is hers”
”Why?”
”Dunno,” said Tony with a dissatisfied air ”I haven't any reasonable evidence A kind of intuition, I suppose,else
Soot an Arkwright personality Now, you siht”
”What was she like?”
”Bangs being a respectable ood looks have no interest for hierness) ”Well, they oughtn't to, then As a ood lord!”
He broke off and ju attitude Robert did the same, for in the porch they heard the voice of Lionel--or ”Billy,”
as they had named their anonymous friend--in conversation with the landlord The twothe weather, and Tony and his partner looked frantically at each other for a plan In another ht enter the parlor, and there was no escape The door was but a yard distant from the porch: theopened on the road To leave the rooht nized by Lionel would ruin all That is, it ht effectively put an end to the development of the adventure, for if ”Billy's” suspicions were awakened he ht take the first train back to town At least he would be put on his guard, and that would s more difficult than ever It was iht
But where? He could not be concealed under the table, for no cloth lay upon it, drooping decorously over the edges There was no cupboard large enough to contain the bulk of Bangs No friendly screen, the tie of the dramatist, stood in any corner No Falstaffian basket was there to promise aid The room was a Sahara in view of the unhappy arrival of ”Billy,” and beads of perspiration stood out on Robert's brow as he waited, without a plan, helpless as a trapped rabbit
Tony's friends used sometimes to coe was not unjust; but, as Tony would point out when accused, he was equally ready to sacrifice himself if circumstances demanded it It was unfortunate, no doubt, that Fate seemed to prefer the immolation of a friend, but that was not his fault,--it was Fate who should be reviled This was an occasion calling for presence ofdiscipline If the adventure of his life was to be carried through successfully, no minor considerations--such as friendshi+p or soot--could be allowed to weigh With a strong gesture he pointed to the old-fashi+oned hearth and capacious chio!”