The Madness of May

Upon the morn they took their horses with the queen, and rode a-maying in woods and meadows, as it pleased them. —The Age of Chivalry . NEW YORK CHARLES SCRIBNER’S SONS 1917 Copyright, 1917, by CHARLES SCRIBNER’S SONS Published March, 1917 TO MRS. CHARLES THOMAS KOUNTZE ILLUSTRATIONS “I didn’t know it was your moon,” he said. Frontispiece FACING PAGE “The young person left in haste, that’s clear enough,” remarked Hood. 30 “I make it a rule never to deny food to any applicant, no matter how unworthy. You may remain.” 124 “Throw up your hands, boys; it’s no use!” cried Hood in mock despair. 168 THE MADNESS OF MAY I Billy Deering let himself into his father’s house near Radford Hills, Westchester County, and with a nod to Briggs, who came into the hall to take his hat and coat, began turning over the letters that lay on the table. “Mr. Hood has arrived, sir,” the servant announced. “I put him in the south guest-room.” Deering lifted his head with a jerk. “Hood—what Hood?” “Mr. Hood is all I know, sir. He said he was expected—you had asked him for the night. If there’s a mistake——” Deering reached for his hat and coat, which Briggs still held. His face whitened, and the outstretched hand shook visibly. Briggs eyed him with grave concern, then took a step toward the stairway. “If you wish, sir——” “Never mind, Briggs,” Deering snapped. “It’s all right. I’d forgotten I had a guest coming; that’s all.” He opened a letter with assumed carelessness and held it before his eyes until the door closed upon Briggs. Then his jaws tightened. He struck his hands together and mounted the steps doggedly, as though prepared for a disagreeable encounter. All the way out on the train he had feared that this might happen. The long arm of the law was already clutching at his collar, but he had not reckoned with this quick retribution. The presence of the unknown man in the house could be explained on no other hypothesis than the discovery of his theft of two hundred thousand dollars in gilt-edged bonds from the banking-house of Deering, Gaylord & Co. It only remained for him to kill himself and escape from the shame that would follow exposure. He must do this at once, but first he would see who had been sent to apprehend him. Hood