Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1906-10-19
CHAPTER VIII.


of his cap in military fashion.
And what is your business, gentle
menp' he asked.
1T is less business than gratitude"
said Graden courteously. 1--WE have
made this little pilgrimage to thank the
producer of the Lemsdorf hams"
you are not dealers, then?'
mo, but I"
"Then take yourself off,
Herr Drobinr
go! clear out! Do not make myself
plainT' he cried, his husned face nod
ding in time to his violent gesticulations.
81 will have no spies about the pldce"
Graden sprang out of the sleigh and
strode up to the angry farmer. For
moment l thought there would be
scrimmage but the huge bulk of his an
tagonist was not without its effect upon
the German. l have often noticed that
great stature has curiously soothing in
huence on the bad temper of an oppo-
nent.
why did you call me a spy?' demand
ed my cousin.
THE people about here gossip of some
secret l hold" he answered sulkily.
perhaps they speak true; perhaps false
Who can say? At least, l az. no longer
a FOOL my eyes have been opened. You
have a good thing here, Herr Drobin.
There is a great future before you, if
only you keep your knowledge to your
self said the Englishman to me. If
strangers come asking questions, they
will be spies; send them away 1t was
fine advice he gave me; anyone can see
that. So be off with you!'
II am an Englishman myself, Herr
Drobin. May ask my compatriot's
nameT
81 do not remember"
"What, then, was he likeT'
81 cannot describe him."
"You are discreet, herr Drobin. Come,
now, let us strike a bargain. l will
make a guess at your secret; if l am
right, you will tell me what you know
of this Englishman."
The German started back, staring al
Graden with little, bloodshot eyes, in
which surprise and fury were oddly min
gled. Then, side by side, they stepped
into the shadow of the pines, whispering
together.
''They are all liars, these Germans,
said our driver confdentially, turning tC
me. For myself, am Pole"
You heard what was said. Do you
know anything of this English visitor tc
Herr DrobinT
Most certainly, mine Herr. He was
of the name Of Wakefield. He has stay
ed several nights at the Golden Adler.
For the rest he has been the guest Of
him who lived out there" and he mad,
a gesture down the road that we haC
come.
A nameless fear took me by the throa
"a fear of unknown possibilities.
would have questioned the man more bu
at that moment Graden and the farmer
emerged from the shadow of the pines
The latter had abandoned his truculen
manner. Indeed, he seemed oddly sub
servient. AS Graden stepped into tn,
sleigh, the man bowed low curtsy
which my cousin answered with cur
nod of dismissal.
"Drive on" he cried, and once NOR
we were ploughing our way back to thu
Lemsdorf road
"Did you ever study the properties o
the root called madder, commonly know
us uyeI dsheu my COuSlu Suuueuly.
"No"
"Then l must explain from the begin
ming. 1t is right that you should hear.
He pulled the flaps cf his deerstake
cap over his ears-indeed, it was bite
cold-and settled himself amongst tn
rugs. l caught the outline of his face
as jaws set, the cheeks drawn, the ey
hard and keen, the whole purposeful an,
remorseless.
when l was slicing the ham to-day,
he continued, IAN odd thing happened
My knife struck the bone and passe,
through it as if it had been putty. A
a second glance l noticed that the inte
ror of the section so divided was of
brownish red. 1t set me thinking.
began to remember certain facts. TIL
talk of the old servant concerning
secret held by the owner of the pig farr
at Gran concentrated my suspicious, tn
proximity of the dye-works confirme
them. | was almost certain of Her
Drobins secret before he charged m
with coming to steal it.
"Let me explain. Madder is a dye
as you know. But administered to ma
or beast, 1t has the curious effect O
coloring and pulplng the bones to girls
tie. 1t is used sparingly on a few Sout
German pig farms, that the hams ma
appear attractive when carved. Her
Drobn introduced it into German Pc
land. He obtained the root as he requil
ed it by arrangement with the dye work.
Perhaps their presence suggested tn
idea to him.
whether or no Marnac knew of tn
uses of madder before he came to Leml
dorf, l cannot tell. From my talk wit
Drobin it would seem that his visit to hi
farm was more or less Of an acciden
But, either way, the visit gave him tn
weapon by which he might make toaC
of his enemy. That bitter criticism, 20
may be sure. was for ever running