as a member in good standing.

She pleaded a headache and went away to her room, while I sat down
with Bunch's telegram in my hands and tried to find even a cowpath
through the woods.

Uncle Peter came out, none the worse for his cold plunge, and sat
down near me.

"Ah, my boy, isn't this delightful!" he cried, drinking in the air.
"There's nothing like the country, I tell you! Look at that view!
Isn't it grand? John, to be frank with you, up until I saw this
place I didn't have much faith in your ability as a business man,
but now I certainly admire your wisdom in selecting a spot like
this--what did it cost you?"

Cost me! so far it had cost me an attack of nervous prostration,
but I couldn't tell him that. I hesitated for the simple reason
that I hadn't the faintest idea what the place had cost Bunch. I
had been too busy to ask him.

"It's all right, John," the old fellow went on; "don't think me
inquisitive. A rubberneck is the root of all evil. It's only
because I've been watching you rather closely since we came out
here and you seem to be nervous about something. I had an idea
maybe it took all your ready money to buy the place, and possibly
you regret spending so much--but don't you do it! The best day's
work you ever did was when you bought this place!"

"Yes, I believe you!" I sighed, wearily, as I turned to look down
the road.

I stiffened in the chair for I saw my finish in the outward form of
two women rapidly approaching the house,

"It's Bunch's sister and her daughter," I moaned to myself. "Well,
I'll be generous and let the blow fall first on Uncle Peter!"
Accordingly, I made a quick exit,

In the kitchen I found Clara J., her headache forgotten, busily
preparing to cook the dinner.

She's a foxy little bundle of peaches, that girl is; and I was wise
to the fact that her suspicion factory was still working over-time,
turning out material for the undersigned.

I felt it in my bones that the steer I gave her about Aunt Eliza
had been placed in cold storage for safe keeping.

Her brain was busy running to the depot to meet the scandal Bunch's
telegram hinted at, but she pretended to catch step and walk along
with me.

"John," she said, "I certainly do hope your relatives won't come
out for some little time, because we really aren't ready for
visitors, now are we, dear?"

"Indeed we are not," I groaned.

"I can't help thinking it awfully strange that you should be
notified of