The Washington times., 1906-07-01
Continued from Sixth Page)

contact with the wall II was a car
fridge ball Of large caIiber and might
have been fired from either rife or pis-
tol.
..It.s very unusual. sir" wheeled
upon him angrily and found him
fzm bling with the bit OF metal.
troubled look IN his face. He AZ once
continued. as though anxious 70 allay
my fears guile accidental. most
likely Probably boys on the lake are
shooting 81 ducks
laughed out 50 suddenly that Bates
started back IN alarm
You IDIOT I roared. selzing him
by the collar with both hands and
shaking him hercely- You fool. Do
the people around here shoot ducks al
night? Do they shoot water fowl
with elephant guns and FIRE al people
through windows just for fun?''
threw MIN back against the table
so that IL leaped away from him, and
he fell prone On the floor
Get up" I commanded. and fetch
lantern"
He said nothing. but did as I bade
him We traversed the long cherries
hall 20 the front door. and sent him
before ne into the woodland Ny
notions OF the geography of The region
were the vaguest. bat wished 20 ex-
anime for myself the premises that
evidently contained a dangerous Prov
ler- I was very angry and ny rage In
creased as 7 followed Bates. who had
suddenly retired within himself We
stood soon beneath the lights OF the
refectory window
The ground vas covered with leaves
What lies beyond here7" 7 de-
maaded-
About a quarter of mile OF woods.
sir. and then the lake
Go ahead" 7 ordered. straight TO
the lake"
was soon stumbling through rough
underbrush similar 20 that through
which we had approached the house.
Bates swung along con7deutaliy
enough ahead Of ne. pausfng occa-
siorauy 20 hold back the branches
! began 70 feel. as my rage ahated,
that had set out on a foolish under
taking I was utterly at sea as 20 the
character OF the grounds; I was fol-
lowing a man whom 7 began 10 sus-
pect OF all manner OF designs upon
ne. II was wholly unlikely that the
would iurS about. and moreover. the
Eight OF tAe lantern. the crack Of the
leaves. and the breaking Of the boughs.
advertised our approach loudly. I am.
however. a perso- given 70 steadfast-
ress in error. II nothing Else and I
plunged along behind my guide with
a grim determination 20 reach the
ns-Ein q the lake Il FOR no other
reason than 70 exercise nv authority
over the custodian OF this strange es-
tate
bush slapped me sharply. AID 7
s'oPped 20 rub the sting from my face.
Are YOU hurt. s.-?'' asked Bates.
solicitously. turning with the lantern.
'Of course not" I snapped I'm
having the tine of nv life. Are there
TO paths IN this Jungle
Not through here sir Il was Mr.
GleraTra IDEA rot 20 disturb the
~cc5 at al He vas very fond OF
walking through the timber
Tot AZ night. 1 hope, Where are
VIC =ow?"
Quite near The lake. sir"
II! el go on
was out o. patience with Bates. with
the painless woodland. and. must
confess with the spirit OF John Mar
shal G!easru. my grandfather.
We care out presently upon a grav-
ely beach. and Ba,es stamped sud
denly on plankIng.
This IS the G.enar-a dock. sir; and
tEaIs the bca, house
He waved his lantern toward a low
structure that r1se dark beside US
AS We stood silent. reering out into
TIE starlight. head distinctly the dip
CT a paddle ard the soft gliding motion
Of a canoe
IT'S boat, sir whispered Bates.
hiding the lantern under his coat.
7 brushed past him and crept 70 the
end OF The dock The paddle dipped on
silently ana evenly IL the still water.
but the sound Er~w fainter A canoe
is the most graceful the most sensI-
tive. the most ineXplicable continuance
Of man With its paddle you may dip
UP stars along quiet shores or steal
into the very harbor Of dreams I knew
that furtive splash Instantly. and knew
that = trained hand welded the paddle
My boyhood summers in the Maine
woods were not. frequently find.
wholly wasted
The owner OF the canoe had evi-
IDENTIFY stolen close to the Glenarn
dock. and had made Of when alarmed
by the noise OF cur approach through
the wood.
Have you boat here?"
The boat house is locked and I
haven't the key with me- sir" he re-
pl ed without excitement.
of course you haven't il, snapped.
full OF anger at mis- tone Of irTeproach-
able respect. and at my own helpless
ness I had not even seen the place
by daylight. and the woodland behind
ne and the lake at my feet were
things Of shadow and mystery. In my
rage ] stamped my foot
Lead the way back I roared.
had tCrred toward the woodland
when suddenly there stole across the