Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1904-07-08

Cdllcu OuClc OdNlu, even ny tuc uE-
chins who followed him in the street, SO
I am showing him no disrespect. gen.
tleman though he is. by giving him
title which as completely characterized
him in those days as did his moody
ways, his quaint attire and the per-
sistence with which he kept at his side
his great mastiff Rudge.
had long since heard Of the old
gentleman as one Of the most interest
ing residents Of the precinct. had
even seen him more than once on the
avenue, but l had never before been
brought face to face with him, and
consequently had much too superficial
a knowledge of his countenance to de-
termine offhand whether the uneasy
light in his small gray eyes was nat
Oral to them or simply the result Of
present excitement. But when he be-
gan to talk I detected an unmistakable
tremor in his tones and decided that he
was In a state of suppressed agitation,
though he appeared to have nothing
more alarming to impart than the fact
that lie had seen a light burning in
some house presumably empty.
It was all so trivial that gave him
but scant attention till he let a name
fall which caused me to prick up my
ears and even to put in word. 1.-THE
Moore house." he had said.
1.-The Moore houseT repeated In
amazement. Are you speaking Of the
Moore houseY
A thousand recollections came with
the name.
what otherT'he grumbled, directing
toward me a look as keen as 1t was i'm
patient. do you think that I would
bother myself long about house
had no interest in. or drag Ridge from
his warm rug to save some ungrateful
neighbor from a possible burglary1
No, 1t Is my house which some rogue
has chosen to enter. That is," he
suavely corrected, as he saw surprise
in every eye, "the house which the law
will give me. If anything ever happens
to that chit Of a girl whom my brother
left behind him."
; Growing some words at the dog.
who showed a decided inclination to
lie down where he was, the old man
made for the door and in another mo-
ment would have been in the street.
II. had not stepped after him.
"You,Are Moore and live in or near
that OLD houseT 1 asked.
The surprise with which he met this
question daunted me q little.
'"How long have you been in Wash
angton, ] should like to askT was his
acrid retort.
( "Oh, some Eve months
Ills good nature, or what passed for
such in this 'irascible old man, returned
In an instant, and he CURLY but not
unkindly remarked:
you haven't learned much In that
time" Then. with a nod more cere-
m0niouS than many another mans
bow, he added, with sudden dignity:
II am Of the elder branch and live In
the cottage fronting the old place. I
am the only resident on the block.
When you have lived here longer you
will know why that especial neighbor
hood Is not favorite one with those
who cannot boast Of the Moore blood
For the present let US attribute the
bad name that 1t holds to-malaria.'
And with a significant hitch Of his lear
shoulders. which set in undulating mo
tion every fold Of the old fashioned
cloak he wore, he started again for thu
door.
But my curiosity was by this time
reused to fever heat. I knew more
about this house than he gave me cred
1t for. No one who had read the pa
pers Of late. much less q man connect
ed with the police, could help being
well informed in all the details Of it,
remarkable history. What had fail
ed to know was his close Relationship
to the family whose name for the last
two weeks had been In every mouth.
"Waitw called out. "You say that
you live opposite the Moore house
You can then tell me-
But he had no mind to stop for any
gossip.
1T was all in the papers," he called
back. Read them. But first be sure
to find out who has struck q light In
the house that we all know has moi
even q caretaker in it,
1t was good advice. My duty and
my curiosity both led me to follow IT.