Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1906-01-05

that further appearances testified to the use of the castle as q farm. From a scrutiny of this pleasant aspect was aroused by lny host. who, paas!ng as he pushed open | huge o&ken door, turned to ne sueiQcG!T.
 T am extremely rell.iss, Mr. Create rex" he exclaimed With Il gesture of apology. "YGu have hot yet the style of your grateful host My name is Kesteven. and this is generally known as Iygl' c2@tle
 All this was conceived in thn@la9 formal and eccentric temper, aud doubtless had it not been fO2 the strange interest Of his habit and con. duet l might hot have consented se meekly To be his guest, for it Was now time for my LoMeWard journey. How eyer. I must, it appeared. sit and drink with him q glass of sherry iE ds l. brafy, a large and ancient room wit. | very fine display of oaken shelves and panelinG.
 X little later 1 excused myself, and rose for departure For a minute or E two he appeared to have fallen into
 
 quickly. he regarded me with d stead . fast. inquirHg gaze.
 2 MT GreatoreX. said he. you are d young man. begin to think that We should find n4liell in comu1on. You will permit the question: Are you mar rigd:
 7 I assured him that I was not. H. +f4+ news Nor am l. - he answered, "bat very probably for another reason. cannot expect you to take part ill my philosophy. but l am reminded that you have seen nothing of a house which is of some historical interest. and which l should esteem myself happy to show you l. it necessary that you should return to your Swan this evening" The invitation ill the query took me aba ok. for, eccentric as my host un- doubtedly was, had not anticipated this proffer of hospitality. Yet there was certainly no pressing reason for my return, and here. at least. l should have more consenial company than in my miscellaneous taproom. 1 replied something to the effect of this thought.
 "Good' said he brightening a little You are kind=to cheer q solitary I can even promise you q bottle of cham pagne if you are young enough. If you will allow mo will call my h6use- keeper He rose and went to the bell but. pausing with his hand upon the rope. looked at me gravely.
 T should be doing you wrong Mr Greatorex.h he said If I Were not to let you know that by cansentinG to be my guest tonight you are comforting upon me a great favor. You place me under particular ol9li eation.
 I told him. laughi!.g, that the obliga tion was mine
 "No,' said he. T fear that my mean :ng is not plain. Let me say ths-I Save particular reason for wishing 7our companionship tonight"
 ! bowed politely and offered some conventional reply, though this deep d.. of mystery puzzled me.
 You are d strong man, Mir. GreatO- rex" he continued, surveying He serI- ously. II must tell you that 1 have no one sleeping in the house save my housekeeper and d maid The man you saw, who took your horse, sleeps ill d cottage at Llanellan." He paused T was unfortunate enough to lose my valet month ago and so far have been unable to fill his place.
 5 l began to understand. He was iii some fear of Il.s lonely condition. Pos ' c;1 |, !,
 assailant. Suddenly, too, ran into my ! memory the scene i'll the taproom Oil the previous night the miller and his long pipe and his story. There Nas that same tale that should nave been teXciting about Il burglary. ..ua here Twas in Ivor castle.
 E If you are thinking of that scoua idrel.' began. "Surely the police He interrupted me with a smile k"The police, Mr. GrcatoreX, are seven smiles from Ivor castle. But pray do knOt misunderstood me. shall be in ktnitely obliged by your company. It's Hong since l had an intelligent conver- ssation. But l would not detain you if lyou had any scruples about staying" I. |. l fstay and gladly" And in truth meant lit, for the adventure interested me not a little. Was it burglars:
 It was in the dining room that we Ispent the evening. This was long.
 low roofed chamber occupying the Nground floor and opening with win Idows upon the cobble courtyard on the lone side and the meadows of the park on the other. It was a great chamber to contain but two people, but some IhOw the black oak of the walls and the Igeneral air of the upholstery prohibited the thought of discomfort These walls UWere not vacant. nor this space, but ltenanted, if one considered duly, by a Uconcourse of illustrious faces and high
 Stepping ghosts. Upon this point, as fl Happened, l was not long left in curi uosity, for Mr. kesteven was in the Imood to eonfide the history of the cas-
 tie to me. He was q queer creature kpartaking, as it seemed to me. of tht