Rocky Ford enterprise., 1907-08-09
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Bates. sir"
what have you done: what has hap
penedy' demanded.
He put his hand To his head uneer-
tainiy and sasped as though trying 10
gather his wits.
He was evidcntiy daIed by whatever
had occurred. and ! sprank round and
hclped him to couch. He would not
lie down but sat up. staring and pass
Ing his hand over his head. Il was
rapidly growing lighter. and ! saw .
purple and black streak across his
temple where n biudseon Of some sort
had struck him.
what does this mean. hates: Who
has been In tho house,
1T was carly this morning." he fai.
tered. about two o'clock. heard
noises In tho lower part Of the house.
] came down. thinking likely Il vas
you. and remembering that you had
been sick yc.tcrday--
'Ycs. go on"
Tho thought OF my truancy vas no
balm to my conscience Just then.
"As ! came into the hall. saw lights
Ia the library. As you weren't down
last night the room hadn't been lighted
1t all. heard steps. and some one
tappin. with hammer"
Yes: a hammer. Go on"
II was. then. the same old story!
The war had boon carried opcnly into
the housc. but Baics.-just why should
any one connected with the conspiracy
lnjurc Bates. who stood no near to
Pickering. its leader The fellow was
undoubtedly hurt.-thcrc was no mis-.
taking the wound on his head. He
spoke with n painful diflicuity that
was not assumed. I felt increas,n.iy
surc. as he won't on.
II saw n man pulling out the books
and tapping the inside Of the shelves.
He was working very fast. And tho
next thin. ! knew he let In another
man through one of tho easements
the Quo there that still stands little
OPEN
He fiinchcd ax he turned slightly to
indicate Il. and his face twitchcd with
pain.
Never mind that: tell tho rcst Of
your story
Then ran IN. grabbed one Of tho
big cnndcinbrn from the table. and
went for the nearest man. They were
about to begin on the chimney.brcast
1T was Mr.. Gienarm's pride In NIL
the honsc.-and that accounts for my
being ,hcra IN front Of the fireplace.
They rather got the best Of me. sir
Clearly: I 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
wns another man who came running In
from somewhere. and he took sides
with me. thought at FIRST It was you.
sir. The robbers thought so. too. for
pne Of them yelled. Great God: Glen.
arms come back!' Just like that But
It wasn't you. sir. but quite another
person."
That's a good story SO rar: and
then what happened?'
II 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.
{ felt, crucial moment in our rela-
lions.
We'll" he began, deliberately, 81
dislike to make charges against fel.
low man. but strongly suspect one Of
the men of being"
Yes! Tell the whole truth or It will
be the worse for you.'
II 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
,ne."
II didn't get my eyes on him. had
closed with Ferguson and we were
having quite lively time OF 1t when
the other one came in; then the man
who came to my help mixed us all up.
he was a very lively person.-and
what became OF Ferguson and the rest
Of it don't know"
There was food for thought in what
he said. He had taken punishment in
defense of my property.-the crack on
his head was undeniable.-andI could
not abuse him or question his veracity
with any grace; not, at least. without
lime for investigation and study. How.
bver. ventured to ask him one ques.
lion:
"If you were guessing, shouldn't
fou think it quite likely that Morgan
was the other mani"
He met my gaze squarely.
81 think 1t 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
I'd like nightly to see
him again."
"Humph! Now you'd better do some.
hing for Y0ur head Ill aIlmnlon tho |