The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-09-08


through the park darting in and out
among the trees. and made after him at
hot speed
The hammer-handle had struck slant
ingly across my forehead and my head
ached from the blow. I abused myself
roundly for managing the encounter so
stupidity, and in my rage fired twice with
no aim whatever after the flying figure
OF the caretaker.
lie clearly had the advantage Of IA
miliarity with the wood, striking of bold
~ INTO the heart Of IT, and quickly widen
ing the distance between Us, but / kept
on, even after / ceased 10 hear him
threshing through the underground, and
came out presently at the margin OF the
lake about nifty feet from the boat-house.
j waited In the shadow for some time ex-
pecting 10 see the fellow again. but he did
not appear.
l found the wall with difficulty and fol-
lowed IL back 10 the gate. II would be
just as well thought TO possess myself
OF the hammer and ! dropped down on
the st. Agatha side Of the wall and groped
about among the leaves until found It.
Then ] walked home. went into the H.
brary, alight with its many candles just
as had left II, and sat down before the
fire TO mediate I had been absent from
the house only forty-five minutes.
CHAPTER VIII.
A STRING OF GOLD BEADS
A moment later Bates entered with
fresh supply Of wood. ] watched him mar
rowly for some sign Of perturbation. but
he was not TO be caught of guard. Pos
sibly he had not heard the shots In the
wood: at any rate he tended the fire with
his usual gravity, and after brushing the
hearth paused respectfully
rs there anything further sir?"
IL believe not. Bates OH here's ham
mer picked up out in the grounds bit
ago. | wish you'd see II it belong to the
house"
He examined the implement with care
and shook his head
1T doesn't belong here, think, sir.
But we sometimes find tools left by the
carpenters that worked on the house.
Shall put this I'm the too-chest. sir?'
Never mind | need such a thing now
and then and III keep IL handy"
VERY good, Mr. Glenarm. It's a BIT
sharper tonight, but we're likely to have
sudden changes at this season"
81 dare say"
We were not getting anywhere: the fel.
low was certainly an Incompatible actor
you must find II pretty lonely here,
Bates Don't hesitate to go to the village
when you like"
'I thank you, Mr.. Glenarm: but i am
not much for idling. l keep a few books
by me for the evenings. Anandale is 1ot
what you would exactly call a divetting
village"
81 fancy not. But the caretaker over at
the summer resort has even a lonelier
time [ suppose. That's what IA call n
cottages in the winter"
That's Morgan, sir | meet him occa-
scnally when / go to the village; avery
worthy person, l should call him, on
slight acquaintance"
mo doubt OF II. Bates. Any time
through the winter you want to have him
In for a social glass. It's all right with
me-"
He met my gaze without flnching, and
lighted me to the stair with our establish
ed ceremony. / voted him an interesting
knave and really admired the cool way in
which he carried Off difficult situations
] had no Intention OF being killed. and
now that I had due warning OF danger
/ resolved to protect myself from foes
without and within. Both Bates and Nor
gan, the caretaker. were liars Of high at
tainment Morgan was, moreover a cheer
full scoundrel. and experience taught me
long ago that a knave with humor Is
doubly dangerous
Before going TO bed wrote long
letter to Larry Donovan, giving him n
full accout OF my arrival at Glenarm
house. The thought OF Larry always
cheered me, and as the pages slipped from
my pen / could feel his sympathy and
hear him chuckllng over the lively be
ginning OF my year at Glenarm. The
idea OF being fired upon by an unseen
for would, / knew. give Larry a real
Eft Of the spirit
The next morning 7 walked into the
village, mailed my letter visited the rail
way station with true rust, instinct and
watched the cutting out of a freight
car for Annandale with a pleasure
had not before taken I'm that proceedings
The villagers stared AZ me blankly as on
my first visit A group OF idle laborers
stopped talking 20 watch me: and when I
was few yards past them they laughed
at n remark by one OF the number which
| could not overhear. But am not n par
ticuiarly sensitive person: I aid not care
what my Hoosier neighbors said OF me.
all asked was that they should refrain
from shooting az the back OF my head
through the windows OF my own house.
on this day | really began 20 work. I
mapped ont a course OF reading set up a
draftsman's table / found put away In a
closet. and convinced myself that I was
beginning a year of devotion 10 architec-
ture. Such was. felt. the only honest
course. I should work every day from
until /. and my leisure | should give a.
recreation and a search for the motives
that lay behind the crafts and assaults
OF my enemies
CTo be continued on Monday)