, 1908-04-02
Thank you, Mr.. aienarm. I

what ! can, sir"
ne brought fresh candles for the
taoie candelabra, going about with his
accustomed n~oiseless step. felt a
cold chill creep down my spine a. he
passed behind me on these errands.
ms transition from the roll of con.
spirator to that Of my aawless ssrv.
ant was almost too abrupt.
dismissed him as quickly a. posi-.
Do and listened to his step through
the nails a. he wen about locking the
ooors' The locking-up process had
ratner bored me before; tonight lis
Tened with interest for every sound.
When heard Bates climbing to his
own quarters I quietly wen the
rounds OF my account and found
everything az tight Els a drum.
was tired enough to sleep whom I
went to my room, and after an event
less night woke to q clear day and
keener air.
I'm going to take q little run Into
the village. Bates" 1 remarked At
breakfast.
Very good, sir"
IF any should call ri be back in
an hour or so"
Yes, sir"
really had an errand in the village.
wished to visit the hardware store
and buy some cartridges, but Picker
1nss presence In the community was
a disturbing factor in my mind. I had
resolved to get sight of him-to meet
him. If possible, and see how q man
whose schemes were so deep looked
in the light Of day.
As l left the grounds and gained
the highway Stoddard fell in with me.
We'll, Mr.. Glenarm, I'm glad to see
you abroad SO early. With that H.
brary of u the temptation must
bs strong to stay within doors. But
4 mans got to subject himself to the
and wind. Even a good wstting
now and then is salutary."
Il try to get out every day." I an
swered. But I've chiefly limited my
self to my " grounds"
An ancient omnibus, filed with
young women passed at gallop,
bound for the station, and We took OF
our hats.
Christmas holidays" explained ths
chaplain. Practically all the students
go home"
Lucky kids. to have homes with
Christmas trees. envy them"
Il suppose, Mr.. Pickering got " ay
last night?" he observed. and my
pulse %quickened at the name.
81 haven't seer him yet" I an
swered.
Then of course he hasn't gone!"
and these words, uttered in the big
~clergyman's deep tones, seemed Who'll
ly plausible. There was, to be sure,
nothing SO unlikely as that Arthur
Pickering. executor Of my grandfath-
er's estate, would come to Glenarm
without seeing me.
Sister Theresa told me this morn.
ing he was there. He called on her
and Miss Devereux last night. I
haven't seer him myself, | thought
possibly l might run into him in the
village. His cars very likely on the
station switch"
mo doubt we shall find him there"
i answered easily.
The Annandale station presented
An appearance Of unusual gaiety when
we reached the main street of the
village. There. t. be sure lay the
private car in the siding, and on the
platform was a group of 20 or more
girls, with several OF the brown-habit-
cd Sisters of st. Agatha. There was
something a little foreign in the pic
ture; the girls in their bright colors
talking gaily. the Sisters In their som.
Der garb lowering about, suggesting
France or Italy rather than Indiana.
We stepped pom the platform. The
private a lay on the opposite side
Of the station, having been switched
into 4 siding of the east and west
road. Pickering was certainly get,
ting on. There is something wholly
regal in a private car. Any one may
boast 4 catboat Inc call 1t a yacht;
but there is no known substitution for
q private car. As | lounged Scross
the platform with Stoddard, Pickering
came out into the vestibule of his car.
followed by two ladies and an elderly
gentleman. They all descended and
began q promenade on the plank
walk.
Pickering saw me an instant later
and hurried up with outstretched
hand.
This is indeed good %fortune! We
dropped of here last night rather IN.
expectedly to rest a hot box and
should have been picked up by the
early express for Chicago: but there
was a miscarriage Of orders some
-l--- -- rra oou houa 10 matt SNs
tho nine o'clock, and it's late. II I'd
known how much behind 1t was l
should have run out to see you. How
are things going?"
AS smooth az . whistle! 1t really