Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1907-04-25
CHAPTER vlI.-contlnued


One thing only i found--the slight
scar OF a hammer-head on the oak
paneling that ran around the bed
room. The wood had been struck
near the base and at the top of every
panel, for though the mark was not
perceptible on all, test had evidently
been made systematically. With this
as beginning, l found a moment
later spot of tallow under heavy
table In one corner. Evidently the
furniture had been moved to permit
Of the closest scrutiny of the paneling.
Glenarm House really promised to
prove exciting. l took from a drawc.'
small revolver, filled it's chambers
with cartridges and thrust it into my
alp pocket, whistling meanwhile Larry
Donovan's favorite air, "The Marche
Funebre de Marionnettes." My heart
went out to Larry as | scented adven-
ture, and l wished him with me; but
speculatIons as to Larry's where
abouts were always profitless. and
quite likely he was in Jail somewhere.
The ham of whose excellence Bates
had limited was no disappointment.
There is, | have always held, nothing
better in this world than properly
!, baked ham, and the specimen Bates
placed before me was delight to the
eye,--so adorned was 1t with spices;
80 crisply brown it's 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 a
cook with that touch,-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?"
II can hardly say l know 1t, sir.
Your lamented grandfather grew very
captious, Mr.. Glenarm. l had to learn
to satisfy him, and l believe / did it,
sir, if you'll pardon the conceit."
"1e 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. believe | prefer to keep
my digestion going as long as possible.
Those grilled sweet potatoes again, If
you please, Bates"
The game that he and were play
ing appealed to me strongly. 1t was
altogether worth while, and as / ate
guava jelly with cheese and toasted
crackers, and then lighted one of my
own cigars over a cup of Bates unfail,
ing coffee, my spirit was livelier than
at any time since certain evening on
which Larry and l had escaped from
lTangier with our lives and the curses
of the police.
The day had offered much material
for fireside reflection, and / reviewed
its history calmly. There was, how
ever one incident that | found I'M
pleasant In the retrospect. / had been
guilty of most unchivalrous conduct
toward one of the girls of ST. Agathas.
1t had certainly been unbecoming in
me to sit on the wall, however unwill-
ingly, and listen to the words-few
though they were-that passed be-
| tween her and the chaplain. / forgot
the shot through the window; l forgot
Bates and the interest my room pos
sessed for him and his unknown ac-
complete; but the sudden distrust and
contempt l had awakened in the girl
by my clownish behavior annoyed me
increasingly.
/ rose presently, found my cap and
went out into the moon-fooded wood
toward the lake. The tangle was not
so great when you knew the way,
and there was indeed, as l had found
the faint suggestion of a path. The
moon glorified broad highway across
the water; the air was sharp and STILL
followed the wall of St. Agatha's to
the gate, climbed up and sat down in
the shadow of the pillar farthest from
the lake. / drew out cigarette and
was about to light it when / heard a
sound as of step on stone. There
was, / knew, no stone pavement at
hand, but peering toward the lake
saw 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
lit. / drew up my legs and crouched
lin the shadow of the pillar, revolver
lin 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 chance to
debate 1t. The man dropped to the
ground, sounded the stone base under
the gate, likewise the pillars, evident
ly without results, struck spiteful
crack upon the iron bars, then stood
up abruptly and looked me straight in
the eyes. 1t was Morgan, the care
taker of the summer colony.
Good evening, Mr.. Morgan" / said,
settling the revolver into my hand.
There was no doubt about his sur
prise; he fell back, staring at me hard,
and instinctively drawing the hammer
over his shoulder as though to fling it
at me.
"Just stay where you are a mo-
ment, Morgan" / said pleasantly, and
dropped to a sitting position on the
wall for greater ease in talking to
him.
He stood sullenly, the hammer dan
Cling at arms length, while my re-
volver covered his head.
Nov, If you please, I'd like 70 know
what you mean by prowling about