Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1902-09-10

was ge&ing impatient at the delay
and the mans stubbornness. Placing
foot in the crack of the door, held
1t so that he could not slam it in my
face
Il tell you l have message from
Mr.. Goddard, and must see the doc
tor" l said in decided tones. "Will
you let me in or must 1 force myself
in?"
could see that the man was in n
quandary. He wanted me to stand
outside while he went and told the
doctor, but had no intention of re-
firing. He motioned for me to remove
my foot, but answered him blandly:
mot until l see DR.. Squires. You
may as well go first as last and tell
him that Mr. Goddard has sent mes
senger to see him."
Gradually the wrathful, beady eyes
shifted from me to seat in the hall.
He was evidently celebrating upon
the best step to take, and could see
the line of his reasoning.
Let me stand In the hall until YOU
go and call him." l said, cor will take
that seat there and wait"
This time my proposition was ac-
copied. The man shook his head af-
Tentatively, pointed to the chair and
then cautiously opened the door.
stepped in and made move to take
the seat, but l had no intention of stay
ing in the hall after once gaining an
mi pnf
back upon me, quietly followed him
to the doctors office. He made some
signs to somebody in the room, and
heard the gruff words Of the doctor
ask:
"Who is it that Charles has sent?"
l stepped to the doorway and replied:
I'm his butler, but this copper col
ored servant of yours refused to ad-
NIT me. had to force myself in"
The servant started around us If to
clutch me by the throat, and the doc
tor smothered an exclamation that
sounded very much like an oath.
what business have you to force
yourself into anybody's house?" he de-
manded In a rough voice.
"None whatever except that l had
message for you, and this Indian
wouldn't let me in," answered quick
ly.
well, it's his business to keep stran-
gers out. Those are my instructions"
"Then he was right, and 1 was
wrong" I said, "and if that's the case
I'll withdraw"
turned my back on the two and
started for the door, but the words of
the doctor called me back. He HAD
perfectly recovered himself and real.
lied that he was making too much
fuss with servant over trivial mat
ter.
Come, come, don't get huffy." he
said pleasantly. your sudden entrance
annoyed me, that's all. What is the
message that your master sends?"
~ aS-'--a at mo thrnnph n mir of
eyeglasses, his dark, searching eyes
taking in every part of me, and for
the first time in my life felt uncom-
Portable under close scrutiny.
LET me see. You are the man who
spilled the salad dressing over me,
aren't you?"
He laughed heartily, as if the Incl
dent amused him.
well, well, this is the second time
you have given me offense," he added
finally. Look out for the third time.
might not let you off so easily.'
l made the delivery of the message
as long as possible, for while he was
studying me to no particular purpose
was critically examining everything
for definite end.
When l finally left, had pretty
clear impression of most of the articles
in the room. 1t was decorated and
furnished in true oriental style. Skins
and rugs We're scattered over the floor;
lockwood cabinets and desks, loaded
down with miniature elephants of the
same wood, We're standing in corners
and in the middle Of the office; sandal
wood ornaments, peacock feathers
made into exquisite fans, Bagdad cur
tains and couches, Benares bronzes
and spears and shields We're placed in
various hooks and corners to give the
effect Of an eastern scene. A red glow
from lamp suspended from the cen.
ter Of the ceiling must have added
greatly to the prettiness of the room
at nighttime.
But In the midst of the oriental furni.
t1lre and bric-a-brac were many mod
ern articles, which gave an incongru-
GUS effect to the room. Grinning skulls
stood alongside of disentombed Egyp-
tan mummies; a stethoscope was lying
next to spear head that must have
been welded by some Indian prince
Of long ago; medical books and imple-
ments were piled promiscuously upon
hand carved tabourets of wonderful
workmanship. In short, the room was
typical oriental scene, overlaid and
topped by the necessary articles of
modern practicing physician.
The whole effect was interesting
from one point of view, but for me
there was little that cared about.
could discover nothing that would give
me clew to the doctors mysterious
work. Furthermore, could not under
stand why so much care should be ex-
ercised In keeping intruders out or
why the servant was so insistent that
I should not enter his masters Office.
But my failure to make any discovery
intensified rather than lessened my de-
sire to fathom the mystery which DR..
Squires had chosen to surround him
self with, and as l rode homeward my
mind was busy planning some way Of
circumyenting him and his oriental
slave.
CHAPTER TX.
mafesSE.N HE indisposition Of Mr..
H}tSfXf tiiEsj Goddard was of short
n WK vi Duration hut the at-