The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-02-20

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They Ciasped Hands.
in Bates voice. and he sprang forward
with his hands outstretched entreat-
ingly. But Larry did not heed him.
The moment I set eyes on this man
I recognized him. It's not fair to you
or to him that you should not know
him for what he Is Let me introduce
an old friend, Walter Creighton; he
was student at Dublin when I was
there, a poor boy with nobody to help
him; but remember him as one OF
the best fellows in the world"
For Gods sake-no!" pleaded
Bates. He was deeply moved ana
turned his face away from Us.
But, like me-" Larry went on, ira
mixed in politics. One night in a riot
at Dublin a constable was killed No
one knew who was guilty, but a
youngster was suspected, tho son Of
one OF the richest and best-knOwn
men in Ireland, who happened to get
mixed in the row. To draw attention
from the boy, Creighton let suspicion
attach to his own name, and, to help
the boys case further. ran away.
had not heard from or of him uatr
the night I came here and found him
the defender of this house By God;
that was no servants trick,-it was
the act of royal gentleman"
They clasped hands. and with a
new light in his face with a new man
ner, as though he resumed. as a famil-
atty, Bates stood TRANSPORTED in the
twilight, man and a gentleman. l
think we were all drawn to him; |
know that a sob clutched my throSt
and tears filed my eyes as I grasped
his hand.
But what in the devil did you do it
for?" blurted my grandfather, excited
ly twirling his glasses.
Bates Il still call him Bates,-he in
sists on iD laughed. For the first time
he thrust his hands into his pockets
and stood at his ease, one Of US.
Larry, you may remember that l
showed fondness for the stage in our
university days. When I got to Amer
lea I had little money and found it
necessary to find employment without
delay. I saw Mr.. Glenarms advertise
ment for valet. Just as a lark l an
swered it to see what an American
gentleman seeking a valet looked like.
fell in love with Mr. Glenarm at
sight
And with you!" declared my
grandfather. Il never believed your
story at all,-you we're too perfect in
the part!'
We'll, I didn't greatly mind the
valet business; it helped to hide my
identity; and 1 did like the humor and
whims of Mr. Glenarm. The house
keeping, after we came out here,
wasn't so pleasant"-he looked at his
hands ruefully-"but this joke of Mr.
Glenarms making a will and then go
ing to Egypt to see what would hap
pen,-that was too good to miss. And
when the heir arrived found new OPP
portunities of practising amateur the
atricals; and chickering's efforts TO en-
list me in his scheme for finding the
money and making me rich gave me
still greater opportunities. There
were times when was strongly tempt
ed TO blurt the whole thing; I got
tired Of being suspected, and of play
/ ing ghost in the wall; and if Mr.. Glen
I arm hadn't got here just as he did |
+ should have stopped the fight and pro-
+ claimed the truth I hope, he said,
turning to me,-"you have no hard
feelings, sir" And he threw into the
"sir" just a touch Of irony that made
i us all roar
I'm certainly glad I'm not dead"
declared my grandfather, staring at
Bates. Life is more fun than I ever
/ thought possible. Bless my soul" he
+ said, 'if it isn't a shame that Bates
can never cook another omelette for
mel"
We sent Bates back with my grand
father from the boat-house, and Stod-
dard, Larry and I started across the
ice; the light coating of snow made
walking comparatively easy. We
strobe on silently, Stoddard leading.
Their plan was to take an accommoda.
ton train at the first station beyond
Annandale, leave it at q town 40 miles
/ away, and then hurry east to an OBJ
scnre place IN the mountains of Mary
land where a religious order main
! tanned house, There Stoddard prom