Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1896-08-20


room the air of which is heavy with pois-
onous vapors. was oppressed by
him, by his cruelty, by his utter disre-
gard of the sufRerings Of another. Often
had been on the verge Of hatred for
him; now l realized that the line had
been crossed, that the feeling that !
was bound to obey his nod, to come and
70 ut his command, would be more
udious than ever. Why had l not the
courage to dcnouncc him to his face
and to quit his services then and there?
Why had listened cowed and unpro-
testing? Why, even now, did ] not
turn back to ease my conscience like
IN honest man and to cast off the yoke
which CALLED me? In my own heart
the answer was only too clear. BY
degrees Lamar had gained an ascenden-
cy over me, until now, even as cursed
him, recoiled al the very thought of
boarding him, of daring to pit myself
against his relentless will. Moreover,
l realized that within the last few
months fresh reason for caution had
sprung into existence. They say love
makes men brave; know it sometimes
makes them towards.
When I approached the farmhouse,
still bitterly considering the difficulties
which seemed to hedge me about, Mrs.
Weston appeared in the doorway.
1--WE got a message for you she
called out. "Your birds flown "
"What? Not Jones? He can't be
moved" cried.
mo, he's here fast enough. DR..
Banks has called, and says he's doin'
we'll; no more fever than to be looked
for. But he's got something to do with
my news"
What in the world is it, then?'
mis- Loring has gone chasin' of to
Trent takin' Miss Gray with her for
luck"
Gone to Trent?" repeated. How
is that?"
'Well, she got up this mornin', an
dropped in to see Jones. Somebody told
her that his pillows was kinder hot for
him. Then there was nothin' but
she must go to Trent right of and buy
him one of them kind that's got only
mir in 'em. An SO, off she goes, an
Miss Gray goes too. They'll be home in
time for supper. Johnny druv EN- to
BASKERVILLE in the carryall, and he'll
wait to bring 'em home"
"Oh, the outing will do Mrs. Loring
no HARM" said ], moving toward the
office.
But that amt the message" said
Mrs. Weston. That's saved for the
last, like thanksgivin' mince-pie. It's
from Miss Gray, and it's about a boat"
YES. She was to look at one this
afternoon"
well ,bein' as she's in Trent, she cant
keep the appointment. So she asked
me to tell you to hire the boat anyhow;
II it suited you, it'd suit her"
Thus it happened that when John
son navigated his craft to the head of
the inlet was prepared o bind the bar
gain with him.
ut may be-" / told him, that the
ladies would safer if they had man
with them when they ventured out on
the bay. In that case, could you help
them out?"
II guess / could" said he, after
moments reflection. Most general
ly I'm off watch the best part of the
day.
"Off watch" set me to thinking.
though l very we'll knew to what he
referred.
by the way, Johnson" said 7, with
an effort at carelcssness, II understand
you look out for Mr.. Lamar's mail"
"Well, you might say So" he an
swered, cautiously.
II imagine his correspondence is
light" said I, following up the advan-
tage scored by the chance shot.
He nodded assent.
Writes to New York, as a rule"
suggested
That's about it,"
But his answers are slow in com.
ing"
1.-TWO months, sometimes" said John
son. Look here, Doc" he added,
quickly, II know you're thick with
him, or wouldn't have said that much.
1t don't go no further, do ito"
II give you my word on that said
/, adding, rather disingenuously, Il
wouldn't have asked you anything you
were not free to tell me-
That's what / thought" he said,
with look of relief on his honest face.
"Gab's poor NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. for a
man"
Fright you are" said l, and with
this bit of wisdom we dropped the
subject. However, 1 had learned
enough for a basis for little calcula-
ton. Lamar was communicating with
friends at home, through the kindly
Offices of some body in New York. His
correspondents forwarded their replies
through the same channel OF the New
Yorker and the fisherman. No doubt
they sent him information bearing on
the energy with which his enemies were
pursuing him. Very possibly they had
means of their own for getting an
inkling of their adversaries' doings. 1t
could be set down as certain that they
furnished the money which Lamar
spent, on occasion, with liberal hand.
After all, though, this theorizing was
cropping in the dark. It furnished no
clew to the mans mystery; it assured
ly gave me no cause to hate him the
less or to trust in the stability of my
tenure of Office in his service. lmerely
had proof now, as | suspected, that he
did not depend entirely upon me in any
of his dealings with the rest of the
world. He evidently believed in checks
and safeguards: and through Johnson
he had secured a check upon me
-
. XVII.
Mrs. Loring returned from Trent in
the best of spirits. The days iaunt