Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1907-07-25
CHAPTER xvIII.-continued

and by the time | had studied you
diggings here trifie, things began t.
happen below. 1t sounded like ST
Patrick's day celebration in an Irisl
village, and went down at a gallop t.
see If there was any chance of break
ing in. Have you seen the room
Well, he gave several turns to hi:
right wrist, as though to test tive
all had jolly time there by the fire
place. Another chap had got in some
where, so there were two of them
Your mani suppose it's your man
was defending himself CALAMITY with
large thing of brass that looked like
the pipes of grand organ-and
sailed in with chair My presence
seemed to Surprise the attacking party
who evidently thought | was you,-
dattering | must say, to mel"
You undoubtedly saved Bates life
and prevented the rining of the house
And after you had poured water on
Bates, he's the servant,-you came ur
here"
That's the way of it,"
You're a brick, Larry Donovan
There's only one of you and now"
And now, John Glenarm, we've got
70 get down to business,-or you must
As for me, after a few hours Of your
enlivening society"
You don't go a step until we so to.
gether,-no by the beard of the
prophet! I've a fight on here and I'm
going to win if die in the struggle,
and you've got to stay with me to the
end"
But under the will you dare not
take boarder."
"Of course l dare! That Wills as
though it had never been as far as I'm
concerned. My grandfather never ex.
pected me to SIT here alone and be
murdered. John Marshall Glenarm
wasn't fool exactly"
mo, but trif1e queer, | should say.
this situation appeals to me. It's my
kind of a job. If it weren't that the
hounds are at my heels I'd like to stay
with you, but you have enough trouble
on hands without opening the house to
an attack by my enemies"
Stop talking about it. I don't pro,
pose to be deserted by the only friend
have in the world when I'm up to my
eyes in trouble. Let's go down and
get some coffee"
We found Bates trying to remove
the evidences of the nights struggle.
He had fastened a cold pack about his
head and lmped slightly; otherwise
he was the same--silent and inexplica-
BILE.
Daylight had not improved the APP
pearance of the room. Several hun
dred books lay scattered over the floor
and the shelves that had held them
were hacked and broken.
Bates, if you can give us coffee?
Let the room go for the present"
Yes, sir"
And Bates"
He paused and Larry's keen eyes
were bent sharply upon him.
Mr.. Donovan is friend who will
be with me for some time. Well fix
up his room later in the day
He limped out, Larry's eyes follow
ing him.
What do you think of that fellow"
I asked.
Larry's face wore puzzled look.
What do you call hlm,--Bates?
He's plucky fellow
Larry picked up from the hearth the
big candelabrum with which Bates had
defended himself. 1t was badly bent
and twisted. and Larry ,grinned.
1.-The fellow who went out through
the front door probably isn't feeling
very well to-day. Your man was swing.
ing this thing like windmill"
Il can't understand it," l muttered.
81 can't, for the life Of me, see why he
should have given battle to the enemy.
They all belong to Pickering, and
Bates is the biggest rascal of the
bunch"
AS we ate breakfast filled in gaps
had left in my hurried narrative, with
relief that l can not describe filing
my heart as | leaned again upon the
sympathy of an old and trusted friend.
l dismissed Bates as soon as possible
that we might talk freely.
"Tabe it up and down and all around,
what do you think of all this?" / asked
Larry was silent for moment; he
was not given to careless speech in
personal matters.
There's more to it than frightening
you off or getting your grandfather
money It's nv 2ueSS there's some.
thing in this house that somebody
Pickering supposedly-is very anxious
to find
Yes; begin to think SO. He could
come in here legally if it were merely
a matter of searching for lost assets
Yes; and whatever it is it must be
well hidden. AS | remember your
grandfather died in June You got a
letter calling you home in October"
1T was sent out blindly, with moi
one chance in hundred that it would
ever reach me-"
Certainly. You We're a wanderei
on the face of the earth, and there was
nobody in America to look after YOU
interests. You may be sure that the
place was thoroughly ransacked while
you were sailing home. I'll wager 20,
the best dinner you ever ate tina
there's more at stake than your grand
fathers money. The situation is in
spring. / grow interested. I'm almos
persuaded to linger.'