“Are you sure you are not making this up?” asked Kathie.
“No, indeed, I am not. I can prove it to you; for here is his valuable name. Be careful,” she warned, as she held out the leaf, “the paint is not dry yet.”
“Paint?” Kathie exclaimed, taking the leaf in her hand and reading the name. “Why, Elizabeth, he must be some sort of crazy creature to be calling himself a reincarnation of Titian.”
“Oh, that part is just a joke,” returned Elizabeth. “He said there was an artist named Titian who liked red hair. I didn’t know that he lived such a long, long time ago and I asked Mr. Kemp if he were Titian; that was before I knew his name. Did you ever hear of Titian, mother?”
“Why, yes, dear, of course I have. He was a very famous man, and his pictures now bring fabulous prices.”
“Tell us some more about your discovery,” said Kathie, now really interested.
“He is very nice and jolly,” Elizabeth went on, “and he likes it here in Brookdale. He came over from Ferny and is staying at the Mansion House.”
“Poor thing, I am sorry for him,” remarked Kathie.
“Oh, he doesn’t like it himself. He asked me if I knew of a chicken-coop or something little where he could put his easel and things.”
“Oh, he wants a studio, does he? I don’t know where he will find one in this place,” said Mrs. Hollins.