The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-07-02

Philip was in small humor for con
versation. He looked forward TO
an exceedingly unpleasant interview.
when his lips would utter consolinr
words to which he must strive 10 i'm
part genuine and heartfelt ring.
That would need an effort 10 say the
| least.
The road wound its way through
pines and heather. but ever upward.
until the trees yielded to an unbroken
range of open mountain and the farms
that nestled in hooks of the hillside
disappeared wholly.
Glimpses of the sea were caught
where a PERCEPTIONS valley tore a cleft
in the land. on lofty brow in front
Philip saw a solitary and half disman-
tied building.
rs that the Grange House?'' he in
CURED
Yes"
'Why on earth did two old people.
one of them an invalid. select such
lonely residenceT
THAT has been puzzling me for
days"
How long have they been here?"
Il cannot say. l was only called in
four days ago"
They passed a policeman patrolling
his country beat. The doctor gave him
an affable smile. The man saluted
promptly, but looked after them with
a puzzled air. He continued to watch
them at intervals until they reached
the Grange House
Arson noticed that the track-it was
a gate guarded bride path now
mounted steadily to the very threshold.
The place stands on the edge of a
cliff" he said.
Yes. 1t was built by some recluse.
The rock falls sheer indeed. slopes in
ward to some extent-for 800 feet"
Some day, 1 suppose. it will fall
into the sea-
Probably, but not in our time. Here
we are. Just allow me to hitch the
reins to the gate post
He jumped lightly out of the dog
cart.
Are there no servants?"
"Only an old woman and her daugh-
ter. They are busy at this hour"
Philip understood that a meal might
be in preparation. He hoped not.
Personally he could not eat there.
DR.. Williams pressed the latch of an
old fashioned door. He whispered:
BE as quiet as possible. He NAV be
asleep. If he is, it will not be for long.
poor fellow"
Indeed the doctor himself BETRAYED
some slight agitation now. He perspir-
ed somewhat, and his hand shook.
Arson followed him into a somber
apartment, crudely furnished. half din
ing room, half kitchen. Though the
light of a June evening was clear
enough outside. the interior of the
house was gloomy in the extreme.
There were some dark curtains shroud-
ing doorway.
Lady Morland is in there" murmur-
ed the doctor brokenly. "WiI you so
to her?"
Philip obeyed in silence. He passed
| through the curtains. 1t was so dark
that he imagined he must be in a
passage with door at the other end.
Cant | have light?" he asked,
partly turning toward the room he had
| just quilted.
In the neglected garden at the land
ward front of the Grange House the
horse stood patiently on three legs,
Illuminating no doubt on the steepness
of hills and the excellence of pastures.
Nearly an hour passed thus in solemn
quietude. Then a boy on a bicycle,
red faced with exertion, pedaled man
fully up the hill and through the gate.
II hope he's here" he thought. Its
a long way to COON for nothin'."
Around his waist was a strap with a
pouch bearing the kings monogram.
He ran up to the door and gave a cou-
pie of thunderous knocks the privileg-
ed rattat of telegraph messenger.
There was a long delay. Then a
heavy step approached, and a man
opened the door-a big, heavy faced
man, with eyes that stared dreadfully
and a nose damaged in life's transit.
philip Arson, ESQ.," said the boy
briskly, producing a buff colored en-
velope.
The man seemed to swallow some
thing.
"Yes; he's here. Is that for him?"
Yes. sir. Any reply?"
The man took the telegram, closed
the door and the boy heard his retreat
ing footsteps. After some minutes he
returned.
Its too late to reply tonight, isn't
it?' he inquired.
Eyes, sir. 1t coom'd after hours, but
they'd paid t porterage i Lunnon so t.
postmistress said ye'd mebbe like to
hev it at vance. I've ridden all t. way
| frae Scarsdale"
Late that evening, when the pro
tracted cleaning of the north was fast
yielding to the shadows of a cloudy
night, the big man from the Grange
House drove into Scarsdale. He pulled
up at the Fox and Hounds public
hOuSp He wanted Mr. Groom