Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1907-01-04

Il Il NllAS puI Il SutGEl III ulGdl. LII
fact, it was evident that the
Ss4zJ house party possessed that ia
tai bar to success, a spirit of antag-
onism. Drysdale and Grace Croydon
maintained careful silence, and Mrs.
Delroy was SO obviously depressed that
her husband was alarmed.
AS soon as the meal was over she
and her sister disappeared upstairs,
while the men lighted their cigars and
strolled down to the boathouse to view
the preparations made by the Grahams
Tor the protection of the necklace. The
hight was very close, with promise of
rain unmistakable
They Went through the boathouse
without finding any one, but out on the
pier beyond old Graham was sitting.
gazing across the water and smoking
an odoriferous pipe. Between his
knees he held a Winchester repeater
and revolver butt stuck from a case
at his side.
Delroy laughed quietly as he looked
at him.
why, you're regular arsenal" he
said. You're taking it in earnest for
sure. You're not going to sit out here
all night, I hope.'
"Willum takes his trick at midnight
sir. He's gone over t. TIL house t. bring
cot an some beddin' down t. tn
boathouse. Well take turn an turn
about
well" said Delroy, turning away,
Il see l can sleep without worrying
any over the safety of the necklace"
As they passed through the boat
house again they perceived young
"Willum" busily engaged in making
up his bed on cot in one corner.
Delroy nodded to him and passed on
without speaking.
"It's too nice night to spend in the
house." said Drysdale, a little abruptly,
as they mounted the steps to the door.
II believe I'll go for tramp. I'll take
my raincoat, though. Then l needn t
hurry back
Delroy shrugged his shoulders as
Drysdale entered the outer hal! with
them and took down his raincoat from
the rack Thomas, who was stationed
in the vestibule, helped him on with it.
"Goodby," he called from the door.
Don't look for me for an hour or two
"All right, we won't worry" answer
Cd Deroy. Though. for my part" he
added, as he and Tremaine went on
through the hall together, II prefer a
book before the fire. There's chill in
70 fhnf or 81
awhile, and Jack II soon get enough of
1t. But I'd better go up and see how
my wife's getting along. You'll ex-
cuse me?"
Certainly; and stay as long as you
like. I'm going to my room presently
myself. have some letters to write"
pelroy nodded and went on up the
stairs. Tremaine sank into one of the
chairs before the fire and watched the
blazing logs, with an expression intent,
alert,
: =
For an hour or more Delroy sat
alone before the fire reading. At last
he yawned, laid down his book. arose
and walked to the door. The wind was
rising; he could hear 1t roaring in the
trees, and every minute broad flash
of lightning illumined the clouds on
the horizon
There's a storm coming" he said
TO Thomas, who was nodding at his
post. II wonder where the devil Drys-
dale went. He'd better be getting in
pretty soon."
AS though In answer to the thought,
q dark figure appeared suddenly on
the walk, strobe up the steps and open
ed the door. 1t was Drysdale.
He took off his coat, threw it to
Thomas and went on into the inner
hall, where he stood rubbing his hands
before the fire, with face so hope
less, fierce, despairing, that Delroy was
fairly startled. ~
"You may go to bed, Thomas he
said. Then he went to Drysdale and
laid hand upon MIS- snou1der. WANTS
the matter, Jack?" he asked. You're
looking regularly done up"
Drysdale turned with a start.
"Oh, it's you. is it, Dickie? Where is
Grace|
upstairs with my wife"
Where has she been this EVENING""
"Shes been down here talking with
Tremaine most Of the time-but, say,
hold on! What ails the fellow?' he
demanded, staring after the other AS
he bounded up the stairs, swell, that
beats met,' - 's'
He was still staring when Tremaine
appeared at the landing and came
down, packet of letters in his hand.
II want to put these in the Bag he
said, $50 they'll get off by the early
mail"
tits on the rack out there Delroy
replied, and the other went past him
into the outer hall. He was back in u
moment.
"That's a good evenings work." he
said with sigh Of satisfaction. But
what's the matter? You look as though
you'd seen ghost"
"Drysdale came in just now looking
as though he'd seen one, all-nerves and
raw flesh and stalked upstairs as
mad as a hornet about something
"Ah." said Tremaine. with just the