The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-01-26
CHAPTER Nv.
A Voice from the Lake.


which we had approached the house
seemed to encompass it. The branches
Of a great tree brushed the panes. j.
was Juggling at the fastening of the
window when became aware of Bates
at my elbow
Did something happen, sir?"
His unbroken calm angered me
Some one had fred at me through
window and had narrowly escaped
being shot. resented the unconcern
with which this servant accepted the
situation.
Nothing worth mentioning Some
body tried to assassinate me, that's
all" said. in a voice that failed to be
calmly ironical. I was still fumbling
at the catch of the window.
ALLOW me, sir,"-and he threw up
the sash with an ease that increased
my irritation.
I leaned out and tried to find some
clue to my assaIlant. Bates opened
another window and surveyed the dark
landscape with me.
TT was a shot from without, was
it, sir?"
"Of course it was; you didn't sup.
pose I shot at myself. did you?"
He examined the broken pane and
picked up the bullet from the table.
Its rife ball, l should say"
The bullet was half-fattened by its
contact with the wall. 1t was cart
ridge ball of large caliber that might
have been fred from either rife or
pistol.
It's very unusual, sir" l wheeled
upon him angrily and found him fun
bling with the bit of metal, troubled
look on his face. He at once con-
tinued, as though anxious to allay my
fears. Quite accidental, most likely.
Probably boys on the lake are shoot
ing at ducks"
l laughed out so suddenly that Bates
started back in alarm.
You idiot" l roared, Selling him
by the collar with both hands and
shaking him fiercely. You fool, dc
the people around here shoot ducks al
night? Do they shoot waterfowl with
elephant guns and fire at people
through windows just for fun?"
l threw him back against the table
so that it leaped away from him, and
he fell prone on the floor.
Get up!" | commanded, "and fetch
a lantern"
He said nothing but did as l badt
him. We traversed the long, cherries:
hall to the front door, and l sent hin
before me into the woodland. My no
tons of the geography of the region
were the vaguest, but l wished to ex
anime for myself the premises, tina
evidently contained a dangerous Prov
Ter. l was very angry and my rag
increased as l followed Bates, VIII
had suddenly retired within himself
We stood soon beneath the lights @
the refectory window.
The ground was covered with leave
, which broke crisply under our feet.
What lies beyond here?" I d.
manded.
> About quarter of mile Of woods
sir, and then the lake"
Go ahead" I ordered straight t
l the lake"
I was soon stumbling through roug
: underbrush similar to that throug
: which we had approached the hOus
. Bates swung along confidently enoug
b ahead of me, pausing occasionally
4 hold back the branches. l began
t feel, as my rage abated, that I had 81
G out on a foolish undertaking. I VIZ
t utterly at sea as to the character
d the grounds; l was following a ma
r whom l had not seen until two hou
before, and whom l began to suspe
G of all manner of designs upon me.
e was wholly unlikely that the persc
2 who had fired into the windows wou
II Turk about, and, moreover, the light
e the lantern, the crackle of the leav
l. and the breaking of the boughs adve
6 tised our approach loudly
o A bush slapped me sharply and
J. stopped to rub the sting from my fac
q Are you hurt, sir?" asked Bates 6
lie licitously, turning with the lantern.
n "Of course not" 1 snapped. Il
it having the time of my life. Are the
N no paths in this jungle?"
" Not Just here, sir. 1t was Mr.. Gle
arms idea not to disturb the wood
ALL He was very fond of waLd
through the timber"
:. Not at night, I hope! Where q
we now?"
Quite near the lake, SIR
/ Then go on"
$ was out of patience with Bat
IN with the painless woodland, and,
rs must confess, with the spirit of 10
o. Marshall Glenarm, my grandfather.
I, We came out presently upon a gr
IL ely beach, and Bates stamped s
tn denly on planking.
no This is the Glenarm dock, sir; q
al that's the boat house"
- He waved his lantern toward
10 structure that rose dark beside us.
%. we stood silent, peeTing out into
starlight, heard distinctly the dip
a+ paddle and the soft gliding motion