Troy weekly news. (Troy, Idaho) 1897-1933, 1906-10-26


great hand upon my shoulder.
I'm afraid it's the truth" he said.
And then turning to the dead mans serv-
ant, "Your master-had he horsesT' he
asked
"Three, mein Herr, but they have
not yet returned from Lemsdorf, where
they went this morning with the big
sleigh for provisions"
With a sharp order Graden sent our
driver hurrying to the stables. Then,
with his arm linked in mine, we fol-
lowed the old servant into a low-roofed
dining-hall. AS l dropped upon an oak
settle before the great china stove, he
thrust his flask into my hands and, with
a word of encouragement, slipped away.
l knew that he was examining the body
but, doctor though l was, the spirit of
investigation had gone out of me-
could no more have assisted him than
medical student can watch. unmoved, his
first operation.
In about twenty minutes he returned
bearing a tray upon which was set bread
and cheese, fanking a great ham.
turned from the food 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 humor him than with any In
tention of following his advice, l drew
my seat to the table.
"Come, now; that's better" he cried,
carving away. ITO tell the truth,
haven't the slightest idea what that
villain Marnac has been up to. But what
do know Is that we've got to catch him
dead or alive. Therefore l recommend
you to stoke up your body with this ex-
cellent-hallo!'
whats the matter now?" 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.
81 am sorry to trouble you" said Ora
den courteously, "but we both set such
store by your hams that we wish to know
where they can be obtained. Do you cure
them yourself?"
mo, mein Herr, but it is done near
by" answered the man, with a look of
blank surprise.
Indeed. The Lemsdorf ham is a dis
covery; it should make a stir. | wonder
| had not heard of its merits before"
You see, mein Herr, the big curing
station has not long been established"
"A new enterprise? ?"
Eyes, mein Herr. 1t belongs to Herr
Drobin, a 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 l
turned holly upon Graden. How dare
you sit here IN this house of murder and
talk of the excellence of the food?" l
cried furiously. 1T Is shameful, indie
cent?"
"Yet we will visit the farm of Gran
on our way back. l have some little
inquiries to make"
1--WE shall do nothing of the sort" l
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 l knew 1t. But to
save appearances l walked to the win
dow and stood drumming upon it with my
fingers for a while before l 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 go out
and inquire"
There is no need to dwell on this mis-.
cradle drive. The tired horses dragged
slowly forward, the driver, sunen and
frightened. urging them on with blows
and curses Mile after mile of pine wood.
marched past us. but we did not speak
crouchng 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 tho edge
of the pines. The ground sank away into
a hollow like the palm of the hand. Al
the lowest point I could see a sduare
wooden building fanked by rows of out
buildings. 1t was, as l imagined, ths
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 wave of the whip explained
the situation.
at is Herr Drobin," said he.