Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1906-05-02
Continued.

open DOCK which ne udU UeGl IGdQluS
lay Just as he bad laid it down. He
did not like to make a minute or
marked examination of the room, for
Leola stood at the door swinging her
garden-hat. and watching him, but he
walked to the door and opened It, II
he found the shutters fastened from
the inside he should conclude that he
had been dreaming, and that the mid
night visitor existed in the creation
of a disordered brain. AS he opened
the window. the first thing ne noticed
was the screw lying in the inside.
The shutters had been opened
He threw them back and slipped on
10 the terrace. and there was the gar
dener picking up the fragments Of the
magnolia fower-pot.
The man looked up aud touched
his hat.
a'been at their games last night
There must a been a regular meet
ing OF them, for the shrubs be all
knocked down at the end Of the ter
race
Cyril walked down to the place over
whica he had seen the man leap, and
stared at the displaced shrubs in ST.
lence 1t was some comfort to find
that he had not been dreaming or
temporarily insane.
Then he came back to the library.
Leola had passed through the room on
TO the terrace, and with one hand
shading her eyes. was looking across
the wide expanse.
What a beautiful morning. she
said, looking back at him Shall
you be able TO give me a lesson this
morning. Mr.. Kingsley?'
For the first tin Cyril answered
her absentIy.
Yes. he said, mechanically. Then
he came on the terrace, Il am much
obliged TO you for locking the door.
Miss Dale, he said. 1T was care
less of me to leave the papers about.
and should have been very sorry if
hey had been disturbed Should I
presume II asked you TO be so gra-
cious as to have the door locked every
nieht?"
"Oh, nc" said Leola Il will lock
it myself as ! did yesterday, and
keep the key"
Cyril bowed. He had his hand on
the shutter.
These are very slight" he said,
carelessly. fearful OF alarming her:
they are the weakest shutters in the
house Wouldn't it be advisable to
have q bar fixed inside"
If you think So said Leola, with
ready aequtesCence It was really
remarkable that every suggestion Mr.
Kingsley made was received by her
as If embodied the wisdom Of Solo
mon.
4 will ask the butler to see TO it."
I will get one made at the forge. If
I may?" said Cyril
Thank YOU said Leola, simply.
And cyril thought to himself.
IN hay a bar across those shut.
ters before tonight if have 10 make
it myself"
Leola leaned her arm on the balus-
trade and watched the gardener striv-
ing 10 repair the damage caused by
the cats, softly singing to herself.
and as he looked at her. her dark
hair set like a carving against the
blue sky. her beautiful face so peace
full and calm, his own harassed and
suspicious mind grew easeful.
Whoever it is, and whatever he
means" he thought. III be a match
for him"
How Wet the grass looks said
Leola. = think there must have
been some heavy rain in the night"
Yes" said Cyril, smiling. as he
thought of how it peIted down upon
him. But it will lay III dust for
you ride. Miss Dale
Yes; and here come the horses.
said Leola, 4 can Just see their
heads above the hill | must run and
get Gu my habit, | shall not keep you
waiting many minutes"
Cyril bowed.
! am at your service, Miss Dale"
It was noticeable that although
Lola spoke to him as an equal he
never dropped the respectful man
ner in which he always addressed her.
He heard her so singing up the
stairs, and then stepped quietly into
the library. and closely examined the
window He found what he expected
The screw hole had been cleyerly en-
larged from the outside by some sharp
instrument until the. ops. ator had
been enabled 10 push the screw itself
out and so open the shutters
Very good, said cyril, through
his shut teeth, Now we'll see Il
you can cut through steel bar. my
friend"
But this seem1d the only discovery
he was likely 10 make, for though
he examined the room closely. he
could find no trace of the midnight
visitor. There were several carved
oak bureaus ana cases, but the draw
ers were locked and tight There
was no sign, no clew to the mystery,
and Cyril was compelled 20 conclude
that the man had been baked by the
locked doors and given up the tnten-
lions. whatever it might be. for IN
ture occasion.
Hearing Leola's voice outside, he
locked the door and went out on the