Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-01-31

Which was quite dark, lighted candle
and sat down, not to sleep again, but
to think over the fresh developments
of the night.
Who were the perpetrators of the
Outrage upon him? That question,
narrow as were the limits within
which It could be answered, was as
difficult to solve IS ever. He had heard
and seen nothing to help him to any
further knowledge than this, that more
than one person had been concerned
In it. The probabilities were, he
thought, In favor OF the belief that the
attack upon him had been made blythe
lad Tom and Coch Tal, with the con-
nivance II not the actual Assistance Of
the old woman.
That Yregaron had had athand s,n 1t
he COULD scarcely believe. Thnt<arm-
er.s conduct throughput had been
straightforward. while the manner Of
the other three persons toya8 himself
had been uniformly sust and
bad.
That their object had been murder
he could not doubt What plumber
would he be likely to yield worth such
crime7 That was the mystary. Sure
~ some other motive must be sought,
and this, he thought. could hardly be
other than jealousy on the part Of
Coch Tai or fear lest Mason should
find out the truth concerning his broth
ers fate.
Here again there was mystery.
Granville had not carried ON his per-
son either much money or much prop
erty of value, certainly but a poor
booty for which 10 run the risks at
tendant upon lnu er.
AS for Gwyn, 10 could not tf1ink az
her without softening of the hea5e,
a glow Of gratitude and admiration.
That this girl lad sacrifted6er oXs
comfort, hor own rest, during Me AasF
few nights, he WINS now convinced be.
yond doubt. She yAad feared some
such outrage as that 81 which he had
been made Victim and had conceived
him within range Of her own
watchfui eyes, To do this, she had
fedgned illness when she Ills on tie
htgh1oad to recovery.
It was she WHO had been the watch
er and b who lad beaShe watched
during those nights when they had all
been p91aied e31he inconsistency be-
wesn dor faA6habls symptoms and
had to pplrto, put he listened and
md1fe slGA feeble rnomments as he
could. &c noted. 81 he spoke, the
piercing CO. Of Coch Tai fixed upon
him with penetrating shrewdness
which secuted to suggest that the huge,
red bearded son Of the mountains
guessed more than Tregasgn himself
did.
Or was 1t that he knew more?
1t was not until supper time that he
had chance of speaking again to
Gwyn alone. He had been working
hard out of doors all day. and she had
kept out Of his way when he entered
the house at mealtimes. But he hap
pened to enter the kitchen before the
other men, and us he did so he met
Gwyn coming down stairs.
"Where will you sleep tonight" she
asked abruptly, In tone which be-
trayed that this question had been
troubling her.
Mason hesitated. Then a thought
struck him.
"fn the loft with Merrick. If he'll let
me-" he answered at last
But Gwyn was startled by the pro-
posal.
"No, no." said he. you must not.
Let me think!'
"You will never think of anything
better than that" said he gently.
"Give me au acknowledged enemy
rather than treacherous friend"
"What do you mean? Whom do you
mean by a treacherous friendY"
II mean no one in particular" an
swered A1assoa. But Merrick is the