The Elbert County tribune., 1907-08-08
copyrixet 1905 b BobDsAsrriI Co.
CHAPTER xvlrI.-continued.


He put his hand to his head uncer.
gather his wits.
He was evidently dazed by whatever
had occurred. and | sprang round and
helped him to a couch. He would not
lie down but sat up. staring and pass
ing his hand over his head. II was
rapidly growing lighter, and | saw a
purple and black streak across his
temple where bludgeon OF some sort
had struck him.
What does this mean. Bates? Who
has been In the house?"
ut was early this morning. he fal-
tered. about two O'Clock, heard
noises in the lower part of the house.
] came down. thinking likely 1t was
you, and remembering that you had
been sick yesterday"
Yes, go on"
The thought OF my truancy was no
balm to my conscience Just then.
"As | came into the hall. saw lights
in the library. AS you weren't down
last night the room hadn't been lighted
at all / heard steps. and some one
tapping with a hammer"
Yes: hammer. Go on!"
1t was, then, the same old story!
The war had been carried openly into
the house. but Bates.-just why should
any one connected with the conspiracy
injure Bates. who stood so near to
Pickering, its leader? The fellow was
undoubtedly hurt,-there was no mis-
taking the wound on his head. He
urffh fnf fn1 haf
was not assumed / felt increasingly
sure, as he went on.
Il saw man pulling out the books
and tapping the inside of the shelves.
He was working very fast. And the
next thing | knew he let in another
man through one of the casements.-
the one there that still stands little
OPEN
He finched as he turned slightly to
indicate 1t. and his face twitched with
pain.
Never mind that; tell the rest of
your story"
Then | ran in, grabbed one OF the
big candelabra from the table. and
went for the nearest man. They were
about to begin on the chimney-breast
the house.-and that accounts for my
being there in front of the fireplace.
They rather got the best of me. SIR"
Clearly; l see they did. You had a
hand-to-hand fight with them, and be-
ing two to one"
No: there were two of us,-don't
you understand, two of us! There
was another man who came running in
from somewhere, and he took sides
with me. / thought at first 1t was you,
sir. The robbers thought so, too, for
one of them yelled. Great God; Glen
arms come back! just like that But
1t wasn't you, sir, but quite another
person"
then what happened?"
Il don't remember much more, ex-
cept that some one soused me with
water that helped my head consider
ably, and the next thing knew was
staring across the table. there at you"
! who were these men. Bates? Speak
up quickly!"
My tone was peremptory. Here was,
I felt. crucial moment in our rela-
tons.
Well" he began, deliberately, 81
iislike to make charges against fell
low man. but / strongly suspect one OF
the men of being"
Yes! Tell the whole truth or 1t VIII
be the worse for you"
Il very much fear one of them was
Ferguson, the gardener over the way.
I'm disappointed in him. SIR"
Very good; and now for the other
9ne"
Il didn't get my eyes on him. l had
closed with Ferguson and we were
having quite lively time of it when
the other one came in: then the man
who came to my help mixed us all up.
-he was very lively person,-and
What became of Ferguson and the rest
u 1t don't know"
There was food for thought in what
he said. He had taken punishment in
iefense Of my property.-the crack on
ais head was undeniable.-and could
not abuse him or question his veracity
with any grace; not. at least, without
lime for investigation and study. How
tver. l ventured to ask him one ques-
lion:
IF you were guessing, shouldn't
lou think 1t quite likely that Morgan
was the other mani"
He met my gaze squarely.
Il think it wholly possible. Mr..
Glenarm," he replied at once.
And the man who helped you-who
In the devil was he?"
BLESS me, | don't know, sir! He
s5iaanneared I'd like nightly IN see
him again"
.Humph! Now you'd better do some
thing for your head. I'll summon the
village doctor II you say So
mo; thank you. sir I'll take care
VI y myself"