Page 33 (1/2)

Mr Benja, at the foot of the porch steps; he

could hardly lift his head to look up at the figure in the doorway

"You--Mrs Richie?" he gasped

"Yes, sir," she said "May I help you? These steps are so steep"

"No," he snarled "Do you think I'm so decrepit that I have to have a

fe up the steps "My

narandson? Sam? Great fool! I've co breath, pulled off his y

old beaver hat, and, with a very courtly bow, held out his hand

"Madahbor In

fact, your only neighbor; without me, 'Montium domina ut fores silvarumque virentium saltuumque reconditorum

amniumque sonantum' Understand that? No? Good I don't like learned fe back over her shoulder

at Mr Pryor, uncertain what she ought to do Mr Wright decided for

her

"I know this house," he said, pushing past her into the dusky hall;

"friend of mine used to live here Ho! This is the parlor Well; who's

this?" He stood chewing orange-skin and blinking up at Lloyd Pryor,