Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1907-02-09
CHAPTER w.
A Voice from the Lake.


/ ran to the window and peered out
into the night. The wood through
which we had approached the house
seemed to encompass IL. The branches
OF a great tree brushed the panes.
was Juggling at the fastening of the
| window when | became aware OF Bates
| at my elbow :.
Did something happen, sir?"
His unbroken calm angered me.
Some one had fired at me through
window and | had narrowly ESCAPED
| being shot. | resented the unconcern
with which this servant accepted the
situation.
| Nothing worth mentioning Somee
body tried to assassinate me. that's
all, ! said, in a voice that failed to be
| calmly ironical | was still fumbIing
| at the catch of the window.
Allow me, sir, land he threw up
the sash with an ease that increased
my irritation.
/ leaned out and tried to find some
clue to my assaIlant. Bates opened
another window and surveyed the dark
landscape with me.
1T was shot from without. was
1t, sir?''
"Of course it was; you didn't sup
pose shot at myself. did your"
He examined the broken pane and
picked up the bullet from the table.
ITS rifle ball, | should say"
The bullet was half-fattened by it's
contact with the wall. 1t was a cart
ridge ball of large caliber that might
have been fired from either rifle or
pistol.
Its very unusual, sir" | wheeled
upon him angrily and found him fun
bling with the bit of metal, troubled
look on his face. He at once con-
tinued, as though anxious to allay my
fears. Quite accidental, most likely.
Probably boys ON the lake are shoot
ing at ducks"
/ laughed out so suddenly that Bates
started back in alarm.
You IDIOT" | reared Selling him
| by the collar with both hands and
shaking him fiercely. You fool, do
the people around here shoot ducks at
night? Do they shoot waterfowl with
elephant guns and fire at people
through windows just for fun?"
| threw him back against the table
so that it leaped away from him, and
he fell prone ON the floor
Get up" | commanded, and fetch
a lantern"
He said nothing but did as | babe
him. We trayersed the long, cherries
hall to the front door, and | sent him
before me into the woodland. My no
lions of the geography of the region
were the vaguest, but | wished to ex-
anime for myself the premises, that
evidently contained dangerous Prov
Ter. | was very angry and my rage
increased as | followed Bates, who
had suddenly retired within himself
We stood soon beneath the lights of
| the refectory window.
The ground was covered with leaves
which broke crisply under our feet
What lies beyond here?" l de-
| handed
About a quarter of mile of woods,
sir. and then the lake"
go ahead" ! ordered, straight to
| the lake"
| was soon stumbling through rough
underbrush similar to that through
which we had approached the house.
Bates swung along confidently enough
ahead of me. pausing occasionally to
| hold back the branches. | began to
| feel, as my rage abated, that had set
out on a foolish undertaking. / was
utterly at sea as to the character OF
the grounds;gI was following a man
whom l had not seen until two hours
before, and whom I began to suspect
of all manner of designs upon me. 1t
was wholly unlikely that the person
| who had fired into the windows would
lurk about, and, moreover, the light of
| the lantern, the crackle of the leaves
and the breaking of the boughs adver-
tised our approach loudly.
| A bush slapped me sharply and |
| stopped to rub the sting from my face.
| Are you hurt, sir?" asked Bates so
| licitously, turning with the lantern.
| "Of course not" | snapped. I'm
/ having the time OF my life Are there
no paths in this jungle?"
Not just here, sir. 1t was Mr.. Glen.
arms idea not to disturb the wood at
| all, He was very fond of walking
| through the timber"
mot at night. hope! Where are
we now?"
Quite near the lake. sir"
Then go on"
| was out of patience with Bates,
with the painless woodland, and.
must confess, with the spirit of John
/ Marshall Glenarm. my grandfather
ITO be continued Lext week.