The Washington times., 1906-07-15

He was certainly deep one, and his
case grew more puzzling as l studied
IL In relation 10 the riheshot OF the
night before, his collision with Nor
gan in the wood. which l had wit
messed, and now the house itself had
been invaded by someone with his con-
uivauce The shot through the re-
fractory window might have been IN
nocent enough; but these other mat
ters in connection with II could hardly
be brushed aside
Bates lighted me 10 the stairway.
and said as ! passed him;
There's a baked ham for dinner /
should call IL extra delicate, Mr.. Glen
arm. / suppose there's no change IN
the dinner hour, sirE'
Certainly not" 1 said with asperity;
for / am not d person To inaugIrate
"a dinner hour one day and change II
the next. Bates wished 10 make con-
versaton-tGc sure sign of guilty
conscience I'm a servant-and ! was
not disposed 10 encourage him
closed the doors carefully and be
.sqn a thorough examination OF botn
the slttiug-room and the little bed
chamber. I was quite sure mat my
own effects could not have attracted
The TWO men who had taken advantage
of NV absence 10 visit my quarters.
Bates had helped unpack my trunk
and undoubtedly knew every item of
my simple wardrobe. 1 threw open
the doors OF the three closets IN the
rooms and found them all In the good
order established by Bates lie had
carried NV trunks and bags 10 a stora-
room. so that everything l owned
must have passed under his eye. My
money. even. the remnant Of my for
tune that / had drawn from the New
York bank 1 had placed carelessly
enough I'm the drawer OF chiffonler
otherwise piled with collars. II took
bur "a moment 20 satisfy myself that
this had not been touched. And, 10
be sure. a hammer was not necessary
20 orcu a drawer that hal. from It's
aDursrance never been locked. The
game was deeper than / had imagined;
/ had scratched the crust without Te-
suit. and my wits were busy with
specuIations as I changed my clothes.
Dausing frequently to examine the fur
ulture. even the bricks on the hearth.
one Thing only I fOund-the slight
scar of a hammer-head on the oak
panellng that ran around the bed
roam. The wood had been struck
near the base and at the top of every
p8uel, for though the mark was not
perceptible on all. a test had evidently
been made systematically. With this
as a beginning, found moment later
a spo- of talow under heavy table
in one corner. Evidently the furniture
had been moved 10 permit Of the clos
est scrutiny of the paneling. Even
behind the bed I found the same I'M
rress of the hammer-head: the test
lad undoubtedly been thorough. for
a pretty smart tap on oak IS necessary
10 leave an impression. Ny visitors
had undoubtedly been making sound
ingz in search of a recess Of some kind
fo frc wall. and as they had failed
of their purpose they were likely, l
assume, U pursue their researches
further.
/ Wondered these things with
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. interest In life.
GIcnarm House really promised ~
prove exciting. took from drawer
a small revolver, filled it's chambers
with cartridges and thrust II into my
hip pocket wh,stling meanwhile Lar
nv Donovau's favorite air. the Marche
went out to Larry as I scented ad-
venture. and I wished him with me-
bst suacuIati0ns as 10 Larry's where
ahouts were always prohtless, and
unite likely he was in jail somewhere
The ham Of whose excellence Bates
had hfnttd was no disappointment
There is. I have always held, nothing
better On this world than a baked ham,
and the specimen Bates placed before
me was a delight 20 the eye-so adorn-
81 was g with spices, SD Crisply brown
its outer coat, ana taste-that first
tentative taste. before the sauce was
adGed-was ike "a dream Of Lucullus
carn, true. I could forgive a good deal
I'm "A cook with that touch anything
short of arson and assaz estimation!
..Rates." I said. as he stood forth
where I could see him, ''ycu cook
amazingly well. Where did YOU learn
the bussaess2'
your grandfather grew very cap
tioue. AIr Glenarm. I had 70 learn 10
satisfy him. and I believe I did H. sir,
If vouu pardon the conceit-
HE didn't die of gout. did he? l
can readily imagine it,"
"Na. Mr.. GIenarm. II was his heart
He had his warning Of it
-Ah. YES. 10 be sure. The heart or
the stomach-one may as well fail
as the other. I believe I prefer 10 keep
nv digestion going as long as posi-
ble. Those grilIed sweet potatoes again
if YOU please, Bates
The game that he and I were play
ing appealed 10 me strongly. II was
altogether worth while, and as I ate
guava iellv with cheese and toasted
crackers. and then lighted one of my
own cigars over cup of Bates un-
failing coffee my spirit was liyelIer
than al any time since a certain even
ing on which Larry and 7 had escap-
ed from TaaEier with our lives and
the curses Of the police. II is mel
ancholy commentary on life that con-
rentment comes more easiyly through
the stomach than along any other ave
nue.. In the great library with its rich
store Of books and its eternal candles.
I sprawled upon a divan before a fire
and smoked and INDUCED in pleasant
specuIati0ns. The day had offered
much material for fireside reflection.
and / reviewed its history calmly
There was. however. one incident
that l found unpleasant in the retro
spcct. had been guilty of most un-
chLvaIrous conduct toward one of the
girls of 81 Agarha's II had certainly