Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1907-06-20

My tone was peremptory. Here was.
I felt, a crucial moment in our rela.
,tions.
We'll" he began, deliberately. II
dislike to make charges against fell
low man, but strongly suspect one Of
the men OF being"
Yes! Tell the whole truth or It viii
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
one"
y didn't get my eyes on him. 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
of It l 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 undon!able,-andI could
not abuse him or question his yeracity
tipf& for investigation and study. How.
ever. ventured to ask him one cues
ton:
IF you were guessing, shouldn',
you think 1t quite likely that Morgan
was the other mani
He met my gaze squarely.
81 think It wholly possible, Hr.
Glenarm," he replied at once,
And the man who helped you--who
in the devil WAS he?"
Bless me, don't know, siri He
disappeared. I'd like nightly to soc
him again"
"Humph! Now you'd better DO Some.
thing for your head I'll Summon the
village doctor II you say So"
NO thank you, sir. I'll take cars
Of 1t myself"
Very we'll Now welt Keep qaict
about this. Don't mention 1t or dis
cuss 1t with any one"
Certainly not. sir" He rose, stag.
eering a little from weakness, but
crossed to the broad mantel shelf IN
the great chimney breast, rested his
arm upon it for moment, passed his
hand over the dark wood with a sort
OF caress, then bent his eyes upon tho
floor Uttered with books, drawings and
papers torn from cabinets and all
splashed with tallow and wax from
the candles. Tho daylight had In.
creased until the havoc wrought by
the nights visitors was fully apparent.
The marauders had made a sorry
mess of the room, and l thought
Bates lip ouivered as he viewed the
wreck.
1T would have been a blow to Mr.
Glanarm: the room was his pride
his pride Sir"
He went out toward the kitchen, and
I ran upstairs to my own room.
cursed the folly that had led me to
leave my window open, for undouhted-
ly Morgan and his new ally, st. Az
athas gardener, had taken advantage
of 1t to enter the house. Quite likely,
too, they had observed my departure
for Cincinnati. and this would I'M
doubtedly be communicated to Picker
!, ing l threw open my door and start
|, ed back with an exclamation OF
Amusement.
A stranger stood at my chiffonier.
, between two windows, calmly shaving
himself He was clad in a bath gown
my own, | saw with fury-and he
hummed softly to himself as he seized
, the brush and applied lather deity
, to his upper lip.
without turning he ADDRESSED me,
quite cooly and casually, as though
, thing in the world.
, Good morning Mr.. Glenarm! Rath-
err damaging evidence that costume.
suppose it's the custom in the country
for gentlemen in evening clothes to
go out by the window and return by
the door You might think tho other
way round preferable
Larry" / shouted.
jack"
Kick that door shut and lock IT,
he commanded, in a sharp, severe tone
that remembered well, and just now
welcomed-in him.
How, why and when"
Never mind about me. I'm here
thrown the enemy off for a few days
and you may confess your own sins
first, while I climb into my armor.
Pray pardon the informality-"
He seized a broom and began work
upon a pair of trousers to which mud
and briers chung tenaciously. His coat
and hat lay on a chair. they too
much the worse for rough usage.
There was never any use in refusing
to obey Larry's orders, and as he got
. into his clothes | gave him In as few
words as possible the chief incidents
that had marked my stay at Glenarnl
=, Houese He continued dressing with
care, helping himself to a shirt and
: collar from my chiffouier and choosing
:. with unfailng eye the best tie in my
-. collection. Now and then he asked &
:, question tersely. or, again he laughed
' or swore direly in Gaelic. When
-, had concluded the story Of Pickering
. visit, and of the conversation | over
= heard between the executor aud Bates
~ in the church porch, Larry wheeled
round with the scarf half tied In hi
Ia fingers and surveyed me commiserat
ingly.
And YOU didn't rush them both or