Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1907-03-08
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'hCiO yOu nave II, NUT sdNs L Iuily
agree with you! I'm as dull as an
oyster; that's the reason I've called
on you for enlightenment. Consider
that I'm here under flag OF truce, and
let's see II we can't come TO an agree.
meat"
IT'S too late, Mr. Glenarm; too late.
There was a time when we might have
done some business; but that's past
now. You seem like a pretty decent
fellow, too, and I'm sorry didn't see
you sooner; but better luck next time"
We'll" | said, seeing that | should
only make myself ridiculous by trying
to learn anything from him, Il hope
our little spats through windows and
on walls won't interfere with our
pleasant social relations. And don't
hesitate to tell you,"-I was exerting
myself to keep down my anger,-"thst
II catch you on my ground again I'll
I'll you with lead and sink you in the
lake"
Thank you, sir" he said, with so
perfect an Imitation Of Bates voice
and manner that | smiled in spite Of
myself.
And now. II you'll promise not to
IRE into my back I'll wish you good
day. Otherwise"
He snatched of his hat and bowed
profoundly. It'll suit me much better
to continue handling the case on your
own grounds" he said, as though he
referred to a business matter. Kill.
Ing a man on your own property re-
quires some eIplaining-you may have
noticed IT,"
Yes; commit most of my murders
away from home" I said. 81 formed
the habit early in life. Good day, Nor.
gan"
AS | turned away he closed his door
with a slam,-a delicate way Of assur-
Ing me that he was acting in good
faith, and not preparing to puncture
my back with a rifle ball. regained
the lake shore, feeling no great dis
couragement over the lean results of
my interview, but rather a fresh zest
for the game, whatever the game
might be.
The sun was going his rudy way
beyond ST. Agatha's as l drove NV
canoe into a little cove near which
the girl in the tam-o'-shanter had dis.
appeared the day before The shore
was high here and at the crest was a
long curved bench of stone, boldly
reminiScential Of Alma Tadema. and as
clearly the creation of John Marshall
Glenarm as though his name had been
carved upon it.
1t was assurediy a spot for a pine
and mood, and as the shadows creDt
through the wood before me and the
water, stirred by the rising wind. be-
gan to beat below, ! invoked the one
ard. yielded to the other. Sometime
in the vii cred grass at my feet
ca'"ht my eye. bent and picked ~
a stri'S of gold beads dropped there
no doubt by some girl from the school
or careless member Of the summer col. /
ony. | counted the separate beals-
they were round and there were 50 Of
them. The proper length for one turn
about a. girls throat, perhaps; not
more than that! l lifted my eyes and
looked of toward St. Agatha's.
Child Of the red tam-o'-shanter I'm
very sorry was rude to you yester-
day, for | liked your steady stroke with
the paddle; and | admired. even more
the way you spurned me when YOU
saw that among all the Gals in the
world | am number one lass A.
And these golden bubbles Q girl of
the red tam-o'shanterD, if they are
not yours you shall help ME to find
the owner. for we are neighbors, you
and |, and there must be peace be-
tween our houses"
With this foolishness I rose thrust
the beads into my pocket, and padded
home in the waning glory of the sun.
set.
That night. as I was going quite late
to bed, bearing candle to light me
through the dark hall to my room, I
heard a curious sound, as of some one
walking in the house. At first thought
Bates was still abroad, but | waited
listening for several minutes, without
being able to mark the exact direction
OF the sound or to identify 1t with him.
went on to the door of my room, and
still mufled step seemed to foRow
neD-frst 1t had come from below,
then it was much like some one going
up stairs,-but where? In my own
room | still heard steps, hight, slow
but distinct. Again there was a STUN.
BILE and hurried recovery,-ghosts,
reflected, do not fall down stairs!
The sound died away, seemingly IN
some distant part of the house, and
though prowled about for an hour II
did not recur that night.