The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1907-04-18

CHAPTER vII.-continued,

paneling that ran around the bed
room. The wood had been struck
near the base and at the top of every
panel. for though the mark was not
perceptible on all, test had evidently
been made Systematically With this
as a beginning, / found a moment
later a spot OF tailow under a heavy
table in one corner Evidently the
furniture had been moved to permit
Of the closest scrutiny OF the paneling
Glenarm House really promised to
prove exciting 1 took from drawer
small revolver, filled its chambers
with cartridges and thrust it into my
nip pocket. whistling meanwhile Larry
Donovan's favorite air. The Marche
Funebre de Marionnettes." My heart
went out TO Larry as l scented adyen-
ture. and | wished him with me; but
speculatIons as to Larry's where
abouts were always profitless. and
quite likely he was in Jail somewhere.
The ham of whose excellence Bates
had limited was no disappointment.
There is. l have always held, nothing
better in this world than a properly
baked ham. and the specimen Bates
placed before me was delight 60 the
eye,-so adorned was il with spices;
so crisply brown les outer coat; and a
taste,--that first tentative taste. be-
fore the sauce was added.-was like
dream of Lucullus come true. | felt
that / could forgive a good deal in a
cook with that touch, Anything short
Of arson and assassination.
Bates" | said as he stood forth
where l could see him. you cook
amazingly well. Where did you learn
the business?"
Il can hardly say I know IL. sir.
Your lamented grandfather grew very
captious, MIR. Glenarm. | had to learn
20 satisfy him, and believe | did it,
sir, If youll pardon the conceit.'
He didn't die OF govt, did he?
can readily imagine il"
NO. Mr.. Glenarm. Il was his heart
lie had his warning OF it,"
All. yes: to be sure. The heart or
the stOmach.--one may as well fail as
the other | believe / prefer to keep
my digestion geing as long as possible
Those grilled sweet potatoes again, II
you please, Bates"
The game that he and ! we're play
ing appealed to me strongly. II was
altogether worth while. and as | ate
guava Jelly with cheese and toasted
crackers, ard then lighted one Of my
own cigars over a cup of Bates unfaii-
ing coffee, my spirit was livelier than
at any time since certain evening on
which Larry and had escaped from
Tangier with our lives and the curses
of the police
The day had offered much material
for Preside reflection. and ! reviewed
its history calmly. There was. how
ever, one incident that | found un-
pleasant in the retrospect | had been
guilty Of most unchiyalrous conduct
toward one OF the girls of st. Agstha's.
II had certainly been unbecoming in
me TO sit on the wall, however unwill-
ingly, and listen 60 the words-few
though they were--that passed be-
tween her and the chaplain. / forgot
the shot through the window; | forgot
Bates and the interest my room pos
sessed for him and his unknown ac-
complete; but the sudden distrust and
contempt | had awakened in the girl
by my clownlsh behavior annoyed me
increasingly.
! rose presently, found my cap and
went out into the moon-fooded wood
toward the lake. The tangle was not
urho hA
and there was indeed, as I had found,
the faint suggestion OF path. The
moon glorifed a broad highway across
the water; the air was sharp and still
| followed the wall OF St Agatha's to
the gate, climbed up and sat down in
the shadow of the pillar farthest from
the lake. drew out a cigarette and
was about to light IL when I heard
sound as of a step on stone. There
was. / knew. no stone pavement at
hand, but peering toward the lake
saw q man walking boldly along the
top of the wall toward me. The moon
light threw his figure into clear relief.
Several times he paused. bent down
and raped upon the wall with an
object he carried IN his hand.
Tap, tap. tap, The man with the
hammer was examining the farther
side Of the gate. and very likely he
would carry his investigations beyond
II. drew up my legs and crouched
in the shadow OF the pillar. revolver
in hand I was not anxious TO invite
an encounter much preferred TO
wait for disclosure OF the purpose
that lay behind this mysterious tap
ping upon walls.
But the matter was taken out OF my
own hands before had chance TO
debate IT, The man dropped to the
ground, sounded the stone base under
the gate, likewise the pillars. evident
ly without results struck spiteful
crack upon the iron bars. then stood
up abruptly and looked me straight in
the eyes. II was Morgan. the care
taker of the summer colony.
Good evening. Mr.. Morgan" said.
settling the revolver into my hand.