Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-03-19
BY II. B. MARRIOTT WATSON

would be delivered had few doubts,
but my anxiety lay rather as to the
watch I'm which 1t would be delivered.
| had sent Montgomery to his post
early, as 1t seemed wiser for more re-
sponsible heads than his to take the
deeper and darker hours Of the night.
From till IL his time ran. ana yet
they might be upon us ere that. He
was fed with some sandwiches and
cheered with little wine, while be-
low Sheppard and waited In cond1-
ton of tension.
ooh, hang itr exclaimed Sheppard
presently, after dinner, IL can't stand
this Let us 20 and Join him.
"You would be much wiser" said J.,
Ito get M hours sleep"
Sheppard shrugged his shoulders.
IT'S my turn next, you say, nnd I'm
not used to DO awakened In my beauty
sleep It's bad for me- No; III go to
bed when you relieve me. But l rec
ommend your own advice to yourself !"
And will take It," | answered.
''Sce that Montgomery gets his supper
ana EONS 10 Uou IIkC u SclSlplG RGIoOus
I'll be with you nt ? punctually."
cannot say that l enjoyed II peace.
full sleep. Although was dog tired,
partly from the exertion Of the days
work and partly because ! had had no
rest the previous night, l still slum-
bered very fitfully. Finally awoke In
n fever and, throwing the hot blankets
from me, stepped to the open window
My bedroom faced the north, and the
cool airs that hernlded the dawn An
dered over me, reducing the fume and
fire Of my nerves. Far away some
rolsterlng bird WIS calling, not IN his
spring notes, but raucous now with the
somber beat Of autumn. The curtain
of the dawn was lifting. 1t was time
for me to relieve Sheppard. My watch
marked quarter to 2. Having dress
ed went down TO the grent hall and,
thrusting the western windows open,
looked out Trees, like great ghosts,
invisible. whispered In the night to-
gether. The stars glilnmered down be-
low, and recollected suddenly that
was peerng into the water of the fosse,
The stiffness hung sc, deep that was
possessed of sudden with hundred
fears. Was Sheppard murdered? And
were the castle and its treasure now In
the hands of those abominable assas-
sins? listened for cry, but there
was none, only the gentle wash of
the waters against those ancient foun-
cations and the swishing of the leafage
on the neighboring trees. The park
lay, as one might have fancied, under
the imminent hand Of death.
1 stole upstairs, clamberlng with a
silent figure turned and low voice
spoke.
us that you, Ned?'
The sound almost startled me, occur
ring upon the stiffness.
ANY news!" l asked.
"Well, l have two things to COM
municate. Do you see that tree?"
l peered into the darkness in the d.
rection he had Indicated.
II hear It," observed doubtfully.
wen, We ScSA ~, uS icloltcu
"Your eyes are better than mine,
then" answered.
Maybe" said Sheppard cheerfully,
"maybe not But don't profess to sec
through wall. That tree is fifty PAGES
away, and 1t IL an oak, very large and
outrageous"
II believe you are right" I answered.
n think recollect It,"
II didn't" he went on. "But i reck-
on to see by match light as well as
any"
1 was puzzled Match light?" I
queried. You haven't BEEN
ooh, dear, NOT he exclaimed. "My
tower has been the central patch Of