The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1907-05-25
Copyright 1876 by BobosMerriu Co.
CHAPTER vIiI.-continued.

self, Mr. Glenarm?' he interrupted
81 reckon you're tired from your trip
over
Thank you, no" I snapped.
Suit yourself. Mr.. Glenarm." He
seemed to like my name and gave it
a disagreeable drawing emphasis.
. Morgan. you are an internal black
hard. You have tried twice to kill
me"
We'll call it that, if you like, and
he grinned. But you'd better cut
on one for this"
He lifted the gray fedora hat from
his head, and poked his finger through
a hole in the top.
You're pretty fair shot, Mr.. Glen
arm. The fact about me is,''-and he
winked,-"the honest truth is. I'm all
out of practice. Why, sir. when saw
you padding out on the lake this after
noon l sighted you from the casino
half dozen times with my gun, but
l was afraid to risk it." He seemed
to be shaken with inner mirth. IF
I'd missed, wasn't sure you'd be
scared to DEATH"
For novel diversion | heartily rec
ommend a meeting with the assassin
who has, only a few days or hours be-
fore, tried to murder you. l know of
nothing in he way of social adventure
that is quite equal to it.
Morgan, l hope you understand
that l am not responsible for any in
Jury my grandfather may have inflict-
cd on I hadn't 70
eral years before he died. was never
at Glenarm before in my life, SO it's a
little rough for you to visit your dis
pleasure on me"
He smiled tolerantly as l spoke. I
knew-and he knew that | did-that
no III feeling against my grandfather
lay back of his interest in my affairs.
You're not quite the man your
Aandfather was, Mr. Glenarm. You'll
excuse my bluntness. but l take it
that you're a frank man yourself. He
was a very keen person, and I'm
afraid, he chuckled with evident
satisfaction to himself,-"I'm really
afraid, Mr., Glenarm. that you're not"
There you have it, Morgan. l fully
agree with you, I'm as dull as an
oyster that's the reason I've called
on you for enlightenment. Consider
that I'm ht"e under a flag of truce, and
let's see If we can't come to an agree
ment."
It's too late, Mr.. Glenarm; too late.
There was a time when we might have
done some business; but that's past
now. You seem like pretty decent
fellow too, and I'm sorry l didn't see
you sooner but better luck next time"
We'll" l said. seeing that l should
only make myself ridiculous by trying
to learn anything from him, Il hope
our little spats through windows and
on walls won't interfere with our
pleasant social relations. And | don't
hesitate to tell you,"-l was exerting
myself to keep down my anger,-"that
If l catch you on my ground again III
fill you with lead and sink you in the
lake"
Thank you, sir he said, with so
perfect an imitation of Bates voice
and manner that l smiled in spite of
myself.
And now, il you'll promise not to
fire into my back I'll wish you good
6A. Otherwise
He snatched OFF his hat and bowed
profoundly. It'll suit me much better
to continue handling the case on your
own grounds" he said, as though he
referred to business matter. Kill
ing man on your own property re
uuires some explaining-you may have
noticed it,
Yes; commit most Of my murders
away from home" l said. Il formed
the habit early in life. Good day, Nor
gan
AS turned away he closed his door
ing me that he was acting in good
faith. and not preparing to puncture
my back with rifle ball. | regained
the lake shore. feeling no great dis
couragement over the lean results of
my interview. but rather fresh zest
for the game. whatever the game
might be.
The sun was going his -uddy way
beyond st. Agatha's as l drove my
canoe into a little cove Lear whi.n
the girl in the tamo'shanter had Gis
appeared the day before. The &hore
was high here and at the crest vas a
long curved bench of stone. boldly
remiriscential of Alma Tadenia. and as
clearly. the creation of Joho Marshall
Glenarm as though his nams had been
carved upon 1t.
1t was assuredly a spot for pipe
and a mood, and as the shadows crept
through the wood before me and the
water, stirred by the rising wind. be
gan to beat below. I invoked the one
an yielded to the other. Something
in the withered grass at my feet
caught my eye 1 bent and picked ur