Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1906-10-26

and cheese, napking Z great ham. I
turned from the foo1 with disgust; but
my cousin fell to diligently, complaining
the while at my folly in not eating when
/ had the chance.
"You must pull yourself to together"
he protested, with his mouth full. TRY
this ham now. 1t isn't half bad"
More to hnmor him than with any In
tention of following his advice, drew
my, seat to the table.
"Come, now; that's better" he cried,
carving away. ITO tell the truth, l
haven't the slightest idea what that
villain Marnac has been up to. But what
l do know is that we've got to catch him
dead or alive. Therefore / recommend
you to stoke up your body with this ex-
cellent-hallow
whats the matter nowF' l asked ir,
ritably; for, indeed, his hearty appetite
annoyed me.
For answer he rose and pealed the
bell. The old manservant, with the
brandy flushing his white cheeks, tot
tered into the room.
II am sorry to trouble you," said Gra-
den courteously, "but we both set such
store by your hams that we wish to know
them yourselfY'
mo, mein Herr, but it is done near
by" answered the man, with look Of
blank surprise.
Indeed. The Lemsdorf ham is a dis
covery; it should make a stir. wonder
l had not heard of its merits before"
"You see, mein Herr, the big curing
station has not long been established"
"A new enterprise?"
Yes, mein Herr. 1t belongs to Herr
Drobin, South German. Two years
ago he took the big farm at Gran, which
you passed on your way here. 1t is this
side of the dye-works. He has many
pigs in the forest. His hams are becom-
ing famous from Warsaw to Konigsberg.
1t is said he has some secret in the feed
ing or curing-no one knows which"
Thank you-that is ALL"
The door was scarcely shut when 1
turned hotly upon Graden. "How dare
you sit here in this house of murder and
talk of the excellence of the food?" 1
cried furiously. at is shameful, indie
centp'
''Yet we will visit the farm of Gran
on our way back. have some little
| inquiries to make"
1--WE shall do nothing of the sort" /
snarled.
IF you were a soldier or an explorer,
Cousin Robert" he said, leaning across
and tapping me kindly on the arm, "you
would know that in any expedition one
alone can be responsible. The rest obey,
whether they be few or many. As it is,
beg you to recognize that fact and to
obey"
He was right and knew it. But to
save appearances l walked to the win
dow and stood drumming upon it with my
fingers for a while before answered him.
WELL do as you please" 1 said at
length.
II think the sleigh may be ready by
now" he said. "Come, let us 60 out
and inquire"
There is no need to dwell on this mis-
cradle drive The tired horses dragged
| slowly forward, the driver, sullen and
frightened, urging them on with blows
and curses. Mile after mile of pine woods
marched past us, but we did not speak,
crouching in the furs. At last, as night
was falling, we reached the edge of the
forest and swung aside from the main
road into track that skirted the edge
of the pines. The ground sank away into
hollow like the palm of the hand. At
the lowest point I could see a square,
wooden building fanked by rows of out
buildings. 1t was, as l imagined, the
farm of Gran. But before we reached it,
our driver suddenly drew up his horses.
A man was advancing toward us
through the trees. Our driver turned,
and with a wave of the whip explained
the situation.
1T is Herr Drobin," said he.
TO be continued