, 1908-04-23

the spot and have Il outf"
NO. was too much taken abaok
for n thing"
Il dare say you wersl"
"And-for. another /. didn't think the
dine ripe. I'm going to beat that fei.
low. Larry, but want him to show
his hand fully before We come to
4 smash-up. l know - much about
the house and Its secrets a. he does
that's one consolation. Sometimes I
aont believe there's . shilling here.
and again IN sur there's q big stake
In It. The fact that Pickering IL risk.
ing so much to hnd what's
to be hidden here is pretty fair evi.
dence that something's buried on the
place"
Possibly, but they're giving you q
lively boycott. Now where In the devil
have you been?'
we'll" L began and hesitated. I
aad not mentioned Marian D~evereux
and this did not seem the time for con.
ndsnces of hat sort.
re took 4 cigarette from his pocket
and lighted it deliberately.
Bah! these women! Under the
terms Of your excellent gr~andfather's
will you have thrown away all your
rights. 1t looks to me, as q msmber
Of the Irish bar In bad standing, as
though you had delivered yourself up
to the enemy, SO far as the legal situa-
ton 10 concerned. How does 1t strike
you?"
IF it's known that l ran away for q
night, of course"
My lad, don't deceive yourself.
Everybody round here will know 1t be-
fore night. You ran off, left your win
dow open invitingly, and two gentle
men who meditated breaking in found
that they needn't take the trouble.
One came in through your W room,
noting, Of course. you absence. let in
his friend below, and tore up the place
regrettably."
Yes. but how did you get herer-
II you don't mind telling"
IT'S a short story. That little chap
from Scotland Yard, who annoyed me
30 much in New York and drove ma
to Mexico.-for which may he dwell
forever in fiery torment.-has never
given up 1 shook him OF. though, at
Indianapolis three days ago. | bought
4 ticket for Pittsburg with him at my
elbow. ! suppose he thought the chase
war growing tame and that the farther
east he could arrest me the nearer
should be to a British consul and tide.
water. ] went ahead of him into the
station and out to the Pittsburg
sleeper. l dropped my bag into my
section.-if that's what they call it in
looked out and saw him coming along
the platform. lust then the car began
10 mo"e-they We're slmHting it abou,
" attach a sleeper that had been
brought in from Louisville. and ny
carriage. or whatever you call 1t. went
skinming out of tho sheds into . yard
whore everything seemed to be most
neisy and complex. I dropped of in
the dark Just before they began to haul
the carriage back. A long train Of
empty goods wasons.-freight cars?-
bag into . wagon and climbed after 1t.
We kept going for several hours. until
I was thoroughly lost. then / took a.
vantage Of = stop at a place that
seemed to be the end of terrestrial
things. got put and started across
country. / expressed my bag to you
the other day from . place that re-
joiced in the cheering name Of Ko-
komo. just to get rid Of it. walked
into Annandale late last night. found
this medieval marvel through the kind
nest Of the station master and was
accommodating with my usual caution
when / saw a gentleman romantically
entering through the open window"
Larry paused to light q fresh cigar
cite.
you always did have q way Of ~
irving OPPORTUNITY. 90 on!"
ut pleased my fancy to follow him:
and by the time l had studied your
diggings here a tribe. things began to
happen below. 1t sounded like . st.
Patrick's day celebration in an Irish
village. and l wen down at q gallop to
see II there was any chance of break
ing in. Have you seen the room?
Well."-he gave several turns to his
right wrist, as though to test tive
all had q jolly time there by the hrs-
place. Another chap had got In some
where, 80 there were " Of them.
Your mani suppose it's your nan
was defending himself CALAMITY with
. large thing Of brass that looked like
the pipes OF q grand organ-and l
sailed In with q chair. My presence
seemed to surprise the attacking party.
who evidently thought l was you.-
hattering | must say. to mel"
"You undoubtedly saved Bates life
and prevented the rifing OF the house.
And after o had poured water on
Bates, he's the servant,-you came up
here"