The Washington times., 1906-08-12

/ did not know what Bates might sur
mise about Larry. but he accepted my
friend IN good part as a guest who
would remain indefinitely. lie seemed
TO interest Larry. whose eyes followed
the man inquiringly. When we went
into Bates room 0n our tour of the
house, Larry scanned the books on "a
little shelf with something more than
a casual eve There we're exactly four
volumes Shakespeare Comedies.
The Faerie Queen" Sterne's "Senu-
mental Journey" and Yeats Land OF
Hearts Desire.
"A queer customer. Larry. Nobody
but my grandfather could ever have
discovered him-he FOUND him up In
Vermont"
u suppose his being "a bloomln
Yankee naturally accounts Tor lhls'
remarked Larry. taking from under
the pillow OF the narrow iron bed "a
copy OF the Dublin Freeman's Journal
1T Is a little odd I said. "Bnt II
you found "a Yiddish newspaper or -
Egyptian papyrus under his plliO" 1
should not be surprised.
Nor T. said Larry "IH wager thIt
not another shelf in this part Of the
world contains exactly that collection
0f books. and nothing else. You viii
notice that there was once "a book
plate in each Of these volumes aad
that ms been scratched out with care.
ON a small table were pea and ink
and a curioIs much-worn portfoIo.
lie always gets the mail. first
.F-.-r-rs he eir aH AIRY
Yes. J believe he does"
Il thought so. and I'll swear he
never got a letter from Vermont in
his lie
when we went down Bates was limp
ing about The library. endeavoTing %
restore order.
Bates. ] said 20 him. you are a
very curious person have had a
thousand and one opinions about you
since / came here. and / still don Z
make Won out.
lie turned from the shelves. q de-
faced volume Iu his hands.
Yes. sir II was a good deal that
way with your lamen'ed grandfather
lie always said 7 puzzled him"
Larry safe behind the fellows back.
made no attempt 20 conceal q smile.
Il want 10 thapll you Tor your he-oic
efforts % protect the house last night.
You acted uoblr. and must confess.
Bates, that / didn't think IL was In you.
You've got the right stuff iu y01i IN
only sorIy that thee are back pages
90 yogr record that I can't reconcile
win your manly conduct of last night.
But we've got 20 come TO an under
standing"
Yes. sir"
The most outrageous attacks have
been made on me since came here.
You know what I mean well enough.
AZ Glenarm never intended that
should sit down IN his house and be
killed OF robbed He was the genuest
beng that ever lived, and I'm going %
fight Cor hls memory and 10 protect his
property from The scoundrels who haze
plotted against me. I hope you follow
me"
Yes. AI-. Glenarm. He was regard
ing me attentively. His lips quavcred,
perhaps from weakness. for he cerJSln-
ly looked 81.
''Now 7 offer you your choice-either
10 stand loyalty by me and my grand
sccandrels Arthur Pickering has hired
% drive me out I'm not going 20 bTihe
yuu-I don't offe- you a cenJ for stand
ipg by me. bat won't have traitor
ia the house. and II you don't Ike me
or my terms / want YOU 20 go End 90
now
lie Strengthened quickly-hls eye
lighted aud the color crept Into his
face. I had never before seen him an
pear so Ike a human being.
Mr.. GlenaTm, you have been very
hard on me: there have been times
when YOU have been very unjust
.Unmst-my God. what do you ex-
pect me TO take from you. Haven't
known that you were in league with
Pickering? I'm not as dull as ! look.
and after your interview with Picker
ing IN the chapel porch you can't con-
vince me that you were faithful 20 my
interests at that time"
He started and gazed ar me wonder
ingly. / had had no intention OF us
ing the chanel porch interview at this
time. but il leaped out OF me uncon-
trollably.
Il suppose. sir" he began brokeuly,
that I can hardly persuade you that
I meant no wrong on that occasion. %
You certainly can nOt-and IL S
safer for you not 10 -Ty. But I'm
willing TO let LAT go as a reward for
your work last night. Make your
choice now: stay here and sop vouT
spying or clear out Of Annandale with
in an hour
lie took a step toward me; the table
was between us and he drew quite
near but stood clear of IL. erect until
there was something almost soldierly
ana commanding in his figure.
by God. ] will stand by you. John
Glenarm, he said. and struck the
table smartIy with his clenChed hand.
He flushed instantly, and 1 felt the
blood mounting into my own face as
We gazed at each other-he. Bates
the servant. and /, his master. He
had always addressed me so puncul-
iously with the sir Of respect that
his declaration OF fealty, spoken with
SO sincere and vigorous an air Of in-
dependence. and with the bold empha-
sis Of the oath, held me spellbound
staring al him. The silence was
broken by Larry, who sprang forward
and grasped Bates hand
Date elF1 fallfnI