Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-11-21
VI.


tried to sleep, the end of an hours wake
full tossing found me nervously excited and
unstrung. At last I rose. and, wrapping
@ bathrobe about me. settled down at my
study table to lose myself In work But
| the papers I had left with such reluctance
| In the morning no longer had the siightest
charm or interest. The realm or fersian
| poesy appeared empty and unreal beside
| the living, practical world with which i
| had been in touch. The drama ana pas.
! sion of fancy had become shadowy ana duii
| when contrasted with the fiesh-and blood
| tragedy which had been forced upon my
| attention. All my delving In the past for
remnants of forgotten lore seemed petty ~, IN
| the light of my newly acquired responslpiii-
| ties, and. instead of calming my nerves py
| returning to familiar themes, l merely de-
| veloped a fine contempt for them and Tor
myself as q foolish potterer with matters
| not worth while.
| At last, exhausted by the fruitless effort
| to divert my mind abandoned the attempt
| the events of the day with such calmness
| as could command. 1t was Idle 10 oeny
| that my desire for flrst-hand Information
| had placed me in a very embarrassing II
| not humiliating, position. The gravity OF
| the situation. however, aided me TO So
| luton. for as 1 thought over what l had
| heard / saw that could not conscientious
| ly retain my seat In the jury box AS TINS
| aspect of the affair dawned upon me, all
my irritation and nervousness disappeared,
| and with an apologetic good night to my
| abused volumes L returned " bcu anu
| straightway fell asleep.
Immediately after breakfast the next
morning / started out to find Judge Duniey
| and tender my resignation from the Jury,
and, much to my delight, learned that MS
| honors residence was only a few miles
from Hefryville.
At the judges house however, / was In
| formed that the owner had gone to the city
and would not return until Monday even
| ing after the adjournment of court. Though
disappointed at this / was not discouraged.
| and. learning that the prosecutor lived near
Pollcet, / resolved to tell him why L could
| take no further part in the Emory case,
and ask him to present my excuse to the
court. The journey to Pollicet would spoil
| a mornings work, but knew 1t would save
me the longer trip to Melton ON Monday,
and until had disposed of this business
had little hope of concentrating my mind on
other things
But Tet with another ulsap.
pointment. Mr.. Gilbert, it appeared, had
gone out early in the morning, leaving
word that he might not return for lunch
con.
AN I reckon he won't" concluded the
coIored gentleman who supplied this dis
heartening information.
I eyed the fellow sharply, and detected
knowing smile lowering on his lips.
did he leave word where he was going?
1 asked, with sudden Inspiration
mo, sub. He done leave no word" as
serted the darby, with broadening grin
We'll, do you know where he is?" l In
CURED anxiously.
II 'specks 1 could make right smart
guess, suh.'
rive got the mate of this for you if your
guess is right" asserted, tossing him half
dollar.
He caught it deity, his eyes sparkling
merrily.
Il reckon you-all mays well give me the
rest now. boss" he grinned; Save yo' driv-
in back-deed it WILL" he concluded, with
chuckle.
The sound of his musical laughter re.
minded me Of his masters. and had not
the slightest doubt where Deake Gilbert
had acquired his infectious gift of mirth.
"Out with your guess, and. If think It's
good. maybe I'll pay you in advance, 1
said.
The darby made no immediate answer.
but after a few embarrassed chuckles
glanced up at me with confidential wink.
Reckon he's down to Mis- Frayne's,
boss" he vouchsafed, and started chuckllng
again, but the expression of my face evil
IDENTIFY made him think 1 mistrusted his in
formation and that his contingent fee was
in danger.
Hes down there suah. boss" he assert
ed, with convincing earnestness.
VERY likely you're right l answered,
coldly, and, tossing him the other half
dollar, / drove on.
For a while 1 f1outed the idea that / was
unpleasantly affected by the knowledge of
sibly be annoyed by finding the man | was
seeking? Nothing could be more unrea-
sonable and absurd: Nevertheless, it was
a fact. But when l admitted this to my
self / was unable to assign reason for
my irritation, and concluded with no little
internal rage that was not In the least
disturbed.
Less than half mile separated Gilbert's
cottage from the Fraynes', but In that
short distance / was So busily engaged in
combating my ridiculous state Of mind that
1 completely forgot the object of my errand,
and l must confess l did not Immediately
recall it when l heard a cheerful shout as
1 turned in at the 'Heathercote" gates and
saw Barbara Frayne running across the
lawn to meet me. In another moment she
had bounded into the seat beside me and
was shaking my hand most cordially.
This is a welcome surprise, Sir Knight
she exclaimed. 1--WE been blaming my
self because 1 did not insist upon
your STAYING for dinner last night
It was nothing less than inhuman to allow
you to go on. Mother said so, too and when
| mentioned your name father declared /
ought to be ashamed of myself for not
knowing that YOU were the most distin-
guished writer of the day on-on-"
Miss Frayne paused and gazed at me with
an expression of dismay
isn't it dreadful she gasped. putting
her hand to her forehead
What is dreadful?" 1 inquired