Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1907-04-19


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ed peremptoriiy, and Bates turned
without another word, and admitted
Stoddard, who came in hurriedly.
] Merry Christmas!" he called heart
lily, in tones hardly consonant with the
troubled look On his face. introduced
him to Larry and asked him TO sit
down.
Pray excuse our disorder-we
didn't do it for fun; 1t was one of
Santa Claus tricks.
He stared about wonderingly.
"So'you caught 1t, too, did you?"
TO be sure. You don't mean to say
that they raided the chapel?"
That's exactly what mean to say.
When | went into the church for nv
early service l found that some one
had ripped off the wainscoting in a
half dozen places and even pried up
the altar. It's the most OUTRAGEOUS
thing | ever knew. You've heard of
the proverbial poverty of the church
mouse,-what do you suppose anybody
could want to raid simple little coun-
try chapel for? And more curious vet.
the church plate was untouched.
though tie closet where it's kept was
upset, as though the miscreants had
looked there for something they didn't
find"
Stoddard was greatly disturbed, and
gazed about the tOpsy-turvy library
with growing Indignation.
We drew together for a council of
war. Here was an opportunity to en-
list a new recruit on my side; and
after | had told my story fully and con-
Quoted Larry and Stoddard through
the tunnel, the better to prove that |
was not romancing, they declared their
purpose to stand by me to the end, no
matter what that conclusion might be.
The next morning Bates placed a
letter postmarked Cincinnati at nv
plate. l opened and read it aloud to
Larry:
On Board the Heloise.
December %, 1901.
John Glenarm, Esq.,,
Glensrm House.
Annandale. Wabana Co., Indiana:
Dear Sir-I have just learned from
what ! believe to be a Trustworthy
source that you have already violated
the terms Of the agreement under which
you entered into residence on the prom
erty near Annandale. known as Glenarm
House. The provisions Of the will of
John Marshall Glenarm are plain and
unequivocal. as you undoubtedly under
stood when you accepted them, and your
absence, not only from the estate itself.
but from Wabana county, violates be-
yond question your right to Inherit.
/, as executor, therefore demand that
you at once vacate said property, leav-
Ing 1t in as good condition as when re-
ceived BY you. Very truly yours,
Arthur Pickering,
Executor Of the Estate Of John Marshall
Glenarm.
Very truly the DEVILS" growled
Larry, swapping his cigarette case
viciously.
How did he find out?" | asked lame
ly. but my heart sank like lead. Had
Marian Devereux told him! How else
could he know?
Probably from the stars,-the whole
universe undoubtedly saw you skip
ping of to meet your lady love. Bah.
these women!"
Tut! They don't all marry the sons
Of brewers" retorted. you assured
me once, while your affair with that
Irish girl was on, that the short upper
lip made Heaven seem possible, but
unnecessary; then the next thing |
knew she had shaken you for the
Dloated maltSter. Take that for your
impertinence. But perhaps it was
Bates?"
l did not wait for an answer. I was
not in a mood for reflection or nice dis
tinctions. The man came in lust then
with fresh plate of toast.
Bates, Mr.. Pickering has learned
that was away from the house on the
night of the attack, and I'm ordered off
for having broken my agreement to
stay here. How do you suppose he
heard of it so promptly" !,
From Morgan, quite possibly.
have letter from Mr.. Pickering nv.
self this morning. Just a moment
sir"
He placed before me a note bearing
the same date as my own. It was a
sharp rebuke of Bates for his failure
to report my absence promptly by
wire, and he was ordered to prepare to
leave on the first Of February. CLOSE
your accounts at the shoDkeepers' and
l will audit your bills on my arrival"
The tone was peremptory and con.
temptuous. Bates had failed to satisfy
Pickering and was flung Of like a
smoked-out cigar. i.
How much had he allowed yeu for
Bates?" #
He met my gaze imperturably.
He pays me $50 a month as wages,
SIR, and l am allowed SIS for other ex.
penses."
But you didn't buy English pheas.