The Irish standard., 1907-02-23

Il thank you, Mr. Glenarm: but
am not much for idling. ! keep few
hooks by me for the evenings. An
nandalc is not what you would exactly
call a diverting village"
II fancy not But the caretaker
over at the summer resort has even a
lonelier time, | suppose. That's what
Id call pretty cheerless job,--watch-
ing summer cottages in the winter"
That's Morgan, sir. I meet him
occasionally when go to the village:
he's very worthy person, | should
call him. on slight acquaintance"
NO doubt of it. Bates. Any time
through the winter you want to have
him in for social glass, it's all right
with nc"
When plunged into the wood in
the middle of the next afternoon it
was with the definite purpose Of re-
turning to the upper end of the lake
for an interview with MORGAN. who
had, so Bates informed me, small
house back of the cottages
took the canoe I had chosen for
my own use from the boat-house and
padded up the lake. The air was
still warm, but the wind that blew out
ut the south tasted of rain. / scanned
the water and the borders of the lake
for signs OF ]ife.-more particularly, l
may as we'll admit. for certain ma
room canoe and a girl in Il red tanl-o'-
shantcr: but lake and summer cot
tages were mine alone. landed and
began al once my search for Morgan.
There We're many paths through the
woods back of the cottages, and 1 fol-
lowed several futilely before l at last
found a small house snugly hid away
In thicket of young NAPLES.
The man | was looking for came to
the door quickly In response to my
knock
"Good afternoon. Morgan
Good afternoon, Mr.. Glenarm," he
said, taking his pipe from his mouth
The better to grin at me He showed
no sign of surprise. and I was nettled
by his cool reception. There was. l
felt a certain element of recklessness
in my visit to the house OF a man who
had shown so singular an interest in
my affairs, and his cool greeting
veXed me.
Morgan" ] began.
Wont you come in and rest your
self. Mr. Glenarm?' he interrupted.
Il reckon you're tired from your trip
over
"Thanl1 you, no" l snapped.
Suit yourself. Mr.. Glenarm." He
seemed to like my name and gave it
disagreeabIe drawing emphasis
Morgan, YOU are an Internal black
guard. You have tried twice to kill
me-
We'll call it that, if you like. and
he grinned. ''Rut you'd better cut
off one for this"
He lifted the gray fedora hat from
his head, and poked his finger through
hole in the top.
YOU'RE a pretty fair shot, Mr.. Glen
arm. The fact about me is,"-and he
winked,-"the honest truth is. I'm all
out oil practice. Why, sir, when saw
you padding out on the lake this after
noon I sighted you from the casino
half dozen times with my gun, but
I was afraid to risk It," He seemed
to be shaken with inner mirth "If
Id missed, wasn't sure you'd be
scared to DEATH"
For a novel diversion I heartily rec
nmmend a meeting with the assassin
who has, only Il few days or hours be-
fore. tried 10 murder you. I know of
nothing in the way of social adventure
that is quite equal to it.
Morgan, | hope you understand
that am not responsible for any in
jury my grandfather may have inflict-
ed on You. | hadn't seen him for sew
cral 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 Ill feeling against my grandfather
lay back of his interest in my affairs.
You're not quite the man your
grandfather was. Mr.. Glenarm. You'll
excuse my bluntness, but 7 take it
was very keen person, and, I'm
afraid,"-he chuckled with evident
satisfaction to himself-"Im really
afraid. Mr.. Glenarm, that you're mott"
There you have it. Morgan! fully
agree with you! I'm as dull as an
oyster: that's the reason I've called
IN you for enlightenment. Consider
that I'm here under 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 time Whom we might have
done some business; but that's past
now. You seem like IL pretty decent
fellow. too, and I'm sorry I didn't see
+ YOU sooner: bnt better luck next time "
Well | salt. .,.;"ii'9 that | should
+, only make myself ii,lirN,'ouc by trying
! to learn anything ir,:,,. him, Il hope
our little spals through w lows and
on walls won't Interfere with our
pleasant social relations. Aud | don't
hesitate to tell you,"--t was exertine