CHAPTER I TAKE This is the story of how lost mind , deserted in the city , took for the summer out of , and found involved in one of those mysterious crimes that keep newspapers and detective agencies happy and prosperous .
For twenty years had been perfectly comfortable ; for twenty years had had the window-boxes filled in the spring , the carpets lifted , the awnings put up and the furniture covered with brown linen ; for as many summers had said good-by to , and , after watching perspiring hegira , had settled down to a delicious quiet in , where the mail comes three times a day , and the water supply does not depend on a tank on the roof .
And then -- the madness seized .
When look back over the months spent at , wonder that survived at all .
As it is , show the wear and tear of harrowing experiences .
have turned very gray -- reminded of it , only yesterday , by saying that a little bluing in the rinse-water would make hair silvery , instead of a yellowish white .
hate to be reminded of unpleasant things and snapped off .
" No , " said sharply , " 'm not going to use bluing at time of life , or starch , either . "
's nerves are gone , says , since that awful summer , but has enough left , goodness knows !
And when begins to go around with a lump in throat , all have to do is to threaten to return to , and is frightened into a semblance of cheerfulness , -- from which may judge that the summer there was anything but a success .
The newspaper accounts have been so garbled and incomplete -- one of them mentioned but once , and then only as at the time the thing happened -- that feel it due to tell what know .
, , said could never have done without , although gave little enough credit , in print .
shall have to go back several years -- thirteen , to be exact -- to start story .
At that time died , leaving .
was eleven then , and was seven .
All the responsibilities of maternity were thrust upon suddenly ; to perfect the profession of motherhood requires precisely as many years as has lived , like .
However , did the best could .
When got past the hair-ribbon age , and asked for a scarf-pin and put on long trousers -- and a wonderful help that was to the darning .
-- sent away to .
After that , responsibility was chiefly postal , with three months every summer in which to replenish wardrobes , look over lists of acquaintances , and generally to take foster-motherhood out of its nine months ' retirement in camphor .
missed the summers with when , somewhat later , at and , spent much of vacations with .
Gradually found that name signed to a check was even more welcome than when signed to a letter , though wrote them at stated intervals .
But when had finished electrical course and , and both came to stay , things were suddenly changed .
The winter came out was nothing but a succession of sitting up late at night to bring from things , taking to between naps the next day , and discouraging .
Also , acquired a great many things : to say lingerie for under-garments , " frocks " and " gowns " instead of dresses , and that are not , but .
required less personal supervision , and as both got 's fortune that winter , responsibility became purely moral .
bought , of course , and learned how to tie over bonnet a gray baize veil , and , after a time , never to stop to look at the dogs one has run down .
are apt to be so unpleasant about dogs .
The additions to education made , and by spring was quite tractable .
So when suggested camping in the and wanted , compromised on with links near , within motor distance of and telephone distance of .
That was how went to .
went out to inspect , and seemed to deserve name .
cheerful appearance gave no indication whatever of anything out of the ordinary .
Only one thing seemed unusual to : , had moved from to , a few days before .
As was far enough away from , it seemed to that either fire or could complete their work of destruction undisturbed .
was an extensive one : on the top of , which sloped away in great stretches of and clipped hedges , to ; and across , perhaps a couple of miles away , was .
and were infatuated .
" Why , it 's everything want , " said " View , air , good water and .
As for , 's big enough for , if has a Queen Anne front and a Mary Anne back , " which was ridiculous : was pure Elizabethan .
Of course took ; it was not idea of comfort , being much too large and sufficiently isolated to make question serious .
But give credit for this : whatever has happened since , never blamed and for taking .
And another thing : if the series of catastrophes did nothing else , it taught one thing -- that somehow , somewhere , from perhaps , have in the instinct of the chase .
Were should be , trailing as relentlessly as no doubt did wild boar .
But being , with the handicap of sex , first acquaintance with crime will probably be last .
Indeed , it came near enough to being last acquaintance with anything .
The property was owned by , , and , .
knew , -- had been rather attentive to the winter before , but as was always attentive to , had not thought of it seriously , although was .
knew of only through connection with , and through an ugly story about , , who was reported to have forged 's name , for a considerable amount , to some bank paper .
However , the story had had no interest for .
cleared and away to a party , and moved out to the first of May .
were bad , but the trees were in leaf , and there were still tulips in the borders around .
The arbutus was fragrant in under the dead leaves , and on the way from , a short mile , while stuck in the mud , found .
The birds -- do n't ask what kind ; they all look alike to , unless they have a hall mark of some bright color -- the birds were chirping in the hedges , and everything breathed of peace .
, who was born and bred on a brick pavement , got a little bit down-spirited when the crickets began to chirp , or scrape their legs together , or whatever it is they do , at twilight .
The first night passed quietly enough .
have always been grateful for that one night 's peace ; it shows what might be , under favorable circumstances .
Never after that night did put head on pillow with any assurance how long it would be there ; or on shoulders , for that matter .
On the following morning and , , had a difference of opinion , and left on .
Just after luncheon , , , was taken unexpectedly with a pain in right side , much worse when was within hearing distance , and by afternoon was started cityward .
That night had -- , seeing indecision in face , made it on second thought -- and , to be short , by noon the next day was down to and .
And this in !
wanted to go back to at once , but said that , , was working as , and might come back .
have the usual scruples about coercing away , but have any conscience regarding institutions or corporations -- witness the way beat when can -- so called up , and about eight o'clock came to see .
!
Well , it ended by engaging on the spot , at outrageous wages , and with permission to sleep in , empty since was rented .
-- was white-haired and a little stooped , but with an immense idea of personal dignity -- gave reasons hesitatingly .
" ai n't sayin ' nothin ' , , " said , with hand on the door-knob , " but there 's been goin 's - on this las ' few months as ai n't natchal .
' Tai n't one thing an ' ' tai n't another -- it 's jest a door squealin ' here , an ' a winder closin ' there , but when doors an ' winders gets to cuttin ' up capers and there 's nigh 'em , it 's time sleeps . "