Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1906-01-25

he sad, WITH 4 gesture Of apology. II
had not noticed you have not finished.
Pray forgive my discourtesy."
or course l put myself at his dispos-
al, for, i'll truth, l had eaten and drunk
quite enough. But, seeming not to
hear me. he looked upon the table, and
at last. raising his eyes to mine and
playing gently, but scarcely In a nerv-
u fashion. with the forks before him,
he said very quietly:
Il have had the honor of YOUR ac-
qualntance for some twenty hours, Mr..
GreatoreN. 1t is little two men may
know Of each other in so brief a time.
But l am Wont to take quick cogni-
zance of people and content to risk a
mistake. You have. if you will forgive
me saying so, an admirable habit of 81
c He paused. and, as if it had
been to justify his sentence, l held my
tongue. "A recluse like myself-that
is how YOU would style me-" he re-
Sumed, must have some occupation
for his thoughts. l have explained that
l am no student. 1t follows that l
have some other hobby-shall we say?"
A ghost of q smile glittered on his
face, and then his head turned sharply
toward 4 window which overlooked
the courtyard. There was the sound
OF footsteps upon the rough cobble.
Il am about to disclose to you, Mr.
GreatoreX, the secret of my seclusion."
l rose with him, strangely influenced
by this solemn scene. Was it really
1O1pmn or woc ~ tho ,Dra -h3~, 80
old age, the pompous revelation of Sc
nile eccentricity? 1 followed him down
the stone passage to the eastern wing
Of the castle. Fifty PAGES farther
brought us to the entrance to the keep,
but a dozen yards from this Mr.. Kes-
teven paused and, turning the key in
a heavy oaken door, entered a room of
considerable size. which, as you will
see, Looked forth upon the back part of
the park from the second floor. Like
all the chambers in that ancient build
ing, it was paneled with oak.
The room was devoid of furniture
save for a rickety chair or two and
was wholly destitute Of carpet, so that
our feet rang loudly upon the stone
floor. 1t seemed to me at that mo-
ment, and with the odd preparations
for that mission. that | was, so to speak,
upon he very edge OF a mysterious dis
covery. Mr.. kesteven placed u chair
against the wall and, stepping upon it
with difficulty, raised his hand till it
touched the topmost panel neal the
window. There followed q slight creak,
and the panel slid back. disclosing Il
dark and vacant space in which l could
dimly discern the separation of shelves.
My host had but dropped his fingers
into the recesses Of this cupboard when
a faint noise caught his ears, and lie
turned abruptly. l had followed him
into the room. and the door stood
open. But l turned now with him and
followed the direction of his gaze. The
man Hood stood forward in the door.
way with an apologize air. MI. kes
teven's hand dropped sharply, and with
4 certain brusqueneSS he demanded,
What do YOU want!'
The ex-valet touched an imaginary
hat. Il beg your pardon, sir, l am
sure, but l called to know if you would
be wanting that gun you spoke Of the
other day. Mrs. Main didn't know,
and l thought that maybe it would
save time if l was to ask you myself"
He was Il perfect model of scrvil
department, displayed no sign of merry,
BUSINESS, but only the rigid good man.
ners of the trained servant. MI. Kcs.
teven stepped down from the chail
and leisurely busted his coat sleeves.
Then he looked up, and the westering
sun struck full upon his face, which !
could not but observe was more color.
less than usual.
NO. thank you, Hood" he said
suavely. II have changed my mind.
1t was good Of you, but 1 shall not need
it."
The two men eyed each other for ali
instant. and then the servants eye,
fell with civil politeness.
THANK YOU, sir. Sorry to trouble
you, sir" he said and turned about on
the threshold. But Mr.. Kesteven stop
ped him.
CAS- you are here, Hood" he said,
breathing hard, as from his exertions,
Il should be obliged if you would
kindly close that panel Ter Inc. l am
not SO young as l was, naturally, Mr..
GreatoreN," he explained, turning to
me with a faint smile.
There was a p~erceptible pause for Sc
ready a servant, l thought, as Hood
moved from his place by the door to
obey the order. l thought, too, that l
noticed q sudden fash Of amazcmcnt
pass in his eyes, but when he went by
me they We're merely d~eferential, and
l imagined that l had been mistaken.
"And now, my friend" said MI. Kcs-
teven genially, putting his hand through
mine when the panel had peel closed,
Eve will get into the open air. We can
not avail ourselves too much or too Of
ten Of these summer days; eli, Hood?"
NO, sir" said Hood promptly, with
the promptness of q machine and with
no more infection than q good servant
should have.
"Ah, l feel it myself, Mr.. Greatorex,''
said the old man, leaning somewhat
heavily upon my arm as we issued
c~--. H.. .--1