Part 17 (1/2)

”None,” said Barbara, ”At least I haven't. You may, however, when you hear that Ruth won the champions.h.i.+p at Newport last summer.”

”You look to me like a pretty good player, too,” said Stephen.

Just then Jimmie Butler appeared, bearing a hammock and a book.

”You can get in the next set, Jimmie,” called Stephen. ”We are just starting in on this one.”

”I don't care for the game,” replied Jimmie. ”I prefer a book 'neath the bough, especially as this house party seems to go in companies of twos.

Every laddie has a la.s.sie but me, so I've taken to literature.”

He waved his hand toward the garden, and then toward the walk leading from the house.

In the old-fas.h.i.+oned flower garden, a stone's throw from the court, could be seen Miss Sallie and the major strolling along the paths, stopping occasionally to examine the late roses and smell the honeysuckle trained over wicker arches.

In the direction of the house appeared Mollie and Grace, followed by Martin and Jose. The sound of their laughter floated over to Jimmie as he swung in his hammock.

”Keep away, all,” he called as he spread himself comfortably among the cus.h.i.+ons and opened his book. ”I intend to enter a monastery and take the vow of silence, and this is a good time to begin. It's easy because I have n.o.body to talk to.”

”What are you grumbling about, Jimmie?” asked the major, who came up just then with Miss Sallie.

”Oh, nothing at all, Major,” replied Jimmie. ”I was only saying how delightful it was to see all you young people walking around this sylvan place in couples. It reminds me of my lost youth.”

”Jimmie's lonesome,” exclaimed Martin. ”We'll have to get up some more excitement if we want to keep him happy.”

”Very well,” replied the major. ”We will. The most exciting thing I can think of, just now, is to take a long ride in the automobiles, or go driving, whichever the ladies prefer, and wind up at the forest pool for tea. How does that strike you, Jimmie?”

”It sounds fine,” said Jimmie, ”if you mean the haunted pool. It is a beautiful spot, and it has a new haunt since last you saw it, Major.

It's haunted by water nymphs now.”

”Only nymphs in wading,” cried Mollie, blus.h.i.+ng. ”Jimmie caught us in the act yesterday morning.”

”Oho!” exclaimed the major. ”You really are little girls, after all, are you?”

”Think of going in wading in that lonesome spot,” said Grace, ”and actually meeting somebody as casually as if you were walking up Fifth Avenue?”

”You're likely to meet Jimmie anywhere,” said Martin. ”He's a regular Johnnie-on-the-spot. He is the first person to get up and the last one to go to bed. Excitements have a real attraction for him. Haven't they, Jimsy?” and Martin gave the hammock such an affectionate shake that Jimmie nearly fell out on his face.

The luncheon gong rang out in the summer stillness, and they started toward the house, leaving the players to finish the game.

”Jose,” asked the major, putting his arm through the young Spaniard's, ”have you any theories about last night?”

”Yes,” replied Jose. ”I do not think it will do any good to hunt for the one who threw the knife. I have, in my country, an enemy. I believe it was he.”

”What?” cried the major. ”He has followed you all the way to America, and your life is constantly in danger?”

”I do not think he will come again,” answered Jose. ”At any rate, I am not afraid,” he added, shrugging his shoulders, ”and I can do nothing.”