Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1907-03-15
CHAPTER XII.
RAraiNfA n HalI

CHAPTER XII.
! Receive a Call.
Going to bed at three o'clock on a
winter morning In house whose
ways are disquieting, after a duel in
which you escaped whole only BY
sheer good luck, does not At one for
sleep. When finally drew the covers
over me 1t was to lie and speculate
upon the events Of the night in con.
nection with the history Of the few
weeks ! had spent at Glenarm. Larry
had suggested in New York that Pick.
ering was playing some deep game
and /, myself, could not accept Pick.
ering's statement that my grandfath.
er's large fortune had proved to be a
myth. If Pickering had not stolen or
dissipated 1t, where was it concealed!
Morgan was undoubtedly looking for
something Of value or he would NOT
FISK his life In the business; and Il
was quite possible that he was EN-.
ployed by Pickering to search for hid.
den property. This idea took strong
hold of me, the more readily. | fear
since had alwaye teen axious to see
evil in Pickering. There was. to be
sure, the unknown. alternative heir
but neither she nor Sister Theresa
was, imagined. a person capable OF
hiring an assassin to kill me.
On reflection | dismissed the ide,
of appealing to the county authorities
and never regretted that resolution
The seat of Wabana county was 20
miles away, the processes of law were
unfamiliar, and | wished to avoid pub.
licity. Morgan might, Of course, have
been easily disposed Of by an appeal
TO the Anmandale constable, but now
that | suspected Pickering of treach.
cry the caretaker's Importance dwin.
died. / had wanted all my life for a
chance at Arthur Pickering, and in
this affair | hoped to draw him into
the open and settle with him.
slept presently but woke at nv
usual hour, and after a tub felt ready
Tor another day. Bates served me
as usual, a breakfast that gave 2 fqir
aspect to the morning. wa -lert
Tor any sign Of perturbation in him:
but | had already decided that I
might as well look for emotion in a
stone wall as in this placid, colorless
serving man. had no reason to sus.
pect him of completely in the nights
affair, but | had no faith in him. and
merely waited until he should show
his hand.
By my plate next morning | found
this note, written in a clear, bold
woman's hand:
The Sisters Of St Agatha trust
that the intrusion upon his grounds
by Miss Armstrong, one of their stu
dents, has caused Mr.. Glenarm no an.
noyance. The Sisters beg that this
infraction of their discipline will be
overlooked, and they assure Mr.. Glen.
arm that 1t will not recur."
An unnecessary apology! The note
paper was of the best quality. At
the head of the page "St. Agatha's.
Annandale" was embossed in purple.
One of the sisters had seen beyond
tie wall undoubtedly wrote it-possi-
bly, Sister Theresa herself. A clever
woman, that! Thoroughly capable of
plucking money from guileIess old
gentlemen! Poor Olivia! born for
freedom. but doomed to a pent-up ex.
istence with lot Of nuns! resolved
to send her box Of candy sometime
Just to annoy her guardians. Then
my own affairs claimed attention.
Bates" l asked. do you know
what Mr.. Glenarm did with the plans
for this house?"
He started slightly. l should not
have noticed 1t If [ had not been so
keen for his answer.
mo. sir. | can't put my hand upon
them, sir"
That's all very well, Bates, but you
didn't answer my question. Do you
know where they are? I'll put my
hand on them II you will kindly tell
me where they're kept"
Il fear very much, Mr.. Glenarm,
that they have been destroyed. tried
to find them before you came, to tell
you the whole truth. sir; but they
must have been put out Of the way"
That's very interesting. Bates. VIII |
you kindly tell me whom you suspect |
Of destroying them? The toast again,
please"
His hand shook as he passed the |
plate.
Il hardly like to say, sir, when it's !
only suspicion"
"Of course l shouldn't ask you to
lncriminate yourself, but I'll have to
Insist on my question. It may have
occurred to you. Bates, that In sense
An a sense. mind you-Im the mas
ter here"
We'll. | should say. II you press me
that ! fear Mr.. Glenarm, your grand
father. burned the plans when he left
here the last time. I hope you will
pardon me. sir. for seeming to reflect
upon him"
Reflect upon the devil! What was