Morgan County republican. (Versailles, Mo.) 1906-1914, 1907-05-30
"Want teh go daown ten tn piste.

We rode along in silence until we
reached the gates, when, as ! was un.
locking them with a key from the big
bunch that I had brought with me. he
unbent enough to say: Don't look
much like It ulster. hcre!"
He was quite right. The grass stood
knee high on the lawns, the foad.
beds and paths were choked with
weeds, and the asphaltcd walks, Lead
Ing from the front and sides of the
mansion, and winding gracefully down
under the trees to thu river, were
blanketed under the leaves and other
accumulations Of three long years.
The man waited until ] had unlock.
ed the front door, which swung In
ward with the ftful crcaking OF dis.
use. and then asked: ID ye want M
teh waltz"
ooh. no." ! replied, Not at ALL"
IAN right" he returned, cluckiDg to
his horse, "Iil tell Ilosklns teh a W a
room fur ye, IN 1t haln't much OF a
walk frum here, anyhaow."
Hold on" | shouted, as he was
turning the corner. Don't do any
thing OF the sort! I'm going to sleep
here tonight, II ! can find any lights
and manage 60 turn on the water.
don't want to sleep at Hosklns' un.
less ! have to, but I'll be over there
for breakfast in the morning.
His expression OF amazement was
wonderful to behold, as he pulled his
horse down on It's launches to hear
me through. Then, with a grin. he
chuckled: wal, it's gol dummed little
sleepln' yen do, III warrant" and he
drove on up the road"
! wandered over the house, raising
windows and opening shutters to let
In the light and air and then, making
n frugal lunch Of some things | had
purchased on the train for this pur-
pose, | lighted a cigar and. drawing
n chair out on the vcranda, ! watched
the sunset far away Ovcr the river and
waited for bed time.
] had no doubt that my rustic
friends establishment at my determin.
alton to sleep in the house was found
ed upon the twaddlc over ghosts that
was begun In the village three years
before, and ] rather welcomed this
idea, for ! felt that the more preva.
lent IL became the less likelihood
would there be of undesirable prowl-
ers about the place.
The o ! chose for the night was
the n ! had occupied on the coca
l at,r ~ a. f-.,,l. ,,t,it .,l nrt., ..al
Ing up my bed in true bachelor fash.
ion, with bedding which ! had no trOli,
BILE In finding. ! locked the house SO.
curely and slept the sleep of the
Just.
awoke suddenly, startled no doubt
by a ray OF sunlight cleaning fairly
In my face, and. finding the day so far
advanced. ! sprang ont of bed thor.
onghly refreshed by my sleep and ex-
hilaratcd by the crisp morning air
that was blowing In through the win.
dow. AS ] threw back the sheet some.
thing fell to the floor; picking 1t up.
found n small, square envelope ad.
dressed In Il crampcd and totally unfa.
miliar hand:
Frederick Ware, ESQ,
Carncy.Croft.
tore It open. and my astonish
mcnt at It's discovery was increased
ten fold by It's contents. Tho note
read:
Az you love Florence Carney and hope
to make her your wife, keep her away
from this place ut any cost.
read II over and over again until
the letters fairly danced before my
eyes. sand then ! suddenly awokc to
the Importance of finding, II possible,
how II had been placed in my bed.
The window was open. to be surcr.
and had been open all night. but II
was too far from the ground to have
been reached without IA ladder. and
a later inspection of the ground be.
ncath showed concluslvely that no lad
der had been placed under It. More.
over, the little tendrils Of Ivy that
waved In the breeze all around the
sash were absolutely uninjured, which
could moi have been the case II an
entrance to the room had been effect.
ed I'm this way.
CTo BE cONTINUED)