The Come Back   By: Carolyn Wells (1862-1942)

BY CAROLYN WELLS THE COME BACK IN THE ONYX LOBBY THE MAN WHO FELL THROUGH THE EARTH THE ROOM WITH THE TASSELS FAULKNER'S FOLLY THE BRIDE OF A MOMENT DORIS OF DOBBS' FERRY THE BOOK OF HUMOROUS VERSE SUCH NONSENSE! An Anthology NEW YORK GEORGE H. DORAN COMPANY

THE COME BACK

BY CAROLYN WELLS

Author of "In the Onyx Lobby," "The Man Who Fell Through the Earth," Etc.

NEW YORK GEORGE H. DORAN COMPANY

COPYRIGHT, 1921, BY GEORGE H. DORAN COMPANY

CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE

I THE PROPHECY 9

II THE LABRADOR WILD 24

III THE SNOWSTORM 39

IV THE PROPHECY RECALLED 55

V MADAMS PARLATO 71

VI STRANGE REVELATIONS 87

VII THE TOBACCO POUCH 102

VIII BLAIR KNOWS 117

IX INVESTIGATION 132

X EVIDENCE 148

XI CARLOTTA AND THE BOARD 163

XII WISE AND ZIZI 179

XIII "LABRADOR LUCK" 194

XIV A PROPHECY FULFILLED 209

XV AN INTERVIEW 225

XVI ZIZI'S OPPORTUNITY 241

XVII THE HEART HELPER 257

XVIII THE CONFESSION 273

THE COME BACK

CHAPTER I

The Prophecy

Even when Peter Crane was a baby boy, with eyes the color of the chicory flowers that grow by the wayside along New England roads, and hair that rivaled the Blessed Damosel's in being "yellow like ripe corn," he was of an adventurous disposition.

His innocent face was never so devoid of guile, his winning smile never so cherubic as when he remarked that he would "jes' run froo the front gate a minyit," and the next instant he was out of sight. Far afield his roving spirit led him, and much scurrying was needed on the part of nurse or mother to bring him back.

At four he achieved a pair of most wonderful russet topped boots, aye, even with straps to lift himself over a fence, if a fence came his way. And these so accentuated and emphasized his world faring inclinations that he came to be known as Peter Boots.

The name stuck, for Peter was always ready to boot it, and all through his school and college days he led his willing mates wherever he listed. He stalked forth and they followed; and, as he stopped not for brake and stayed not for stone, the boys who eagerly trailed Peter Boots became sturdy fellows.

And now, at twenty seven, Peter Boots was more than sturdy. He was tall and big and strong, and the love of adventure, the dare devil spirit of exploration still shone in his chicory blue eyes, and his indomitable will power was evident in his straight fine mouth and firm jaw.

He had traveled some, even before the war, and now, comfortably settled in his chosen niche and civilly engineering his way through the world, he grasped at vacation seasons because they offered him a chance to don his boots and be off.