Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1907-03-01

OruSneO my clothes, pausing frequent
~ to examine the furniture. even the
bricks on the hearth.
One thing only l found-the slight
scar Of hammer-head on the oak
paneling that ran around the bed
ioom. The wood had been struck
aear the base and at the top Of every
panel. for though the mark was not
perceptible on all, test had evidently
,een made Systematically. With this
Is beginning | found a moment
alter a spot Of tallow under a heavy
able In one corner. Evidently the
urniture had been moved to permit
If the closest scrutiny of the paneling.
Glenarm House really promised to
prove exciting. | took from a drawer
small revolver, filed its chambers
With cartridges and thrust 1t into my
Zip pocket, whistling meanwhile Larry
Donovan's favorite air, THE Marche
!unebre de Marionnettes." Ny heart
vent out to Larry as | scented adyen.
lure, and | wished him with me; but
Ipeculations as to Larry's where
ibouts were always profitless, and
quite likely he was in Jail somewhere.
The ham OF whose excellence Bates
lad limited was no disappointment.
There is, | have always held, nothing
better in this world than a properly
baked ham. and the specimen Bates
placed before me was a delight to the
eye.-so adorned was II with spices;
so crisply brown its outer coat; and
taste,-that first tentative taste, be-
fore the sauce was added,-was like
a dream of Lucullus come true. felt
that could forgive a good deal in Q
cook with that ouch,-anything short
of arson and assassination!
Bates" l said, as he stood forth
where | could see him, you cook
amazingly well. Where did you learn
the business?"
Il can hardly say know ii, sir.
Your lamented grandfather grew very
captious, Mr.. Glenarm. | had to learn
to satisfy him, and | believe | did 1t,
sir, if you'll pardon the conceit."
HE didn't die Of govt, did he! |
can readily imagine IT,"
mo, Mr.. Glenarm. 1t was his heart.
He had his warning OF IT,"
"Ah, yes; to be sure. The heart or
the stomach,-one may as well fail as
the other. I believe | prefer to keep
my digestion going as long as possible.
Those grlled sweet potatoes again, ii
you please, Bates"
The game that he and were play
ing appealed to me strongly. It was
altogether worth while, ard as | ate
guava Jelly with cheese and toasted
crackers, and then lighted orc r. ny
own clears over a cup Of Bate ul-1l-
ing coffee, my spirit was lIvel'er than
at any time since a certain ercHinr on
which Larry and had escared from
TanS'er with our lives and the cuIsas
of the police.
The day had offered much matenal
for fresile reelection. and I reviewed
its history calmly. There was. how.
ever, enc incident that | fo-1i M
pleasant in the retrospect / had been
guilty Of most unchigalrous conduct
toward one Of the girls Of e. Aratha's.
1t had certainly been uo5acoming IN
me to sit on the wall. however unwiIl-
in-ly. aad listen 20 the wnris-cew
though they were-that passed be-
tween her and the chaplain. | FORGOT
the shot through the window: forgot
Bates and the interest my room pos.
sessed for him and his unknown ac-
complete; but the sudden distrust and
contempt ! had awakened in the girl
by my clownish behavior annoyed me
increasingly.
| rose presently. found my cap and
went out into the moon-hooded wood
toward the lake. Tie tangle was not
so great when you knew the way,
and there was indeed, as | had found,
the faint suggestion Of a path. The
moon glorifed a broad highway across
the water; the air was sharp and still.
| followed the wall Of 81. Agatha's to
the gate, climbed up and sat down in
the shadow of the pillar farthest from
the lake. drew out a cigarette and
was about to light 1t when | heard a
sound as Of step on stone. There
was, | knew, no stone pavement at
hand, but peering toward the lake
saw a man walking boldly along the
top of the wall toward me. The moon.
light threw his figure into clear relief.
Several times he paused, bent down
and raped upon the wall with an
object he carried in his hand.
Tap. tap, tap! The man with the
hammer was examining the farther
side Of the gate, and very likely he
would carry his Investigations beyond
It l drew up my legs and crouched
in the shadow Of the pillar, revolver
in hand. l was not anxious to invite
an encounter; much preferred to
wait for a disclosure Of the purpose
that lay behind this mysterious tap
ping upon walls.
But the matter was taken out OF my
own hands before ! had a chance to
debate II. The man dropped to the
ground. sounded the stone, base under