The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1907-10-18

by Willie, the younger, who favored
his mother more than the outspoken
John, gave Mason an opportunity to
pave the way for the coming separa-
ton.
II don't want you two lads to make
any great changes on my account" he
said slowly. 1T is far from my in
tention TO settle down here and let
all your friends become aware that
you are supporting a ticket of leave
father. Yes, l know. You are good
boys, and 1t won't be any more pleas
ant Tor me toto live away from you
than 1t would be for OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
conditions-to be separated from me.
Butt am in earnest in this matter.
l Will stop here tonight just to feel
that / am under the same roof as you.
1t Is your roof, not mine. Long ago
/ lost the right to provide you with a
shelter. Tomorrow / go away. / have
some work to do-a lot of work. IT
must be attended to at once. OF
course you will see me often. We can
meet in the evening-go out together
but live herewith you'll can't"
His sons never knew the effort that
this speech cost him. He spoke with
such manifest hesitation that Willie,
who quickly interpreted the less pro-
nounced signs of a mans thoughts,
winked warning at his brother.
He said, with an optic signal:
MOT word now, John. Just leave
things as they are"
Under any ordinary conditions he
would he right. He could never guess
the nature of the claims that encircled
his father, delivering him fettered to
the torture, bound hand and foot, body
and soul.
At last they all retired to their
rooms, the boys to whisper kindly
plans for keeping their father a pris-
oner again in their hands, Mason to lie
open eyed, dry eyed, through the night,
mourning for that which might not be.
The rising sun dispelled the dark
phantoms that fitted before his vision.
He fell into fitful slumber, disturb
ed by vivid dreams Once he was on Il
storm swept sea at night on a sinking
and dead captain at the helm.
Driving onward through the raging
waves, he could feel the vessel settling
more surely as she rushed into each
yawning caldron. Suddenly through
the wreck of flying spindrift he saw
smooth harbor, sheltered basin, in
which vessels rode in safety. There
were houses beyond, with cheerful
lights, and men and women were
watching the doomed craft from the
firm security Of the land.
But strain his eyes as he would he
could see no entrance to that harbor,
naught save furious seas breaking over
relentless walls of granite
Even in his dream he was not afraid.
He asked the captain, with an oath:
''Is there no way in?''
And the captain turned corpselike
eyes toward him. 1t was Philip Arson.
The dreamer uttered wild beasts
howl and shrank away.
Then he awOke to find Willie stand
Ing by his bedside with soothing words.
ut is all right, father. You were dis
1urbed in your sleep. Don't get up yet
1t is only 8 O'clock"
q
At that hour a policeman left his
cottage in q village on the Yorkshire
coast and walked leisurely toward the
Grange House.
He traversed four miles of rough
country, and the sun was hot. so he
did not hurry. About half past 6 he
reached the farm. There were no signs
Of activity such as may be expected In
the country ut that hour.
He examined three sides Of the build
ny carefully-the sea front was mae
:essible-and waited many MINUTES be-
iore he knocked at the door. There
was no answer. He knocked again
more loudly. The third time his sum-
mons would have aroused the Seven
Sleepers, but none came.
He tried the door and ratified it.
peered in at the windows, stood back
In the garden and looked up at the bed
rooms.
"A queer business" he muttered as
he turned unwillingly to leave the
place.
AYE, very queer business" he said
again. II must go on to Scarsdale an
max inquiries ABBOTT this DR.. williams
afore report to the super"
CONTINUED next week.