Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1907-02-15
CHAPTER IN.

the porter deposited my things beside
me on the platform. Light streamed
from the open door Of the station; a
few idlers paced the platform, staring
into the windows Of the cars; the vii
. lage hackman .languidly solicited my
business. Suddenly out Of the shad.
oWs came a tall, curious figure of a
man clad in long ulster. AS write,
IT is with a quickening of the sensa-
ton | received on the occasion of my
hrst meeting with Bates. His lank,
q gloomy, figure rises. before me now.
and hear ms deep melancholy voice,
as, touching his hat respectfully, he
said: O.,
beg pardon, sir; is this Mr.. Glen
arm? ] am Bates from Glenarm
House. Mr.. Pickering wired me to
meet you, sir"
=, Yes; to be sure" | said.
! The hackman was already gathering
dup my traps, and gave him my trunk
checks.
How far is it," l asked, my eyes
resting, a little regretfully, must con-
fess. on the rear lights of the vanish
ing tram. :
E Two miles, sir" Bates replied.
. There's no way over but the hack in
winter. In summer the steamer comes
right into our dock" -.
my legs need stretching; I'll walk"
suggested, drawing the cool air into
my lungs. 1t was q still, starry Octo-
Der night, and its freshness was crate
full after the hot sleeper. Bates &C.
cepted the suggestion: without COM
ment, We. walked to the end Of the
platform, where the hackman was al
ready tumbling my trunks about, and
) after we had seen them piled upon
his nondescrlpt wagon followed
Bates down through the broad. quiet
street of the village. There was more
OF Annandale than | had imagined, and
several tall smokestacIs loomed here
and there in the. thin starlight.
BrickyardS, sir" said Bates, wav-
ing his hand at the stacks. TITS a
considerable center for that kind of
business"
Bricks without straw" ! asked, as
we passed radiant saloon that blazed
upon. the board walk.
. .. Beg pardon, sir, but such places are
. the ruin of men, ON which remark I
= based mental note that Bates wished
to impress me with his own rectitude.
; He swung beside me; answering
questions with dogged brevity. Clear
ly, here. was a man who had reduced
human intercourse to basis of neces-
slty. was to be shut I'm with him for
"a year, and he was not likely to prove
a cheerful jaiier. My feet struck upon
. a graVeled, highway at the end of the
village street, and |. heard suddenly
the tapping of water.
IT'S the lake, sir. This road leads
right out to the house." Bates ex.
planned.
e. | was doomed to mediate pretty
steadily, imagined, on the beauty of
the landscape in these parts, and I
was rejoiced to know that it was not
all cherries prairie or gloomy wood.
land The wind freshened and blew
sharply upon us of the water.
".The fishing's quite good in season.
Mr.. G!enarm used to take a great
pleasure in it. Bass.-yes, sir. Mr.
Glenarm held there was nothing quite
equal to black bass"
2 Fliked the way the fellow spoke Of
my grandfather. He was evidently a
loyal retainer. No doubt he could
summon from jthe past many pictures
OF my grandfather, and | determined
TO encourage his confidence.
Any. resentment felt on first hear.
Ing the terms of my graudtather's will
had passed. He had treated me as
well as | deserved, and the least [
could do was to accept the penalty he
had laid upon me in a. sane and amia-
Die spirit This tram of thought occu.
pied me as we tramped along the high
sl,Way. The road now fed away from
ne lake and through a heavy wood.
Presently, on. the. right doomed a dark
barrier, and 1 put out my hand and
touched a wall. Of rough stone that
rose to height Of. about eight feet.
what is this, Bates?'oE asked. @
"This is ,Glenarm land, sir. The
wall was one Of your grandfathers
Ideas It's a quarter of mile long
and cost him a pretty penny, l warrant
you. The road turns off from the
lake now, but the Glenarm property is
all lake front"
SO there was q wall about my pris-
on house! / grinned ;cheerfully to
myself. When, a few moments later,
my guide paused at an arched gateway
in the long wall, drew from his over.
coat a. bunch of keys and fumbled at
the lock of an iron gate, | felt the
spirit Of adventure quicken within ma
The gate clicked behind us and
Bates found a lantern and lighted |,
with the ease of custom.
Il use this gate because it's nearer
The regular entrance is farther down
the road. Keep close. sir, as the tim
Der isn't much cleared"
The underground was indeed heavy
er2 7 followed the lantern Of my guide
with difficulty In darkuacc tha rIoo.