The Carter Girls' Mysterious Neighbors

  CHAPTER XII

  HERZ

  Herz was in such strong contrast to his employer, the count, that hegave Helen and Douglas quite a shock when they first met him. They hadwalked over to Weston with their father, who had been prevailed upon totake the order for the restoration of the old mansion. Dr. Wright hadbeen consulted as to the advisability of his trying to do this work andhad approved of it as being something to occupy his patient withoutmaking him nervous. It meant many trips to Weston on the part of Mr.Carter and equally many to Valhalla on the part of the count.

  De Lestis had done very little talking about Herz, mentioning himusually rather in the tone of one speaking of a servant, but Helencame to the opinion the moment she looked at him that there wasnothing servile about him; on the contrary, he was evidently the moreintellectual of the two men. He was a little younger than the count,much taller, with broad spare shoulders and a back as straight as aboard. His blue eyes were very near sighted, necessitating the wearingof very thick lenses in his large gold-rimmed spectacles. His hair wasyellow and grew straight up on his head like wheat stubble. His brow wasbroad and high and well shaped. He really was a handsome man except thathis mouth was too full lipped and so very red. His English was perfectwith no touch of accent as with the count. He said he had been born inCincinnati and his father was a naturalized American, so even Douglas,the strong pro ally, had to accept him as German in name only.

  Weston was a good three miles from Grantly by the road, but much closerif one took a path through the woods, skirting Paradise and approachingthe old house from the rear. Truly it had been a grand estate in its dayand de Lestis was determined to restore it to its pristine glory. He hadowned the place about a year and had accomplished much in that time.The fences and gates were in perfect repair; the fields showed that goodfarming theories had already been put into practice; the woods, thatsome knowledge of forestry had been applied, as the undergrowth had beencleared away and useless timber been cut down to give room to valuabletrees.

  "What a lot of money must have been spent here," said Douglas, notingthe new fencing and well-built barns as they approached the house.

  "Yes, de Lestis seems to have unlimited supplies of cash. I fancy he isa man of great wealth," said Mr. Carter. "I have ordered a Delco lightto be installed in his house. He spares no expense in restoring the oldplace. I was rather opposed to having the new lighting system. It seemssuch an anomaly in a colonial mansion."

  "But, Daddy, you wouldn't want the count to grope his way around withtallow dips," laughed Helen. "I fancy that was what was used when Westonwas first built."

  "I'd have him do it rather than ruin the architectural effect of such awonderful old house; but de Lestis has his own ideas about things andall he wants of me, after all, is to do the work of a contractor. As forHerz,--he has better taste than de Lestis, I believe."

  "Tell us about Herz, Daddy. You never have told us what he is like,"demanded Helen.

  "You judge for yourselves," answered the father.

  The truth was that Mr. Carter had not known just what to make of Herz.Clever he was certainly and no underling, as they had gathered from deLestis.

  This was the girls' first visit to Weston although the count hadurged their coming many times. Douglas's school was dismissed for theChristmas holidays and she felt like a bird out of the cage: two wholeweeks of delightful freedom ahead of her!

  Teaching had come easy to her and she had conquered Bobby and the otherunruly pupils and felt that she was in a way getting on top of herwork. The days passed rapidly and her school was in a fine condition,enthusiastic pupils and eager students. Nevertheless it was great to behaving a holiday and she meant to make the most of it. She and Helenwere planning a trip to Richmond after Christmas to visit CousinElizabeth Somerville. Lewis was stationed there with his company and hisduties not being so very arduous, he hoped to spend much time with hisfavorite cousin. Valhalla was very lovely and the girls had grown veryfond of it. Their plans for their father were working out and they knewthey had done right in taking the place and moving the family to thecountry, but nevertheless they were looking forward with pleasure to thevisit to Richmond and release from all of their duties for a few days.

  What glowing girls they were! Robert Carter looked at them withpardonable pride as they tramped through the woods, their cheeks crimsonwith the exercise in the cold air. How they had shown the "mettle oftheir pasture" when the time came for them to take hold! He had alwaysknown that Douglas had a certain bulldog tenacity that would make herkeep her grip no matter what happened, but Helen had astonished him.When something had snapped in his tired brain he had instinctivelyturned to Douglas as the person to decide for the family welfare, butHelen had shown herself capable far beyond his hopes. He well knew thather part of the work was most difficult, and he saw with wonder herpatience with her mother and with the seemingly impossible Chloe.

  "I'll make it all up to them," he said to himself.

  The doctor's prescription of country life and freedom from care withplenty of occupation for his hands was working wonders. This work he hadbeen doing for de Lestis was not taxing his mind at all, and he suddenlyrealized that it was not because it was so easy but because his mind wasin working order again. He felt his old power coming back to him, thepower of concentration, of initiative. Sometimes he would try to lieawake at night just for the pleasure of feeling himself to be well.

  His illness had been a blessing in disguise since it had brought out allthis latent fineness in his girls. It had somehow made them morebeautiful, too, at least they seemed so in the eyes of their dotingfather.

  Approaching Weston from the rear, no one was in sight. Smoke arisingfrom the kitchen chimney gave evidence of a servant's being somewhere.The yard was in perfect order, with no unsightly ash pile or tin cans tooffend the eye. To one side Mr. Carter pointed out the rose garden thatthe count had taken much care of, spending hundreds of dollars onevery known variety that would flourish in that latitude. Beyond weregreenhouses and hot beds that furnished lettuce and cauliflower andspinach through the winter for the master's delicate palate.

  "Isn't it lovely?" gasped Helen. "It must be splendid to be rich."

  Mounting the broad steps leading to the pillared gallery they heardvoices speaking in some foreign language, they could not tell whetherit was German or not, and then a loud laugh and "Ach Gott!" in thecount's unmistakable baritone. Through the window they saw the two men,de Lestis and Herz, bending over a table spread with papers. Herz waspointing out something to his employer which seemed to delight him, ashe was laughing heartily. This was gathered only by one glance, asimmediately the Carters passed beyond the angle through which they couldview the interior of the room and Mr. Carter knocked on the front door.

  The door was not opened for several minutes. Evidently the countemployed servants for such tasks and did not believe in opening doorswith his own august hands. Helen gave an impatient rat tat again. Shewas not fond of waiting. The door was opened suddenly and by the count.

  "Ah! My good friends!" he exclaimed enthusiastically. "I did not expectyou until tomorrow, my dear Mr. Carter."

  "I came a day sooner because my daughters could come with me."

  "And what an honor!"

  He ushered them into the room where they had viewed him for the momentin passing. There were no papers on the table now and everything was inperfect order. The secretary was standing at attention, awaiting anintroduction to the ladies.

  He bowed from his waist up, shutting up like a jack-knife. He had notthe easy, graceful manners of the count, but seemed much blunter andless polished. One could not fancy his kissing the hand of a lady asthe count was famous for doing.

  Love at first sight is supposed to happen only in books but it doeshappen sometimes in real life, and on that frosty day in December itcame to pass in the library at Weston, came like a flash of lightning,came without warning and without being wanted. Certainly the secretaryhad not wanted to stop the work he was eng
aged in that seemed to be soengrossing; he did not even want to meet these Carter girls but hadbeen forced into it by his employer. What good would it do him tofall in love? He cared not a whit for women, anyhow, despised them infact. But the little blind god, Cupid, took none of these thingsinto consideration. He simply let fly his dart and as Adolph Herzstraightened himself up after making his stiff, jack-knife bow, thearrow hit him square in his heart.

  It was a toss of the penny which sister it should be; both of themwere lovely, both of them rosy and charming. He looked at Douglasfirst, however, and never saw Helen at all, at least, seemed not to.He did not take his eyes from Douglas's face during the entire call.

  "Has the lighting system come yet?" asked Mr. Carter. "It should havebeen here by now."

  "Did you order one?" asked the count. "I understood I was to send theorder and have done so. You sent it off, did you not, Herz?"

  "Certainly! A week ago!"

  "But you told me to order it," insisted Mr. Carter. "I am sure you did."

  "Why, that is all right, my dear fellow," said the count very kindly."If both of them come it will make no difference. I can install one ofthem in the barn and garage."

  "Oh, but I cannot let you have the expense of both if I was at fault,"and Mr. Carter looked distressed. Was his head not behaving as itshould, after all?

  "Why, my dear Mr. Carter, it might easily have been my mistake and Icannot have you bothered about it. The expense is trifling. Miss Helen,help me to persuade your father that it is nothing."

  The count's manner was so kindly and he seemed so anxious to make Mr.Carter feel that if any mistake had been made he, the count, had madeit that Helen was deeply grateful. How much she liked this foreignnobleman, anyhow. He was always so gracious, so suave, so elegant. Hisheart must be tender, his disposition good, or how could he make all ofthe poor colored people like him so much? Helen was fully aware of thefact that the count was attracted by her, but there had been times whenshe was sure he was equally taken with Douglas, and certainly hismanner to Nan on several occasions had been one of devotion. He alwaysseemed to be coming out on the train with Nan and Lucy, and Lucy hadintimated that he had caused Billy Sutton many sad hours by "hogging"the seat by Nan. Could he be a flirt? Helen put the thought from her.She hated a male flirt. Nevertheless she was conscious of the fact thatshe had a little tiny twinge of jealousy, so tiny that it was only aspeck, but it was there.

  "It's Douglas's hair and Nan's eyes," she thought. "I believe he thinksI'm more interesting than they are, though," and then she took herselfto task for a foolish, vain girl. "What difference does it make to me,anyhow? What do we know of this stranger and what is he to us?"

  Now the girls gave their attention to the estate, for they werenaturally interested in the work their father had undertaken. Theworkmen were through, carpenters, plasterers and painters, and the placehad been turned over to Count de Lestis. Very beautiful it was and onefor any owner to be proud of. The spacious hall, with its waxed floorand beautiful stairway with mahogany treads and bannisters, was asfine an example of southern colonial as one could find in the whole ofVirginia. The furnishings were in keeping with the general plan of thehouse, as at Mr. Carter's suggestion an antique dealer and decoratorfrom Richmond had had his finger in the pie. Much of the furniture hadbeen bought with the house, being old mahogany that had been at Westonfor more than a century.

  "How lovely it is!" gasped Helen as the doors to the great dining-roomwere thrown open.

  "I am so glad you like it," whispered the count in a very meaning tone."I have your father to thank for its being so complete. Never have Iseen work carried on so rapidly. I was afraid I would be living in thediscomfort of shavings and mortar beds for months to come."

  "Daddy is always like that," said Helen smiling. Nothing pleased Helenso much as praise of her father. "He can always make workmen work. Theysay in Richmond that not even plumbers disappoint him. He always turnsover his houses on time unless there is something absolutely unforeseen,like a strike or something."

  "I am indeed fortunate in having prevailed upon him to do this for me."

  "But he has enjoyed doing it so much. You see Daddy has not been able towork for so long and I think he had begun to feel that maybe he had lostout, and this proves that he hasn't. He does not know how to be idle.Why last summer when he was supposed to do nothing but rest he drew theplans and built bird houses for Bobby."

  "Ah, indeed! I am so glad you reminded me of something. Mr. Carter," hecalled to that gentleman who was critically examining some electricwiring recently put in ready for the Delco batteries which were on theway, "I want now some plans for bird houses if such trivial work is notbeneath you. I want bird houses for every kind of feathered songsterthat can be attracted and persuaded to live at Weston."

  "How wonderful!" cried Helen and Douglas in chorus. Douglas had beenengaged in conversation by the secretary, who was limbering up in anamazing manner. He was most attentive, showing her into every nook andcranny of the old house. He opened sideboards and cabinets to reveal theexquisite finish of the satinwood drawers and shelves; he took down bitsof rare old china from the plate rack in the dining-room, explaining themarks on the bottoms. He was so kind that Douglas almost liked him, butnot quite.

  "Adolph Herz is too German in sound," the Anglo-Saxon in her cried out."And then his mouth! It is so red!"

  "Certainly I'll enjoy drawing plans for bird houses," laughed Mr.Carter. "I shall even take pleasure in carpentering them. They arereally lots of fun to make."

  "I agree with you," said Herz. "Simply drawing a design is never so muchpleasure as carrying it out. How a sculptor can be willing to do onlythe clay modeling of his statue and then let someone else carve themarble is more than I can understand. When I think of something to bedone, I must do it myself--trust it to no one."

  "Well, I am a lazy bones myself and anyone can do my work," laughed thecount. "Now Adolph here has drawn the plan for a pigeon house and hewants to build it himself. I tell him it is absurd, that any carpentercan carry out his ideas, but he will not listen to me. Adolph is a verystubborn man, Miss Carter." He addressed this remark to Douglas whosmiled at the young secretary. He was frowning heavily and his full lipswere drawn into a hard red line. The count caught his eye and gave him abantering look in return.

  "Come on, Adolph, and show Mr. Carter your plans for the pigeon house!"

  "They are not completed," he answered sullenly.

  "I am quite a pigeon fancier," went on the master of Weston. "They arecharming birds to raise and one can make much money on squabs. We aregoing into pigeon raising quite seriously. I think we shall build a verylarge house. Eh, Adolph?"

  "Where will you put the pigeon house?" asked Mr. Carter.

  "Right there on the roof, about in the centre of the house," said thecount, pointing to the top of the mansion.

  "Not there! Surely you would not do such a thing!" cried Helenincredulously.

  "Why not?"

  "It would ruin the architectural effect of Weston," declared Mr. Carter.

  "I think not!"

  "Well, I know it would," maintained the architect stoutly. "Why, deLestis, all of my work would be as nothing if you should put a pigeonhouse there. I beg of you not to!"

  "But, my dear Mr. Carter, I am a pigeon fancier and want my pigeons at apoint where I can watch them twirling and dipping. I love their cooing,too."

  "All right! It is your house and you can do as you choose with it, butplease do not mention me as the architect who restored the place. Icannot stand for such a piece of Philistinism." Mr. Carter laughed as hemade the above remark, but his daughters knew by a certain look in hiseyes that he was angry.

  "Are you to have carrier pigeons?" asked Douglas, hoping to relieve thecompany of an embarrassment that seemed to have fallen upon it.

  The secretary still had his mouth drawn in a stern line although he hadsmoothed his frowning brow. Helen was plainly put out at the count'sdaring to go against her father's
artistic taste, while Count de Lestisseemed to be taking a kind of delight in teasing everybody.

  "If you will promise to send me a message, I will," he answeredgallantly.

  "Oh, that would be great fun! I have never seen a carrier pigeon."

  The count then devoted himself to Douglas for the rest of the visit,showing her the pantry shelves that he had on one occasion expressedhimself as desirous for Helen to pass on.

  "All we need now is a lady of the manor," he said in a low tone. "It isnot meet for man to live alone."

  Douglas looked at him quite frankly, her blue eyes steady as she gazedinto his black ones. "Can't your mother come and keep house for you?"she asked quite simply.

  There was no flirting in Douglas Carter's make-up. Herz, who refused togo far from her in spite of the count's sudden devoted attentions,relaxed his grim expression that he had held ever since the pigeon househad been the subject of conversation. His mouth broke into a smile andhis easy manner returned.

  The Carters soon took their departure, although the master of the housewas insistent that they should stay to tea with them.

  "We must get back to Valhalla," declared Douglas.

  "Valhalla! Is that the name of your place?" asked Herz.

  "That is the name my sister Nan gave it. She says we are all more orless dead warriors when the day is over. I don't like giving it such aGerman name myself, but Nan says poetry is universal and---- Oh! I begyour pardon!" The girl had forgotten that her companion was of Germanbirth.

  "Do you dislike the Germans so much?" he asked.

  "Not the German people----" she stammered. "Just the ImperialGovernment!"

  "But aren't the people the Government?"

  "I hope not."

  "Ah, so Miss Carter has opened fire on you, too, has she?" laughed deLestis. "If there were more fighters like her among the Allies, poorGermany would have her banners trailing in the dust by now."

  "I did not mean to be rude to Mr. Herz," said Douglas. "I am tooprejudiced in favor of France and England to remember my manners. If Ihave injured you, I beg your pardon," and she gave the secretary herhand in good-by.

  He blushed like a schoolgirl and stammered out some unintelligiblesomething.

  De Lestis renewed his attentions to Helen just as though he had not beenhovering over her sister with tender nothings.

  "He is a flirt!" thought Helen. "I think I can give him as good as hesends, but I am beginning to hate him." She dimpled to his remarks,however, and as she bade him good-by at the door she smiled saucily intohis eyes.

  "To think of that man's being willing to ruin his roof line," sighed Mr.Carter as he and his daughters started on their homeward walk. "Justlook how beautiful it is," pointing to the old chimneys where the roofmelted into the sky.

  "It is a shame," cried Helen. "But how cold it is! There now, I left mygloves on the library table."

  "Run back and get them, honey; Douglas and I will wait for you here bythe stile."

  Helen ran back. Once more she glanced into the library where on theirarrival they had caught a glimpse of the two men bending over thepapers. Now what was her astonishment to see the secretary actuallyshaking the count, who was laughing heartily. The secretary's eyes wereflashing as he blurted out the words:

  "Fool! Fool!"

  The count opened the door quickly this time at her knock.

  "Your gloves! I found them and almost hoped you would leave them withme, but the little hands would have been so cold. Indeed, they are socold," and he gallantly kissed them.

  Helen seized her gloves and with glowing cheeks raced back to her fatherand sister. She gave her hands a vigorous rubbing on her grey corduroyskirt before she put on her gloves as though she might rub off the kiss.In the excitement over the denouement of the visit she forgot for thetime being that she had caught the secretary shaking his employer andcalling him a fool.