Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-10-17

the Doorway.
chamber were opened, and, with the aid
of my field glasses. easily recognized Mrs.
Dyer as the person who had opened them
She passed to the window in the southern
wall. and Immediately a flood of light
| streamed into the chamber. 1t was not a
sick room certainly. The bed was neatly
made up. Beside 1t was a stand on which
were several books and magazines, but no
phials or other detestable appurtenances Of
disspse.
there was no one else in the room but
Mrs. Dyer. so far as could see. Certainly
no invalid would have been exposed to such
a drart OF crisp autumn air as must have
been surging through the apartment.
ThiS discovery strengthened a suspicion
| which had previously formed that I.yer
was really In a room on the ground floor
| observed that the whole north end of the
house seemed closed. 1t was from a room
in that part of the dwelling that the young
| man had come on the preceding night. Had
ne been watching with an invalid, or
guarding prisoner? resolved to solve the
problem before another night had passed
1t may seem strange that, among my
| theories, 1 did not consider the possibility
that Dyer was purposely avoiding me. In
explanation l can say only that my theories
were based upon my knowledge of the
man. He was not one to hide from friend
or foe. l believed that If left to mis- own
choice he would receive me with the hear
test cordially. 1t was impossible tkat ny
intercesson on behalf of his cousin had of
tended him to such a degree that he did
not wish to see me.
1 remained all day among the hills, OBJ
serving the house from different points
Hunger drove me to a farm house in the
afternoon. 1t was as poor an abode as ever l
saw In the country, but full of good will
The farmers wife lamented heartily that
she could give me no better entertainment
but tomorrow was her baking day." and
Everything was clean eat up" There was
no cooked food In the house except a
pumpkin pie baked in a yellow. earthen
ware DISH three inches deep. This she set
before me with a pitcher of milk, and l
made a meal Of them. The pie was SOM
Der with molasses, which impaired an
acfdity to 1t that was not unpleasant DIT
first, but 1t grew upon me in succeeding
hours. think the pangs of remorse must
be something like that. when one has really
sinned. However, one cannot cure remorse
with bfcarbonate Of soda. 1 rode ten miles
to lockwood for this useful drug, and in
cidentally obtained from the apothecary
some bits Of information about Bertram
Dyer.
He used to come over here quite some
when he and his folks fust moved into the
old Peters place." said the druggist but
| lately amt seen nothing of him. 1 guess
he's trading with somebody over Greenvlle
| way. His folks buy their groceries over
there. I heerd awhile ago that he was
sick. but amt sold any medicine to him
lately. and I guess maybe he's better. Be
you going up that way"
Possibly. Would I be coming back by
way or LOCKWOOD! II So would l drop in?
lockwood folks would be glad to hear how
MIR. Dyer was getting along. Some of them
had read one of his books, and they
| thought it pretty good for young to
write. They were in hopes he would write
something about lockwood, and kind of
help the place along. 1 promised to sug-
gest a local story to the distinguished
author. If had the pleasure of meeting
him.
It was about 10 o'clock when 1 arrived
once more upon the outskirts of the "old
Peters place. had resolved to pass the
night in its vicinity: and to commit a
| friendly burglary II my Investigations
should convince me that Bertram was the
prisoner of his wife's relations.
At first the moon was too high for my
purpose, but before midnight it had drop
| ped nearly to the hills. and some light
clouds obscured 1t. Then l stealthily ap-
preached the house, and was soon conceal
ed in the shadow Of the northern wall
very faint light escaped through a cur