about nine o'clock when Gwen--(you
member Gwen? My little maid with red hair) well
--Gwen came in and told me that Mr. Petherick
and a gentleman had called to see me. Gwen had
showed them into the drawing-room--quite
rightly. I was sitting in the dining-room because in
early spring I think it is so wasteful to have two
fires going.
I directed Gwen to bring in the cherry brandy
and some glasses and I hurried into the drawing-room.
I don't know whether you remember Mr.
Petherick? He died two years ago, but he had been
a friend of mine for many years as well as attend-ing
to all my legal business. A very shrewd man
and a really clever solicitor. His son does my busi-ness
for me now--a very nice lad and very up to
date--but somehow I don't feel quite the confi-dence
I had in Mr. Petherick.
I explained to Mr. Petherick about the fires and
he said at once that he and his friend would come
into the dining-room--and then he introduced his
friend--a Mr. Rhodes. He was a youngish man--not
much over forty-and I saw at once that there
was something very wrong. His manner was most
peculiar. One might have called it rude if one
MISS MAPLE TELLS A STORY
13 l
hadn't realized thai the poor fellow was suffering
from strain.
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