Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1907-06-06
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paneIing 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, o test had evidently
been made systematically. With this
as a beginning ! found a moment
later spot OF tallow under a 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. took from a drawer
small revolver, filled its chambers
with cartridges and thrust II into my
hip pocket, whistling meanwhile Larry
Donovan's favorite air, The Marohe
Fanebre do Marionnettes MY heart
went out to Larry as l scented adven-
| ture, and ! wished him with me; but
! speculations as to Larry's where.
abouts were always profltless, and
/ quite likely he was In Jail somewhere.
The ham OF whose excellence Bates
! had limited was no disappointment
| There 10, have always held, nothing
better in this world than q 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 a
! taSte.--that first tentative taste, be
fore the sauce was added, was like
a dream OF Lucullus come true. ] felt
that | could forgive good deal in a
cook with that touch, -snything short
Of arson and ASA estimation
Bates" l said, as he stood forth
where l could sec him, you cook
amazingly well. Where did you learn
the business?"
Il can hardly say know 1t, sir
Your lamented grandfather grew very
captlous. Mr.. Glenarm. had to learn
to satisfy him. and I believe I did It,
sir If you'll pardon the conceit."
| He didn't die Of govt. did he? I
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, II
you please Bates
The game that he and I were play.
ing appealed to me strongly. 1t was
altogether worth while. and as I ate
guava jelly with cheese and toasted
7 crackers, and then lighted one Of my
own cigars over cup OF Bates unfail-
ing coffee, my spirit was livelier than
at any time since q certain evening on
which Larry and l had escaped from
Tangier with our lives and the curses
OF the police
The day had offered much material
for fireside reflection, and l reviewed
its history calmly. There was, how
ever, one incident that | found I'M
pleasant in the retrospect. I had been
guilty OF most unchivarous conduct
toward one Of the girls Of st, Asatha's.
II 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; I forgot
Bates and the interest my room pos
sessed for him and his unknown &C.
complete; but the sudden distrust and
contempt l had awakened in the girl
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 had found,
the faint suggestion Of path. The
moon glorified broad highway across
the water; the air was sharp and still.
I 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. ! drow out a cigarette and
was about to light it when ! heard a
sound as Of step on stone. There
was, I 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
It, ! drew up my legs and crouched
In the shadow OF the pillar, revolver
In hand. / was not anxious to invite
an encounter; l much preferred tc
walt for disclosure of the purpose
that lay behind this mysterious tap
ping upon walls.
But the matter was taken out Of my
own hands before l had q chance tG
debate it. The man dropped to the
ground. sounded the stone base under
the gate. likewise the pillars, evident
ly without results, struck q spitefu
crack upon the iron bars, then stood
up abruptly and looked mo straight II
tho eyes. It 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 ding Il
at me.
Just stay where you are a mo
1