The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-02-12


collection. Now and then he asked a
question tersely. or, again he laughed
or swere direIy in Gaelic. When I
had concluded the story of chickering's
visit, and of the conversation l over
heard between the executor and Bates
in the church porch, Larry wheeled
round with the scarf half tied In his
fingers and surveyed me commiserat-
ingly.
And you didn't rush them both on
the spot and have It out?"
No. l was too much taken aback
for one thing"
dare say you were!"
And for another I didn't think the
time ripe. I'm going to beat that fell
low, Larry, bat l want him to show
his hand fully before we come to
a smash-up. I know as much about
the house and its secrets as he does
that's one consolation. Sometimes I
don't believe there's a shilling here,
and again I'm sure there's a big stake
in it. The fact that Pickering is risk
ing so much TO find what's supposed
to be hidden here is pretty fair evil
dence that something's buried on the
place"
Possibly, but they're giving you a
lively boycott. Now where in the devil
have you been?"
Well" I began and hesitated. I
had not mentioned Marian Devereux
and this did not seem the time for con-
Gdences of that sort.
He took a cigarette from his pocket
and lighted it deliberately.
Bah! these women! Under the
terms of your excellent grandfathers
will you have thrown away all your
rights. 1t looks to me, as a member
of the Irish bar in bad standing, as
though you had delivered yourself up
to the enemy, so far as the legal situa-
ton is concerned. How does it strike
your"
II it's known that I ran away for a
night, of course"
MY lad, don't deceive yourself.
Everybody round here will know it be-
fore night. You ran off, left your win
dow open invitingly. and two gentle
men who meditated breaking in found
that they needn't take the trouble.
One came in through your own room,
noting, of course, your absence, let in
his friend below, and tore up the place
regrettably."
YES, but how did you get here?-
If you don't mind telling"
Its a short story. That little chap
from Scotland Yard, who annoyed me
so much in New York and drove me
4 to Mexico,-for which may he dwell
forever in fiery torment,-has never
given up. / shook him off, though, at
Indianapolis three days ago. I bought
a ticket for Pittsburg with him at my
elbow. 1 suppose he thought the chase
was growing tame and that the farther
east he could arrest me the nearer ]
should be to a British consul and tide
water. 1 went ahead of him into the
station and out to the Pittsburg
sleeper. 1 dropped my bag into my
section,-if that's what they call it in
your atrocious American language
looked out and saw him coming along
the platform. Just then the car began
to move-they were shunting it about
to attach sleeper that had been
brought in from Louisville and my
carriage, or whatever you call it, went
skimming out CT the sheds into yard
where everything seemed to be most
noisy and complex. / dropped off in
the dark just before they began to haul
The carriage back. A long train Of
empty goods wagons,-freight cars?-
was just pulling out and l threw my
bag into wagon and climbed after it.
We kept going for several hours, until
l was thoroughly lost, then | took ad-
vantage of a stop at a place that
seemed to be the end of terrestrial
things, got out and started across
country. 1 expressed my bag to you
the other day from a place that re
joiced in the cheering name of Ko
komo, just to get rid of it. l walked
into Annandale late last night, found
this medieval marvel through the kind
ness Of the station master and was
accommodating with my usual caution
, when saw gentleman Economically
entering through the open window
Larry paused to light a fresh cigar
cite.
You always did have a way of ar
irving opportunely. Go on"
1T pleased my fancy to follow him;
, and by the time I had studied YOU
: diggings here a trife, things began t.
l happen below. 1t sounded like a St
2 Patrick's day celebration IN an Irisl
/ village, and I went down at a gallop t
= see if there was any chance of break
ing In Have you seen the room
, Well, he gave several turns to hi
/ right wrist, as though to test tive
! all had jolly time there by the fire
place. Another chap had got in some
+ where, so there were two of them
1 Your mani suppose it's your man
Y was defending himself CALAMITY witt
D a large thing of brass that looked lik
= the nir.n.