The Delta independent. [volume] (Delta, Colo.) 1886-19??, 1907-10-18

one knew who was guilty. but q
.youngster was suspected.-the con OF
ono of the richest and best-known
men in Ireland, who happened to get
mixed in the row. To draw attention
from the boy, Creighton ls. suspicion
attach to his own name. aad to help
the boys case further. ran sway.
had not heard from OF Of bin until
the night | came here and found him
the defender of this house. By God;
that was no servants trick,-it was
the act of a royal gentleman.
They clasped hands, and with
new light in his face. with new man
ner, as though he resumed, as famil-
dar garment an old disused person
ality, Bates stood transfigured in the
twilight, a man and a gentleman
think we were all drawn to him; l
know that sob clutched my throat
and tears filled my eyes as ! grasped
his hand.
"But what in the devil did you do it
kor?" blurted my grandfather, excited
ny twirling his glasses.
Bates q still call him Bates,-he In
sists on i) 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 ]
showed fondness for the stage in our
university days. When got to Amer
lea / had little money and found 1t
necessary 10 and employment without
delay. saw Mr.. Glenarms advertise
msnt for valet. Just as a lark an
bwered 1t TO see what an American
tkentleman seeking valet looked like.
Il fell in love with Mr.. Glenarm at
slight"
"And / with you!" declared my
grandfather. 'I never believed your
Story at all,-you we're too perfect in
the part!"
"Well, l didn't greatly mind the
valet business; 1t helped to hide my
identity; and did like the humor and
kwhims OF Mr.. Glenarm. The house
keeping, after we came out here.
wasn't SO p!easant"-he looked at his
hands ruefully-"but this joke of Mr..
IGlenarm's making will and then 60
hng to Egypt to see what would hap
pen,-thst was too good to miss. And
when the heir arrived found new op-
portunities of practising amateur the
atricals; and Pickering's efforts to en-
hist me in his scheme for finding the
money and making me rich gave me
still greater opportunities. There
swere times when was strongly tempt
ed to blurt the whole thing; ! got
tired of being suspected. and of play
ing ghost in the wall; and If Mr.. Glen
hrm hadn't got here just as he did
should have stopped the fight and pro-
claimed the truth. hope."-he said.
turning to me,-"you have no hard
Feelings, SIR" And he threw into the
tsir" just touch of irony that made
us all roar.
"I'm certainly glad I'm not dead"
declared my grandfather, staring at
Bates. life is more fun than ! ever
thought possible Bless my SOUL" he
said, "if 1t isn't shame that Bates
can never cook another omelette for
met
We sent Bates back with my grand
father from the boat-house, and Stod-
dard, Larry and ] 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-
tion train at the first station beyond
AnnandaIc. leave it at town 40 miles
away. ard then hurry east to an OBJ
scurc place in the mountains of Mary
land where religious order main
tained house. There Stoddard prom
ised Larry asylum and no questions
asked.
AS my two friends waved farewell
to e. 10 nj nf fhnir
train mood of depression seized me;
] had lost much that day, and what l
had gained,-my restoration to the re-
gard of the kind old man of my own
blood. who had appealed for my COM
panionship in terms hard to deny
seemed trining as / tramped back
over the ice. Perhaps Pickering. after
all, was the real gamer by the days
events!
tramped on back toward the Glen
arm shore, and leaving the lake. half
unconsciously struck into the wood be-
yond the dividing wall. The melted
snow Of midday was now crisp ice
that ratified and broke under my tread.
came out into an open space beyond
st. Agatha's, found the walk ard
turned toward home in the gathering
night.
AS I n.ared the main entrance to
the school the door opened and wom-
an came out under the overhanging
lamr. She carried lantern. and
tuyued with hand outstretched to
some one who followed her with care
ful stepa
"Ah, Ms.ian," cried my grandfather,
''i.'g aver the task OF youth to light
tie way io: age"
CHAPTER XVII.
And so the Light Led Me.