Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1907-08-03

OF course not" I snapped I'm
having the time OF my life. Are there
no paths In this 5ungle?"
Not just here. sir. Il was Mr.. Glen
arms idea not to disturb the wood at
all. He was very fond OF walking
through the timber"
Not at night I hopel Where are
we now"
Quite near the lake. sir
Then go on"
/ was out OF patience with Bates.
with the painless woodland. and. 1
must confess. with the spirit OF John
Marshall Glenarm. my grandfather.
We came out presently upon Erav-
ely beach. and Bates stamped sud
denly on plankiug
This is the Gleuarm dock, sir; and
that's the boat house"
He waved his lantern toward a low
structure that rose dark beside US. AS
we stood silent, peering out into the
starlight, I heard distinctly the dip OF
paddle and the soft gliding motion OF
a canoe
ITS a boat. sir" whispered Bates.
hiding the Lantern under his coat.
i brushed past him and crept TO the
end Of the dock The paddle dipped
on silently and evenly IN the stiU
water but the sound grew fainter. A
canoe is the most graceful. the most
sensitive, the most inexphcable con
trivance of man With its paddle you
may dip up stars along quiet shores or
steal into the very harbor OF dreams.
knew that furtive splash instantly.
and knew that "a trainSs hand welded
the paddle. Ny boyhood summers in
the Maine woods were not. I find.
wholly wasted
The owner OF the canoe had evident
~ stolen close to the Glenarm dock.
but had made of when alarmed by the
noise Of our approach through the
wood
Have you boat near here. Bates?"
asked
The boat house is locked and I
haven't the KEY with me. sir he re-
piled. without excitement.
"Of course you haven't IT," I re
Joined. fun Of arcer az his tone OF fire
proachable respect, and at my own
helpfulness. J had not even seen the
place by day sat. and the woodland
behind me and The lake at my feet
were things of shadow and mystery.
In my rage stamped my foot
Lead the way back. I roared.
I had turnoi toward the woodland
when suddenlr there stole across the
water a voice "a woman's voice. deep.
musical and deliberate.
Really 7 SHOULDN'T be so angry n I
were you," 80 sand. with a lingering
note on the word angry.
who are y0l2 What are you doing
there?" I bav'ei.
Just ENJOYING a little tranquil
thought" W.. the drawing. hooking
reply.
Far out upon The water I heard the
dip and glide OF che canoe. and saw
family it's outline Coz a moment: then
II was gone. The lake the surround
ing wood were an unknown world
the canoe. a boat OF dreams Then
again came tho voice:
Good night merry gentlemeni"
1T was a lady sir" remarked Bates.
after we had waited silently for a full
minute
How clever you are," I sneored
Il suppose ladies prowl about here at
night shooting ducks or into peoples
houses"
1t would seem quite likely. sir"
/ should have liked 90 cast him into
the lake. Tut he was already moving
away the lantern swinging az his side.
] followed him. back through the wood
land TO the house.
My spirits quickly responded 20 the
cheering influence OF the great library.
! stirred The fire on the hearth into
| life and SAG down before Il, tired from
my tramp. ! was mystified and per
| picked ty the incident that had al
ready marked my coming. Il was pos
| siole, 20 De- sure that the bullet which
narrowly missed my head In the little
| dining room had been a wild shot that
carried no evil intent. dismissed at
once the idea that II might have been
/ fired from the lake; IL had crashed
I through the glass with too much force
20 have come SO far; and. moreover /
could hardly imagine even a rife ball
| finding an unimpeded right OF way
! through So dense a strip OF wood. /
found it difficult 10 get rid Of the idea
/ that some one had taken a pot shot
at me.
The woman's mocking voice from
the lake added TO my perpleMty. II
was not I reflected. such a voice as
one might expect TO hear from a coun.
try girl: nor could imagine any
errand that would justify woman s
presence abroad on an October night
whose cool air inspired first conf
dences with fire and lamp. There was
something haunting in that last cry
across the water; 1t kept repeating It.
I self over and over In my ears II was
a voice Of quality, of breeding and
charm.
Good night. merry gentlemen!"
! In Indiana, l reelected. rustics, young
or old. men or women. were probably
not greatly given 10 salutations of just
this temper.
Bates now appeared.
beg pardon, sir; but your rooms
ready whenever you wish TO retire"
| looked about in search OF a CLOCK.
There are no timepieces in the
house, Mr.. Glenarm. Your grandfather
was quite opposed TO them. He had
a theory sir, that they were conducive
I a. ~ "a II