Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1907-05-11
CHAPTER VIIi.-continued.
copyrisnt 1905 by Bobbs-MerrilI Co.

Wont you come in and rest your
self, Mr.. Glenarm?" he interrupted.
4 reckon you're tired from your trip
over"
Thank you, no." snapped.
~'Suit yourself Mr.. Glenarm." He
seemed to like my name and gave it
a disagreeable drawing emphasis
Morgan, you are an internal black
guard. You have tried twice to kill
me"
Wen call it that, if you like, and
he grinned But you'd better cut
off one for this
He lifted the gray fedora hat from
his head and polled his finger through
hole in the top.
You're a pretty fair shot, Mr. Glen
arm. The fact about me is,''-and he
winhed, the honest truth is, I'm all
out of practice. Why, sir, when l saw
you padding out on the lake this after
noon l sighted you from the casino
half a dozen times with my gun, but
i was afraid to risk it" He seemed
to be shaken with inner mirth. IF
Id missed, l wasn't sure you'd be
scared to DEATH
For a novel diversion | heartily rec
Ommend a meeting with the assassin
who has. only a few days or hours be-
fore. tried to murder you. I know of
nothing in the way Of social adventure
that is quite equal to it.
Morgan, I hope you understand
that l am not responsible for any in
jury my grandfather may have inf1ict-
ed on You / hadn't seen him for sew
eral years before he died. | was never
at Glenarm before in my life, so it's
rcr1, for 70 r1GT4 n
pleasure On me-"
He smiled toIerant1y as I spoke. l
lznew-and he knew that 1 did-that
no Ill feeling against my grandfather
lay back of his interest in my affairs.
You're not quite the man your
grandfather was, Mr.. GIenarm. You'll
excuse my bluntness, but 1 take it
that you're a frank man yourself. He
was very keen person, and, I'm
afraid, he chuekled with evident
satisfaction to himself,-'Tm really
afraid. Mr. Glenarm, that you're mott"
There you have it, Morgan. / fully
agree with you, I'm as dull as an
oyster; that's the reason I've called
on you for enlightenment. Consider
that I'm here under flag of truce, and
lets see if we can't come to an agree
-ment.
Its too late, Mr.. Glenarm; too late.
There was a time when we might have
done some business; but that's past
now You seem like a pretty decent
fellow. too. and I'm sorry 1 didn't see
you sooner; but better luck next time"
Well L said. seeing that l should
only make myself ridiculous by trying
to learn anything from him, Il hope
our little spats through windows and
on walls won't interfere with our
pleasant social relations. And I don't
hesitate to tell you,"| was exerting
myself to keep down my anger,-"that
If L catch you on my ground again I'll
fill you with lead and sink you in the
lake.
Thank you. sir" he said, with so
perfect imitation of Bates voice
and manner that l smiled in spite of
myself
And now, if you'll promise not to
Tire into my back I'll wish you good
day. Otherwise"
He snatched off his hat and bowed
profoundly. It'll suit me much better
to continue handling the case on your
own grounds he said, as though he
referred to a business matter Kill
ing a man on your own property re-
cuires some explaining-you may have
noticed it
Yes: l commit most of my murders
away from home" l said. L formed
the habit early in life. Good day. Nor
gan
AS | turned away he closed his door
with slam,-a delicate way of assur-
ing me that he was acting in good
faith, and not preparing to puncture
my back with a rifle ball / regained
the lake shore, feeling no great dis
couragemeat over the lean results of
my interview, but rather a fresh zest
for the game, whatever the game
might be-
The sun was going his ruddy way
Eoeyoad St. Agatha's as / drove my
canoe into a little cove near which
sthe girl in the tam-o' -shanter had dis
appeared the day before The shore
was high here and at the crest was a
long curved bench of stone boldly
reniniscential of Alma Tadema, and as
clearly the creation of John Marshall
Glenarm as though his name had been
carved upon it
1t was assuredly spot for a pipe
and . mood. and as the shadows crept
through the wood before me and the
water stirred by the rising wind be-
gan TO beat below, i invoked the one
and yielded to the other. Something
~ the withereG grass at my feet
i,&