The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-02-12
" Y mr. f,f1T Ca'ffLf. 2LZ1FEE4TRYE III
C09Sr3Ca>r I3a5 ~ I-eaS5 NOEL q

was another man who came running in
from somewhere. and he took sides
with me. l thought at first 1t was you
sir. The robbers thought so, too, for
one OF them yelled, Great God; Glen
arms come back" just like that But
it wasn't you. sir, but quite another
person"
That's good story so far; and
then what happened?"
Il don't remember much more, ex-
cept that some one soused me with
water that helped my head consider
ably. and the next thing | knew I was
staring across the table, there at you"
who were these men, Bates? Speak
up quickly"
My tone was peremptOry. Here was,
I felt, a crucial moment in our rela-
tions.
Well" he began, deliberately, q
dislike to make charges against fell
low man, but I strongly suspect one Of
the men of being"
Yes Tell the whole truth or it VIII
be the worse for you"
Il very much fear one of them was
Ferguson, the gardener over the way.
I'm disappointed in him. sir"
Very good; and now for the other
one"
4 didn't get my eyes on him. l had
closed with Ferguson and we were
having quite lively time of 1t when
the other one came in; then the man
who came to my help mixed us all up,
he was very lively persoG.-and
what became Of Ferguson and the rest
of it 1 don't know"
There was food for thought in what
he said. He had taken punishment IN
defense of my property,-the crack on
his head was undeniable,-and I could
not abuse him or question his veracity
with any grace; not, at least, without
time for investigation and study. How
ever. 1 ventured to ask him one ques-
ton:
IF you were guessing, shouldn't
you think it quite likely that Morgan
was the other MANI"
He met my gaze sQuarely.
81 think it wholly possible, Mr..
Glenarnl," he replied at once.
and the man who helped you-who
In the devil was he?"
BLESS me, / don't know. sir! He
disappeared. I'd like nightly to see
him again"
"Humph: Now you'd better do some
thing for your head. I'll summon the
village doctor if you say So"
No; thank you, sir. III take care
of it myself"
Very well. Now we'll keep quiet
about this. Don't mention it or dis
cuss it with any one"
Certainly not. sir" He rose, stag
gering little from weakness, but
crossed to the broad mantel shelf in
the great chimney-Dreast, rested his
arm upon it for a moment passed his
hand over the dark wood with a sort
of caress, then bent his eyes upon the
floor Uttered with books, drawings and
papers torn from cabinets and all
splashed with tallow and wax from
the candles. The daylight had in
creased until the havoc wrought by
the nights visitors was fully apparent
L y
mess of the room, and l thought
Bates lip quivered as he viewed the
wreck.
1T would have been a blow to Mr.
Glanarm; the room was his pride
his pride, sir"
He went out toward the kitchen, and
ran upstairs to my own room.
cursed the folly that had led me tc
leave my window open, for undoubted
~ Morgan and his new ally, St Ag
aTha's gardener, had taken advantage
Of It to enter the house. Quite likely
too, they had observed my departure
for Cincinnati, and this would IN
doubtedly be communicated to Picker
ing. l threw open my door and start
ed back with an exclamation o.
amazement.
A stranger stood at my chiffOnier
between two windows, calmly shaving
himself. He was clad in a bath gowI
my own, I saw with fury-and ht
hummed softly to himself as he seizeC
the brush and applied lather deftl!
to his upper lip.
Without turning he ADDRESSED me
quite coolly and casually, as though
his being there was the most natura
thing in the world.
Good morning Mr. Glenarm. Rath
er damaging evidence, that costume.
suppose it's the custom in the countr.
for gentlemen in evening clothes t.
. go cut by the window and return b.
the door You might think the othe
way round preferable"
G Larry" I shouted.
Jack"
q Kick that door shut and lock it,
, he commanded. in a sharp, severe ton
that remembered well, and just nov
welcOmed-in him
How, why and when-?"
= Never mind about me. I'm here
h thrown the enemy OF for a few days
and you may confess your own sin
a, o1ir7D i174o